Not to mention inflation?  We've had the same minimum wage in effect since 1997!  That's just crazy!
218220
Republicans have never ever increased minimum wage, and I don't look for that to change any time soon. That's the whole purpose of their politics. High inflation and very low wages. So how do you like Republicans now, it took America 5 years of the Clinton Administration to pay back the costs of George Bush seniors Presidency. That was the purpose of balancing the budget to bring interests rates down and deflate the cost of the dollar. Republicans hate that; because they would rather do nothing and make fortunes by just raising the inflation rate Example: Gasoline which effects ever thing else, or say cigarettes or Alcohol. It's false inflation caused by them.
665661
Yes.  Anyone who claims there will be massive job loss and companies going bankrupt due to a minimum wage increase has no knowledge of history.  No minimum wage increase in history has resulted in that.
338270
If the country was being run like it should be, we shouldn't have anyone here in the US living in poverty.  \n\nSadly even the minimum wage is a "poverty wage".  You can work 40 hours a week and work all 52 weeks a year, and you would still be considered living in "poverty".\n\nSo to answer your question:  Yes, the government is wasting our tax dollars and making impractical decisions.\n\nIf they were running the country properly, we wouldn't have to have a need for welfare, or be hated by more people than ever from other countries (war issue).
568646
Every time minimum wage has been raised in the past, the prices of everything else follows.  I'm only 27, and I remember working for $4.25 an hour.  I don't think $7 is enough to live on, but I'm not sure that even raising it to that will do any good.
238733
Why do you publish a question that you yourself give the answer to.  The greedy employers have to step up to the plate and start to pay a fair wage, a job doesn't stink if the wages are fair.  You must be able to live on the wages that you make, when a company like Exon gives its retiring CEO 400million dollars in benefits, it is ridiculous that they then pay their clerks in the convenience stores that they own the minimum wage.  Big Business SUCKS.
274983
i live in Connecticut (which i believe its still billed as 'richest state per capita income') and the minimum wage is $7.40 per hour.\ni think next year it goes up to 7.65, and last year it went up from 7.10
645801
Anywhere I have looked, including Michigan, the wages are not what is too high. Utilities are too high. For that matter all our bills are too high. The common working family can't get by on what they make today. Sad truth.
397249
I don't know anyone who works for minimum wage, but a raise in the rate will not help. The greatest misconception about minimum wage is the idea that it is a living wage. Minimum wage is not and was never intended as such. It is a benchmark rate for workers entering the system. It is assumed that the average worker will gain skills and either move up in their current company, or change positions based on their acquired experience. The reason minimum wage does not help anyone is related to economic cause and effect. If the price of labor increases then the prices of goods and services must also increase to reflect the added cost of doing business. Therefore while you make more money you will also be forced to pay higher prices thus eliminating your surplus income.
53461
This is a hard question to answer. As the minimum wage increases so also does the cost of living. Those people paying minimum wages often raise the cost of the product to compensate for the increase of the cost of manufaturing it. After all they are in business to make money. I think we should look at better ways to decrease the cost of living for those that need it such as no tax on food, keeping the cost of gas lower, better and cheaper medical. These would actually increase the persons potential to survive in a heathier state and not have to work 2 or three jobs to make ends meet.
299033
Asked off the bat abourt minimum wage the average joe would most definitely be in support of rasing the thing out the waaaaaaaazzzzzoooooo. When one really thinks about rasing the minimum wage in each city we realize that not everyone will directly benefit from a raise. For instance, a recent study shows that most individuals that take a minimum wage job move up in pay to a position  that is above both the state and the federal minimum wage within three months. If one was to raise the federal minimum wage I believe that it would cause an overall pay raise, thus having no affect at all because of the raise in living that would quickly follow. Although this hypothisies hasn’t been proven due to a lack of searching skills, I have found that some others will side with me on this belief. \n\nAnother issue that is along the lines of minimum wage,and is just as promonent, is a term called living wage.  Although there isn’t exactly a  set figure on what a living wage is, a general definition for some one living in Vermont  would be that minimum wage is a salary that a single individual or family can live off of with 5% left over for spending. Its clearly a serious issue. Companies see more and more young, unexperienced individuals entering their businesses, and there for it is easier for them to keep their wages a level that is very low.\n\nI believe that it is very important for one to keep in mind the type of work that is under the minimum wage blanket. Typically the individual that is being paid minimum wage is doing all of the difficult jobs. Many of the individuals that work as cashiers for example are often required to stand in one posistion for hours at a time. Although the work isnt as phsycially  demanding as general labor, many workers suffer from a wide variety of physcial aliments.\n\nSo, from the limited amount of information that Im going to bother to provide you with, one becomes rather lazy in 90’ weather, you should be able to make your own decision on where you stand on the minimum wage issue. I for one believe that we should evaluate each situation on an individual basis and go from there. What do you think?  To get back to your question the federal minimum wage is $5.75 and Vermont’s is $ 7.25
511354
That's the inherent problem with minimum wage, You don't earn what you make. In other words the worker that strives to do his best is at the same level as a worker that doesn't. It's like the new rules for sports in grade schools, no scores are kept, or all are given a trophy just for playing. No incentive for doing a good job.\n\n      Oh and, at least from what is usually practiced on cost of living, yes there is a static adjustment. Not always right a way, but eventually all the way to the top management. and on a percentage bases, that is why the growing gap between white collar and blue collar.
216563
The United States Congress is currently considering a law that would increase minimum wage to about $7.25. I am just above the current minimum wage and would love to make $7.25, the only problem is economic effects that this could have on the country. Due to the huge rise in wages companies would have to pay out, they would be forced to raise prices to make up for that difference. That would cause the standard of living to increase, which would have a negative impact on our economy and perhaps bringing us back to this same issue. Again I do believe in a high minimum wage, but perhaps (and hopefully) smaller increases over a long period of time would remedy this problem.
487661
I think dems and reps alike all realize it's time for min wage to adjust to the current inflation-it's not really a political issue-it's more common economics-
487740
Raising the minimum wage will not improve anyone's quality of life.  Ohio just raised theirs.  Know what happened?  A huge nat'l pizza chain raised their pizza prices by $1 exactly, every single pizza.  Increasing the minimum wage will do nothing.  It's symptomatic of the democratic view.  People look to the gov't to improve their lot in life instead of doing it on their own.\n\nTo achieve those things you mentioned, we need our manufacturing jobs back.
567256
I think that this is great. I am a full time student. I also work full time, and have seen the era of no child left behind leaving alot of our young minds behind. As far as the minimum wage, this is a great thing. The minimum wage has not risen since 1997. I wonder who was the president then? Also the current administration has risen the national debt more then any president in US history.
570036
What you obviously dont understand is that the companies that hire these people for minimum wage COULD NOT do this if they were forced to pay higher wages.  By having these illegal immigrants working for these low wages, it brings down the entire middle class.  There are very few places that pay much more than the minimum wage but in Texas where I live, it is a common thing to see most jobs paying $7-$10 an hour.  How is a person to live?  Not everyone is cut out to go to college.  What you dont acknowledge is that these illegals are also being exploited.  And it is a matter of time before they too will decide that the profits that these companies are raking in are going to the CEO's and not trickling down to the people who are actually doing the bulk of the work.  And along with that are the numerous jobs that have added to it that you must be bi-lingual.......
138504
I paid 25 cents for a gallon of gas in 1971.  I was making $3.80 an hour.  In 2006 I am paying $2.85 for a gallon of gas.  I am making $80,000 a year.  My earnings have gone up, but along with that so have prices of products.  If inflation increases 5.1% for the year you are taking a 3% wage cut.