Minimum Wage (a letter to the editor)

Every human being on the planet has a right to live. No one deserves to endure long hours, multiple jobs, and tiring stress only to barely scrape by. That is why we must raise the minimum wage to a reasonable, livable number. The current national minimum wage of $7.25 was set in 2009. When measured in 2013 dollars, minimum wage has remained relatively the same since 1990. What hasn't remained stagnant are the price of goods and services- the basic cost of living. If the minimum wage rose proportionally to inflation it would be at $11. If it had kept pace with worker productivity it would be about $21. We're not even asking for a number that high.

Contrary to popular belief, 79% of workers on minimum wage are 20+ years old- many working multiple jobs. Besides, perhaps more money for the 21% of teens on minimum wage could help them pay for college without massive student loan debts.

Australia, the only developed country not hit by the recession of 2008, has a minimum wage of US$15.96. Unemployment is 5.9% and cost of living in Australia is between 28-31% higher than America's. However this is more than made up for with a minimum wage more than double our own. Cities in America, especially on the west coast, are increasing their minimum wages in order to combat rising costs of living. It has already helped cities like San Francisco.

This stagnation of minimum wage and simultaneous inflation of the price of goods has only helped those who benefit from the high prices- the wealthy, and corporations. Coupled with unfair tax rates, this has greatly increased the gap between the impoverished and the rich. We liberals are harassed for "hating the rich" and "hating hard work." Many Americans have this mentality that the poor are just not working or trying hard enough- that hard work trumps human rights. These are people suffering from their own environmental predispositions, struggles, and historical setbacks beyond their control. This isn't to say others haven't had their own struggles, merely to point out the fact that a large population of people in this country are suffering at largely disproportionate rates- minorities and urban populations.

We liberals value hard work just as much as conservatives, however we don't value it when it exploits the poor and only seeks greed. Conservatives also hold on to a sense of nostalgia. Then they should certainly support a return to a time like the '40s, '50s, and '60s when wage and price were proportionate and the wealthy were taxed fairly. I personally believe that many strict conservatives lack simple human empathy- an understanding that we are all just humans trying to live and to be happy. Unfortunately, our current system and wage do not allow this for many people. We need a higher minimum wage. We need a fair tax system and less breaks for those benefiting at the expense of others. We need an overhaul of our economic system.

Change, Money, and the Current State of Society

It's a shame that the common perception is that one needs money in order to change the world. This says a lot about our current social and economic system. One has to wonder if our capitalist system has created a society in which those with money hold significantly more potential and power to make real change. When the average person sees this, they feel that the only way to change the world is through money. One might say this motivates people to work and add to the economy. However there are several problems with this thought. First, it ignores those who have the will but no means- those hurt the most by our current system. Second, if that was the case our society would already be very different- better. The wealth gap is so large that people should be, by said logic, SUPER motivated, and the gap should be closing. This is obviously not the case. Lastly, it undermines and degrades the very being of the person. They're equating their worth and potential to money. This is exactly what our current economic system, and I would go so far as to say capitalism in general, is doing.
Perhaps the root of the problem lies with the creation/idea of money in general. I wouldn't advocate ridding the world of money (however utopian that may sound). Something does need to change in our current society, though. We are increasingly heading toward an oligarchy, in which the wealthy control the rest. Evidence of this can be seen in our politics and media everyday. The recent Supreme Court decision, which eliminated the limits to how much money a person could donate in an election season, is just further evidence. It's a common misconception that when the wealthy get wealthier the economy grows. When the wealthy get wealthier the wealthy get even wealthier at the expense of the poor. Such is the state now. Some blame President Obama for the growing poverty and wealth gap. The reality is that the economic policies, for example lower taxes on the rich, advocated by conservatives, are what is causing this. The rich only serve the rich.
Power needs to return to the average citizen- the middle class worker, the poor kid with a brilliant idea but no means to achieve it. I'm witness to this right now. My roommate and one of my best friends has some of the most creative and brilliant ideas I've ever heard- ideas and a story that could truly inspire. It's a shame, though, because he talks about needing to be a millionaire in order to spread his story and ideas. This is a problem with our current media system/industry as well.
We only pay attention to those with money. You have to pay your way to fame. The downside of this is that anyone with money, even if they bring no real value, can have an influence. Perhaps we push this ourselves, in the media at least. So many people no longer appreciate creativity or beauty or optimism. They just want basal, mindless entertainment. Those with money in the media industry see this and cater to it- on our television, in our films, on the internet, and even in our "news." It creates a cycle in which the only things we see are unintelligent, uninspiring shit with no real benefits, no nutrition, for society as a whole. We need to inspire ourselves. If we want real change, if we want the average man and woman to be able to change the world, we need to change our societal views. We need to change how we collectively and individually think. We need to take the power out of the hands of those with money (who only work to boost their own power) and put it back into our own hands. Change shouldn't need money.