Why I Care And Why You Should Too

One of the most controversial discussions in today’s economy is whether or not to increase or decrease minimum wage. This blog is intended to propose a case as to why minimum wage should be increased. My personal relationship to the case is that I am a nineteen year old college student who has worked in the fast food industry before and has earned the standard seven dollars and twenty five cent an hour wage. To me, as a teenager, this low salary didn’t really impact me directly. However, my co-workers were very financially burdened due to this salary. Most people assume that most workers that earn minimum wage are in their teens simply working to earn spending money, however the average minimum wage worker is thirty-five years old. I was working with many people who we’re well into there thirties, but a majority of my co workers were in there twenties. These workers were not stay at home and do nothing type of people either. These workers were working long shifts all the time to make a wage that they could live off of. While many of them were students In college and were working towards becoming a graduate and going on to pursue a career elsewhere, they needed to earn a salary that they would be able to live off of for the time being. Overall, my eyes were opened to see that so many people are struggling to live off of the minimum wage today. 

Minimum wage should be raised in Oklahoma City to $10.10 in order to better the lives of those who are trying to make a living off of that salary. Tj Maxx and Walmart have both agreed to raise their minimum wage to nine dollars an hour, and hopefully this is a sign that the government will move in that direction too.