Increasing the Minimum Wage Will Reduce Income Inequality

"No person can maximize the American Dream on the minimum wage."

-- Benjamin Todd Jealous

"No family gets rich from earning the minimum wage. In fact, the current minimum wage does not even lift a family out of poverty."

-- Jon Corzine

Income inequality has been a major problem facing American society for decades, but has recently become a major concern. I personally believe the major gap between the income of the rich and poor is a not just, but is not a major concern for the government and society. If the Federal Government addresses other major concerns facing American citizens the inequality will be adjusted due to other changes. The government needs to step in and adjust minimum wage and public education. If the government was to raise minimum wage and give public schools more money to support students educational needs than the income inequality would begin to be adjusted. I strongly believe income inequality is a major problem in today’s society; however, other issues need to be addressed before the gap between the rich and poor in America can be reduced.

I feel a major issue the Federal Government needs to address social issues to aid the income inequality crisis, a main concern is an increase in minimum wage. The current minimum wage standard in the United States is $5.15 an hour; however, “only 17 states and the District of Columbia have set their minimums higher,” but this means there is still a majority, 33 states, with citizens making an incredibly low and inappropriate standard of income (Addison 1). Minimum wage has not increased in over a decade and most likely will not be raised in the next few years. The reason there will not be a raise is because “the Republican minority in the U.S. Senate filibustered and blocked a vote on a House-passed bill that would give workers a $2.10-an-hour raise over two years” (Addison 2). There would have been no strings attached to businesses if this bill would have been passed resulting in no downfalls for businesses, the only major consequence would have been a decrease in the number of citizens living at or below the poverty line. If the Federal Government was to approve the wage increase the income gap would decrease drastically. Many people complain about the inequality between the rich and poor, but the Federal Government is able to decrease the number of people living in poverty instantly b...

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...the poverty line will have to wait an even longer time to rise above their deprivation. Additionally, if the government took the time to establish a solid public education for all students and encouraged high school students to attend college the gap would also see positive changes. Raising wages, setting new standards for schools, and giving more scholarships so students can attend college will all result in positive changes for income inequality. I believe income inequality is a problem society will continue to face if the government does not address other problems facing today’s society, once minimum wage is raised and strong education programs for all students are created the gap will begin to decrease.

Works Cited

Addison, John, and McKinley Blackburn. "Minimum Wages and Poverty." Industrial and Labor Relations Review. Vol. 53, No. 3.

Becker. "America Needs a Raise." ALF-CIO. Winter 2006. America's Union Movement.

24 Mar. 2007 .

Sahadi, Jeanne. "Mind the gap: Income inequality, state by state." CNN Money. 27

Jan. 2006. CNN. 24 Mar. 2007
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