Raising Minimum Wage Essay

Minimum wage was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 25, 1938 as a part of the Fair Labor Standards Act. This idea was introduced so the common man may support himself after the great depression ended. When minimum wage was placed in effect for businesses the standard hourly rate was just $0.25, the standard hourly rate is now $7.25. In today’s workforce, many believe the standard minimum wage should be raised to $15 an hour. The idea of increasing minimum wage does not appear to be bad, but there would be complications that follow. The government raising minimum wage would cause more harm than good. Walter E. Williams wrote an article regarding the issue of raising minimum wage. In Mr. Williams’s article he asks, “Here's my question to supporters of higher minimum wages: How compassionate is it to create legislation that destroys an earning opportunity?” What Mr. Williams is contemplating is by raising the standard minimum wage there creates no opportunity for the worker to increase their pay by hard work, the higher pay is already there. Mr. Williams has a valid

For example, higher pay for employees that work hourly jobs such as fast food and grocery stores means the products those businesses sell would increase in order to compensate for the higher wages. The downfall and effect of higher standard minimum wage effects not only the hourly wage earner, but other working classes as well. For example, people in the workforce that go to college and earn a job based on their qualifications and then receive a salary. Those employees work and earn raises within their jobs during the time they are employed. When those same employees go to buy the products of businesses with increased minimum wages, they have to pay more because the product has increased in cost. This negative effect of higher minimum wages are spread throughout the working