A Living Wage

Most Americans who rely on just a full-time job earning the federal minimum wage cannot afford the rent and utilities on a one- or two-bedroom apartment, an advocacy group on low-income housing reported Monday.

In fact, the current minimum wage gives a full-time worker barely more than $10,000 a year, despite a federal poverty level that has climbed to $18,600.

Many states legislatures across the country, from blue to red, have raised the minimum wage, so why is this not national policy? Because of conservative claims that it would hurt employment (something they know a lot about), despite the fact that new research over the past decade shows that modest hikes to keep the low-paid abreast of inflation will cost few if any jobs.

Now given these facts it is clear that the minimum wage must be raised. It simply makes logical and moral sense that if a person works a full-time job, no matter what that job is, they should be able to make enough money to not be living in poverty! I've grown weary of tireless arguments and excuses against such common-sense and decent proposals. Until we get a more friendly-to-people Congress, Americans should push their state legislatures to raise the minimum wage so that we have a system that rewards average, hard-working people with a livable income.