Essay on The Politics of Minimum Wage - 5055 Words

The federally mandated minimum wage has been a divisive political issue in American politics since it first came into effect in 1938 under the Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR advocated for the minimum wage with the argument that â€Å"all but the hopelessly reactionary will agree that to conserve our primary resources of manpower, government must have some control over maximum hours, minimum wages, the evil of child labor, and the exploitation of unorganized labor† (Greene 2013). This idea led to the passage of the first minimum wage law in American history, twenty five cents an hour (Greene 2013). Prior to the passage of this law, several state minimum wage laws had been struck down as an unconstitutional prohibition of workers’†¦show more content†¦Although, the constitutionality of the federal minimum wage is now long cemented in Supreme Court precedent, this paper will examine the current tensions between classically liberal and classically republi can ideologies with regards to the minimum wage. In doing so, several questions will be addressed. These include the current status of the minimum wage, the classically liberal and classically republican outlooks on the principle of the minimum wage, and the inherent tensions between these ideologies with regards to what ought to be the case in terms of the minimum wage. Also, this paper will examine how progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans have gravitated towards distinctly different ideologies in the modern era. In addition, this author will put forth a potential minimum wage plan that attempts to reconcile some of the unavoidable tensions that occur between classical liberals and classical republicans when discussing a change in the federal minimum wage. The Current Status of the Minimum Wage: What is the Case? The status quo surrounding the minimum wage leaves many on both sides of the liberal republican spectrum unhappy. This frustration, with what President Obama would call an â€Å"unjust status quo† partially explains why the minimum wage has come to the forefront currently. The current federalShow MoreRelatedMinimum Wage At The United States1129 Words   |  5 Pagesintended to raise the current minimum wage floor of $7.25 in the United States stalled in Congress. As the November election approaches, many Democratic senate members are placing the issue of minimum wage at the forefront of their election campaigns, hoping to sway working-class voters in their favor. The issue of minimum wage has become a matter of politics, politics which far overshadow the far more pertinent concern of minimum wage’s economic effects. Minimum wage is a complex issue, and understandingRead MoreFast Food Industry Essay1456 Words   |  6 Pagessatisfy its customers efficiently to being filled with corporations that are looking to make the largest profits possible. This has led it to be very involved in political matters and along with the meat industry, it has a very strong hold over food politics. The effects of this on the American society have become noticeable, with obesity rates skyrocketing and the overall health of Americans in a pitiful state. It has also become a very significant in terms of the American economy, as it is one of theRead MoreArticle Rebuttal: Minimum Wage Essay1192 Words   |  5 PagesArticle Rebuttal: Minimum Wage Over the years there has been much debate about raising the federal minimum wage. Some states have taken it upon themselves to set higher minimum wages than the federal minimum wage, because of the lack of action by congress. The supporters of the raising of the federal minimum wage have been more vocal lately. This is especially true since studies have shown, that the gap has grown between the wealthier population, and the middle class. Recently President Obama, becauseRead MorePolitical Involvement os Power of the Public1456 Words   |  6 Pagesthat distress (Kraft and Furlong, 2013). There are currently nineteen states that offer a higher minimum wage than the federal mandate. Thirteen states raised their minimum wage levels on January 1, 2014, increasing the purchasing power of the lowest paid workers in each respective state, some of the increases were under fifteen cents (United States Department of Labor). 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There is an ongoing debate in government as to what the minimum wage should be. Stuck at $7.25, Obama has suggested raising the minimum wage to $9.00. Depending on a person’s perspective, raising minimum wage could be positive or ne gative. Minimum wage has the ability to change lives, and change the economy. Small businesses and unemploymentRead MoreGetting A Good Pay For Supporting My Family s Financial Needs936 Words   |  4 Pageslater after high school. The first job after high school provided a response why my parents were struggling so much. The low minimum wage that is so discouraging. The minimum wage was not sufficient to support the bill for our family despite majority of the family members having the minimum wage. I got worried about many families whose member could not secure a job with a minimum salary. To unfold the truth on the matter, I embarked on a research with the internet that has proved to be my best tool in