A new hashtag is taking Twitter by storm. #Fightfor15 has trended worldwide throughout the day as hundreds of minimum wage workers across the country walk out on their jobs. Movement leaders have organized protests and rallies in over 200 cities as their fight to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour gains steam.
Last year, Seattle became one of the first cities to raise minimum wage to $15 per hour. This has also contributed in part to a decrease in unemployment in the northwestern metropolis. San Francisco will raise its minimum to $15 per hour beginning in 2016.
Missouri, on the other hand, increased its minimum wage by a meager 15 cents this year. It now stands at $7.65 per hour.
With the 2016 presidential election already picking up steam, the Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton tweeted a vague message of support for higher minimum wage. Clinton wrote that people in low-income jobs “shouldn’t have to march in streets for living wages.”
As people age 16-24 make up 50.4 percent of those working minimum wage jobs, it’s already a controversial topic in high school.[TS-VCSC-Content-Flip flip_style=”style1″ flip_effect_style1=”horizontal” flip_effect_style2=”ts-flip-right” flip_effect_speed=”medium” flip_size_auto=”true” flip_size=”200″ front_html=”false” back_html=”false” read_more_link=”false” read_more_txt=”Read More” read_more_target=”_parent” front_icon_replace=”true” front_image=”273480″ front_image_full=”false” front_icon_size=”330″ flip_border_thick=”1″ front_icon_frame_thick=”1″ front_padding=”false” front_icon_padding=”0″ front_icon_color=”#cccccc” front_icon_frame_color=”#000000″ front_color=”#000000″ front_color_title=”#000000″ front_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_front=”#dddddd” back_color=”#000000″ back_color_title=”#000000″ back_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_back=”#dddddd” read_more_color=”#000000″ read_more_background=”#dddddd” animations=”false” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ front_title=”Shelby Yount, Junior” back_content=”
The minimum wage should be raised because it hasn’t been raised enough to keep up with inflation of other prices. It’s no longer able to support someone, and that’s what it was originally designed to do. Even when working full time you’re not making enough to support yourself, let alone anyone you’re caring for. Our biggest priority should be taking care of everyone in this country, and we can’t do that if we’re denying people basic living.
“][TS-VCSC-Content-Flip flip_style=”style1″ flip_effect_style1=”horizontal” flip_effect_style2=”ts-flip-right” flip_effect_speed=”medium” flip_size_auto=”true” flip_size=”200″ front_html=”false” back_html=”false” read_more_link=”false” read_more_txt=”Read More” read_more_target=”_parent” front_icon_replace=”true” front_image=”273481″ front_image_full=”false” front_icon_size=”330″ flip_border_thick=”1″ front_icon_frame_thick=”1″ front_padding=”false” front_icon_padding=”0″ front_icon_color=”#cccccc” front_icon_frame_color=”#000000″ front_color=”#000000″ front_color_title=”#000000″ front_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_front=”#dddddd” back_color=”#000000″ back_color_title=”#000000″ back_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_back=”#dddddd” read_more_color=”#000000″ read_more_background=”#dddddd” animations=”false” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ front_title=”Alex Parks, Senior” back_content=”
I do not think the minimum wage should be increased, or at least not that suddenly, because it would just cause inflation to run rampant. If there’s more money in circulation in the economy that means the dollar is worth less. I think the minimum wage should be raised gradually, like every two years or so they add a dime to the minimum wage.
“][TS-VCSC-Content-Flip flip_style=”style1″ flip_effect_style1=”horizontal” flip_effect_style2=”ts-flip-right” flip_effect_speed=”medium” flip_size_auto=”true” flip_size=”200″ front_html=”false” back_html=”false” read_more_link=”false” read_more_txt=”Read More” read_more_target=”_parent” front_icon_replace=”true” front_image=”273479″ front_image_full=”false” front_icon_size=”330″ flip_border_thick=”1″ front_icon_frame_thick=”1″ front_padding=”false” front_icon_padding=”0″ front_icon_color=”#cccccc” front_icon_frame_color=”#000000″ front_color=”#000000″ front_color_title=”#000000″ front_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_front=”#dddddd” back_color=”#000000″ back_color_title=”#000000″ back_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_back=”#dddddd” read_more_color=”#000000″ read_more_background=”#dddddd” animations=”false” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ front_title=”Megan Reed, Freshman” back_content=”I don’t think they should be asking for a higher wage, because if they have that level of a job that’s worthy of a low pay, then it should just stay like that.
“][TS-VCSC-Content-Flip flip_style=”style1″ flip_effect_style1=”horizontal” flip_effect_style2=”ts-flip-right” flip_effect_speed=”medium” flip_size_auto=”true” flip_size=”200″ front_html=”false” back_html=”false” read_more_link=”false” read_more_txt=”Read More” read_more_target=”_parent” front_icon_replace=”true” front_image=”273482″ front_image_full=”false” front_icon_size=”330″ flip_border_thick=”1″ front_icon_frame_thick=”1″ front_padding=”false” front_icon_padding=”0″ front_icon_color=”#cccccc” front_icon_frame_color=”#000000″ front_color=”#000000″ front_color_title=”#000000″ front_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_front=”#dddddd” back_color=”#000000″ back_color_title=”#000000″ back_background=”#ffffff” flip_border_color_back=”#dddddd” read_more_color=”#000000″ read_more_background=”#dddddd” animations=”false” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ front_title=”Delaney Tevis, Senior”] By Jenna Liu
Should the U.S. government raise the minimum wage?