Huggins: Minimum wage should be increased
2 mins read

Huggins: Minimum wage should be increased

Whether or not minimum wage should be increased has become a hot debate in American politics. However, one politician is tired of discussing it.

Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, said the minimum wage debate isn’t something families are overly concerned about. Giving a speech in Washington, D.C. Oct. 21 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Christie weighed in on the debate over minimum wage.

“I’m tired of hearing about the minimum wage,” he said. “I really am. I don’t think there’s a mother or a father sitting around the kitchen table tonight in America saying, ‘You know, honey, if our son or daughter could just make a higher minimum wage, my God, all of our dreams would be realized.’”

One individual happens to disagree with Christie. Labor Secretary Tom Perez told CNNPoltics that minimum wage is an issue on people’s minds.

“Chris Christie’s got his head in the sand if he’s getting tired about the minimum wage,” Perez said. The same day, Christie said his comments were misunderstood.

Now that you have heard two opposing arguments, you’re probably wondering what an increase to the minimum wage would actually do to our economy and if it would be hurtful or helpful.

Joe Conason, editor of the National Memo, said there are a lot of myths surrounding the minimum wage debate.

“The notion that increases in the minimum wage slow down economic growth and employment is an old Economics 101 myth, bolstered last winter by a Congressional Budget Office study that said increasing the federal minimum wage to just over $10 an hour might cost up to 500,000 jobs,” he said.

Those opposed to this stance believe it will cost people their jobs. Those who are in favor of an increase may argue that by increasing wages, it will be easier for people to purchase basic necessities, and therefore buying more goods will boost the economy.

Imagine being a student at USD, and you are currently being paid the minimum wage. If a student were able to get a better wage, it would be much easier for those students to pay their college bills. There would be less stress on college students because they are earning a couple of extra bucks to help pay for their education.

This should be an issue everyone can agree on. This issue doesn’t involve just men or women or even young people. It involves everyone. People deserve to be paid a fair wage and be able to make a living.