By Christopher Cross
According to a survey by the Boston Channel out of 6,331 online votes 90% or 5680 voters are in favor of increasing federal minium wage. However, A proposal by Sen. Edward Kennedy for an increase of $1.10 over a year and a half was defeated on a near-partyline vote of 51-47. . .
An individual working 160 hours a month at $5.15 per-hour makes a monthly gross of $824.00 average taxes on this are approximately $200.00, equally to roughly $624.00 net.
It should be noted however, that most individuals who make minimum wage are not full time employees.
An average one bedroom apartment costs range from $250.00 to $1,000.00 depending upon what state and specific locality you live. For purposes of this discussion let's say that you pay $250.00 for rent; $100.00 for all utilities; $50.00 for telephone; $100.00 for food and $60.00 for transportaion; equally $560.00 outgoing expenses each month. This leaves you with $64.00 a month for free spending.
For the past eight years the Federal minimum wage laws have remained the same and compounding the financial problems states are repealing their unemployment laws to make it more difficult to obtain benefits. All the while, cost of living expenses are increasing in key areas such as rent and utilities and gas for vehicles.
Compounding these problems is the fact that more and more employers are failing to provide healthcare benefits for employees and many who do; provide shabby benefits that often cost more than the policy is worth.
Meanwhile ~ elected officials continue to rake in handsome salaries and excellent healthcare benefits for what many times equates to part time work.
The fact that the minimum wage has remained stagnant for eight years is a very good indication that there is absolutely no governmental care whatsoever about the working poor class of our country. Moreover, there is an intentional effort at work here to ensure that the poor remain poor regardless of the consistent harmful effects being imposed.
During the past two decades there has been an increasing political move to give strong support to corporations ~ corporations that continue to steal money from stockholders and pension funds. Moreover, with corporations selling American jobs to other countries because they can pay less than the American federal minimum wage and no benefits. One has to wonder just how much corporate officials actually care about the American economy and their own employees.
Money has always mattered more than human life, safety and freedom but are we transcending into new realms of these aspects to the point that we are destroying our country in the process? I think so.
Comments