What's up with the minimum wage? Dont even try to say that it will cause more problems than solve.?

This question begs to be answered. Over the last several years congress is always asked to vote on whether or not to approve a raise for themselves, and it is always passed. Yet the Federal Minimum Wage in the United States is still $5.15 per hour. There is a large number of the population that must work 2 or 3 jobs sometimes just to make ends meet. The minimum wage is at its lowest it has been in at least 30 years, comparitively speaking. Consider this, average rent is about $800+ per month, utilities equal approximately $80-$120 per month, plus food for a family of 3 or 4 is around $350-$400 per month. The minimum wager is bringing in on average for his family somewhere in the vicinity of $676 after taxes per month at just one job. This has got to be the single most horrifying fact in America today. In this veteran's opinion it is quite obvious that the there is a lot of truth to the old adage 'the rich get richer and the poor stay poor'. I realize that there a programs in this country to help the poor but the welfare system is in such dire need of reform as well. For example, suppose a family is on welfare and something changes in their income bracket, does welfare continue to support them for a further, let's say 3 months, until they can be self sufficient? Not a chance, the instant that the local welfare department is apprised of the change in income level the benefits are gone. The result is this, within a short period of time the family is quickly back to where they were and now even deeper in debt. So, what course of action can they take, back to welfare, if not unemployed because money is so tight that they can no longer afford to get to work. Unemployed and probably not receiving benefits. And since their not receiving benefits the dont effect the unemployment rates. It's a foregone conclusion that unemployment in this country is staggeringly higher than the Department of Labor states, because the percentage that is given is solely dependent upon those who are collecting unemployement. How can that even come close to giving an accurate percentage. In the town in which I live I would be willing to bet that the actul unemployment rate is 20-30% higher than reported. This can all be directly traced back to the current Federal Minimum Wage. It's a domino effect that is just going to get worse and worse. The only number that would be helpful to the Minimum Wage earner is at least $10.50 per hour. Not work up to $10.50 vote into law overnight. Put a freeze on inflation for 3 years so that Americans can get back on their feet. The problems in this country are far far worse than what your offices are reporting to you. If you want to know what it's really like, try paying your bills on $5.15 per hour. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Here's the real kicker. You're complaining about the minimum wage and unemployment in the same rant.

Increasing minimum wage will make employers hire LESS people and/or increase the price of their goods to make up for their increased costs.

There is no easy answer to this problem.

Well said. The obvious, and erronious, response would be that it's bad for business, people would have to be laid off, and even more people and families will be living in poverty.
My aunt runs a business, and is going to lay off about 1/3 of her workforce, dumping all the extra duties on the existing employees if it goes up. It just drives up the cost of products and services and causes companies to cut jobs. All the while making little impact in the lives of the minimum wage earner. Most of those people making minimum wage are also receiving government program benefits, such as welfare, rental assistance, wik and/or social security. Besides, the only one holding them back is themselves. I have a lot of family that worked full time while going to college. My great grandfather survived the great depression and pulled himself from extreme poverty to wealthy business man! One more point, there are a lot of poor families I see that have cable TV, cell phones, designer shoes and clothes and buying sugar loaded expensive junk food all the time. No wonder they are poor!
Socialist.

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Minimum wage jobs, for the most part, aren't meant to be jobs that people stay at and expect to live like the Jones's on. In most jobs they are an entry level wage. What you do with it from there is up to you. I started in an entry level (minimum wage) position and worked my way up to a livable wage/401k/retirement----the whole bit. It took a lot of work and bettering myself to do it, but it was worth it. I could have sat there in my entry level position crying that I didn't make enough money and the company (or government) owed me more than that. I've seen people do it.
Consider this--- Mini mun wage goes to $10.50 for unskilled, entry level work. What does that raise the employee that has been at the company for 12 yrs. and has worked hard to better themselves wages up to? and so on up the ladder?
As the rich got richer they cashed in the US
jobs and sold them over seas for a quick dollar on the stock market.

Now you are competing with a sweat shop in china that employs children and pays pennies a day.

The higher the minimum wage goes the more jobs get exported to low rent countries.

Isn't global economics great?
okay, get a reality check here. chances are if you are working a minimum wage job, you are on public assistance as well (food support, rent assistance, day care assistance, cash support, WIC, MA). As a mom raising two children and working full time (my job pays $12 an hour) I qualify for all of the above. Before you go ranting about minimum wage jobs, why dont the ones working minimum wage jobs get off of their butts and try to better themselves, go to college, get a degree, get the higher paying jobs. The state and county can help you alot with that, financially that is.