Comments on: Raise the Wage NOW! http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/info/raise-the-wage-now/ Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:23:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: admin http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/info/raise-the-wage-now/#comment-4 admin Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:34:31 +0000 http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/info/raise-the-wage-now/#comment-4 Thank you, Bryan for your question. Your question assumes that increasing the minimum wage will cause prices to go up, and that they will go up significantly. In fact, there is substantial evidence that suggests otherwise. This research looks at both the effects of the previous federal minimum wage increase of 1996-97, and the states that have raised their wages above the federal level. The research shows that increasing the minimum wage does not cause job loss (read the evidence yourself at http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/resources/). Another way of answering your question is: if workers make more money, they will spend it BY NECESSITY on the basics: rent, food, utilities, childcare and transportation. This pumps more dollars into local economies. By NOT raising the minimum wage, these workers and their families will be increasingly dependent on social services paid for by your tax dollars, like housing subsidies, food stamps and Medicaid. Don't you think it makes more sense to raise the wage? Don't you think that workers deserve to be paid more than the Kansas minimum wage of $2.65 an hour? It has been at this level since 1988, during which time, the cost of living has inarguably gone up, no matter where you live. Finally, don't you think an honest day's work deserves fair pay? Thank you, Bryan for your question. Your question assumes that increasing the minimum wage will cause prices to go up, and that they will go up significantly. In fact, there is substantial evidence that suggests otherwise. This research looks at both the effects of the previous federal minimum wage increase of 1996-97, and the states that have raised their wages above the federal level. The research shows that increasing the minimum wage does not cause job loss (read the evidence yourself at http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/resources/).

Another way of answering your question is: if workers make more money, they will spend it BY NECESSITY on the basics: rent, food, utilities, childcare and transportation. This pumps more dollars into local economies. By NOT raising the minimum wage, these workers and their families will be increasingly dependent on social services paid for by your tax dollars, like housing subsidies, food stamps and Medicaid. Don’t you think it makes more sense to raise the wage? Don’t you think that workers deserve to be paid more than the Kansas minimum wage of $2.65 an hour? It has been at this level since 1988, during which time, the cost of living has inarguably gone up, no matter where you live. Finally, don’t you think an honest day’s work deserves fair pay?

]]> By: Bryan http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/info/raise-the-wage-now/#comment-2 Bryan Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:35:04 +0000 http://www.raisethewagekansas.org/wichita/info/raise-the-wage-now/#comment-2 Q: What happens when the price of something goes up? a) Since it costs more, people can afford to buy less of it b) When the cost of something goes up, nothing happens If you chose a), congratulations! You know why raising the minimum wage (the price of hiring a worker) causes fewer people to have jobs. Q: What happens when the price of something goes up?

a) Since it costs more, people can afford to buy less of it
b) When the cost of something goes up, nothing happens

If you chose a), congratulations! You know why raising the minimum wage (the price of hiring a worker) causes fewer people to have jobs.

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