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The Benefits Of Increasing The Minimum Wage

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Should we raise the minimum wage of $7.25? President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1938 established the minimum wage of $0.25 per hour during the Great Depression. Congress has raised minimum wage 22 times. The last increase was in 2009 when congress raise it from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour (“Should the Federal,” 2017, para. 1). Those who favor the idea of raising the federal minimum wage agree that $7.25 is not enough for living expenses and that increasing it will better the economy (“Should the Federal,” 2017, para. 2). People who are against boosting minimum wage say it will force businesses to shut down, cut workforce, and put a limit on hiring. Above all, those with little experience will find it harder to find a job (“Should the Federal,” 2017, para. 3). Increasing the federal minimum wage is an inconvenient idea because it will increase poverty, damage businesses, and leave young adults out of workforce.
Opponents believe businesses will lay off employees and close businesses. If minimum wage was raised, many business owners would have no other option than to either close businesses or fire some of their workers. This is because owners would have to pay employees more meaning the business would lose more money rather than producing. Stated in a 2013 Gallop poll, 60% owners of small-businesses agreed that boosting the minimum wage will harm their business. Vice President of fast food foundation White Castle, Jamie Richardson, indicated that raising the federal minimum

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