Politics & Government

Sound Off: Obama's Call For a $10.10 Minimum Wage

Do you agree with a proposal to raise the minimum wage?

During his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Obama said he would issue an executive order raising the minimum wage for future federal contract workers to $10.10. 

Obama also called for Congress to act on a Democrat-backed proposal to raise the current federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 for all workers. The minimum wage in New York is currently $8 an hour. 

We asked Patch readers on our Facebook pages if they support the proposal to raise the minimum wage. Here's some of the responses:

  • Of course. When you can't buy a sandwich from an hours worth of work... And most work at $7.25 isn't sitting at a desk checking your Facebook... Then there is a huge problem. Raise it to $12 an hour.
  • Absolutely! The reason is simple: more money means that people (mainly teenagers) can spend more on goods and services, encouraging job creation in the private sector.
  • This will just push more items to be created elsewhere. If a company in the U.S. needs to pay an employee $10.10 but a company in Asia can pay whatever they want; the outside country is going to win the bid!!!
  • $10.10 is not a living wage either. Make a spreadsheet, could you support your family on that?
  • No, it'll drive up all prices. Minimum experience, minimum skill, minimum effort = minimum wage. Want more? Go get some more education and some more skills.
  • Raising the minimum wage forces corporations to either reduce their work force (recession) or raise their prices. They will certainly not let it affect their profit.
  • I have a college degree and I'm currently making $8 an hour cause I can't find a job in my field...along with thousands of other recent college graduates. Is this fair? $8 is not helping me pay my student loans. Not that 10 would either but it would make things a little easier.
  • I think it is great, but I fear most small companies will have to lay off people to handle the increase..double edged sword
  • Support! Especially now that so many employers have made their workers part-time to avoid paying medical insurance.
  • For the currently employed it is great. For the unemployed it will be that much harder to find a job. For the consumer, prices in small businesses and even corporate America companies will increase to offset this labor cost increase.
  • I feel like it is long overdue.. Businesses have to pay people what they are worth to work and we have to be able to afford rent and mortgages.
  • Raising the minimum wage will only cause inflation and small business to go out of business, and more people to work off the book. Fast food customer service is a entry level job not a career.
  • No because kids starting out with no training will not be able, or afford to be hired and just will not get the valuable experience of getting hired for a beginning job.
What's your take on raising the minimum wage? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 



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