Minimum Wage Plan is Smoke and Mirrors

Naomi Rodriguez

ENG 102

Blog Post

June 22, 2016

We're all going to lose our jobs and if we don't we will just not have enough money! That pretty much sums up the article by The Gazette released this morning concerning Colorado's possible wage hike to $12 per hour for employees paid hourly.

 Yes negative consequences will come to some from a wage increase but overall it really could be better for the nation. The article "Minimum Wage Plan is Smoke and Mirrors" illustrates the negative consequences of raising the minimum wage like mainly by listing how much employment levels will decrease. It claims employment will decrease by 90,000. This author relies on using statistics like this to convince readers of the terrors in raising the minimum wage. 

The article refutes the popular argument, "a house hold cannot support itself on $9 an hour" by saying that an entry level job that will pay like this isn't meant for someone who has to support a household. It is a good argument but unfortunately that's the situation that some people are living in. 

"EDITORIAL: Minimum Wage Plan Is Smoke and Mirrors." Colorado Springs Gazette. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2016.

What is Arizona's stance on a Higher Minimum Wage?

Naomi Rodriguez
In the state of Arizona employers must pay people who work hourly at least $8.05 an hour, which is already higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for employee's paid hourly. Tomas Robles is one of the people in Arizona now fighting for a $12 minimum wage, he has an online petition and claims he has about half the signatures needed to be able to get the issue on a ballot. His campaign is called LUCHA or Living United for Change in Arizona and since 2013 he has been rallying and getting people to fight for a wage increase.

Small businesses in Arizona may fear that such a high wage would make them go out of business from trying to keep up with the legal pay which would be up to $3 dollars more for every employee every hour. Stephanie said “I deeply believe that as an entrepreneur and as a human being that people should be treated with respect and dignity,”. She owns a coffee shop and claims that her employees already make at least $12 an hour.

“Arizona’s current $8.05 minimum wage translates to $16,744 a year. For a single person, the federal government considers anything below $11,880 a year to be living in poverty. That figure is $16,020 for a family of two and $20,160 for a family of three.” The current wage is enough that someone wouldn’t be considered to be living in poverty but often one person is providing for more than just themselves and it’s very easy for the current minimum wage of $8.05 to not be enough for a family. owHHHHHHHhbuhiuh

"Ballot Fight Probable over Higher Arizona Minimum Wage." Arizona Daily Star. Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services, n.d. Web. 17 June 2016.

"Fight for Fifteen." Living United for Change in Arizona. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2016.