Untitled Document
One of the most obnoxious phrases in America today is
“the working poor.”
We live in the richest nation in the history of the
world, and it’s morally abominable that anyone who works in this
country is poor. Our economy is deliberately skewed by public policy. As a
result, the vast portion of America’s wealth, which is generated by
all of us, flows to the few at the top, shortchanging the middle class, and
leaving millions of hardworking Americans — many working two or three
jobs — in poverty. For the first time in a decade, Congress finally has
upped the minimum wage, increasing it by 70 cents an hour this summer, with
two more 70-cent increases coming in the next two summers. If you’re
one of the working poor — trying to make the rent, put food on the
table, and cover the basics of utilities, clothing, and gasoline —
every penny matters, so a 70-cent raise helps. But Congresscritters should
not injure their arms patting themselves on the back, for $5.85 an hour is
a gross pay of only $12,000 a year — still a poverty wage for
full-time work. Even with two more scheduled raises, the minimum wage will
remain poverty pay. Oh, exclaim apologists for this injustice, raising
workers’ pay hurts small business. In fact, a recent survey found
that three of four small- and medium-sized business owners say that raising
the minimum wage doesn’t hurt them. Indeed, two-thirds of small
businesses support a boost, because their workers gain more purchasing
power and the companies have less turnover, higher productivity, improved
customer satisfaction, and an enhanced reputation. Don’t let the wealthy elite pit small business
against workers. We’re all in this together. For more information,
check out Business for Shared Prosperity:
www.businessforsharedprosperity.org.
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator,
columnist, and author.
This article appears in Aug 2-8, 2007.
