Right now, the debate over raising the minimum-wage is sweeping the nation. New York Times writer, Steven Greenhouse, explores how parents across America are finding it almost impossible to support their families on the minimum wage in his article: Low-Wage Workers Are Finding Poverty Harder to Escape.
In Chattanooga, Tennessee one woman relies on food stamps and other financial aid in order to support her son and daughter on her $9 an hour salary at a nursing home. A divorced man, had to quit school and pick up a $9 an hour restaurant job in order to support his daughter, while living in his parent's basement. These families and many more constantly rely on public aid, but not by choice. Though they want to make better lives for themselves they are burdened by the scarcity of opportunities to do so.
"Poverty, Inc." showcased the negative effects that constant donations and handouts had on third world countries and their economies. For example, it closes businesses, disrupts work ethic, and even dehumanizes people because "no one wants to be a beggar for life." We have a similar- though not so extreme- case here in America. Sure, we have many forms of public aid available to border line poverty citizens. However, are we truly fixing the problem, or just making it worse? Maybe a rise in minimum wage truly is the answer? Or maybe it's something more?
Families that border the poverty line usually don't have the same opportunities as others. Therefore, instead of more public aid and raising the minimum, we should give these people more accessible opportunities at education. Most minimum wage workers don't have a college degree. Instead of investing money into raising the minimum and sustaining these low-wage jobs, the government should be investing money into education. So that people can obtain better jobs and make a living on their own. After all, an increase in wage could actually put more employees out of jobs because a company has to pay its employees more.
Like in "Poverty, Inc." we need to help people rise from poverty and create better lives, not continue their lives of eternal begging.
