The evidence continues to roll in that increasing the minimum wage does not kill jobs. In fact, raising the minimum wage creates jobs.
Both Goldman Sachs and the Center for Economic Policy have done similar studies this year showing virtually the same thing: it is a lie to say raising the minimum wage destroys jobs.
Thirteen states either raised their minimum wage by current statute or by having it tied to inflation. The average increase in jobs in those states was 0.28 percent. Not much you say? The average increase in states where the minimum wage did not go up was “essentially zero” — 0.002 percent.
Right wing economists have tried to make this case against raising the minimum wage for years and they cannot do it.
We are starving our economy where money does the most good–at the bottom and the middle. There just isn’t enough money in wages to power the economy.
People work hard at minimum wage jobs. This is not giving money away. Do you want to wash dishes all day or push a lawn mower or clean hotel rooms and bathrooms?
It is an economic matter. It is a matter of economic justice.
It is also a matter of patriotism and what’s good for America. People are losing faith in the government’s ability to act. When that happens people start losing faith in the country and the future and bad things begin to happen.
The fast food workers have shown us a way forward–a campaign, a fight, a developing movement for higher wages at the bottom of the economy.
It is a way we all should follow.
Photo source Rising Tide.