Minimum Wage

I think it should be more, especially in certain jobs. Some jobs that only pay min wage are laborous jobs where you work very hard, and those should be compensated. I think if the government officals had to live off min wage, they would def have it higher. They have no clue whats its like to live off $900 a month, thats basically what it works out to be working full time. Ive noticed since the raise, many things in the stores have went up. Sugar for instance, its almost $3 for a 4lb bag, lol and I always thought sugar was a 5lb bag. When did that change? Why is milk $4 a gallon? Is there a shortage of cows? I mean everything at the grocery store is high anymore, but mostly just the basics that Im sure everyone buys everday. Like milk, bread, eggs, sugar that kind of thing. Now I have no real facts that this is the reason for the higher prices, but where I live those things just happened to go up in price right after the wage increase. My state is supposed to be raising min wage every year til 2010 and the min wage is supposed to be something like $10. Im not positive on this. But hell by then, the price of everything else is going to rise and it will still feel like your making $7.50! Bay Lay Gray xx

I think that it is disgusting that our current Federal Minimum wage is only up to $5.85 and hour, whether the government says it'll going up to $7.25 an hour over the next 2 years or not. I started working 20 years ago and the minimum wage then was $3.85. An extra $2/hour over the course of 20 years? I'd like to see our government officials live off this wage. Fortunately I live in Illinois where the state minimum wage is higher than the Federal, it went up to $7.50 this last July and we get a steady increase over the next couple years until it's $8.25. Still nothing to get excited about. But it's better than what they are getting elsewhere in the country. You may find this link interesting...www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm -

I think it should be set to the cost of living for every state. Massachusetts, where I live, costs a lot more to live than Wyoming (or somewhere like that).

I don't even know what minimum wage is in my state right now. I work from home and get paid per piece. My husband is in the military and gets a set salary. I do know that raising minimum wage doesn't really help a whole lot, though. Comapnies have to raise their prices to offset the higher wages they pay out. I can't imagine trying to support a family with just a minimum wage job. I guess that's the reason that we have so many people on welfare. My husband's take home pay is roughly $15 an hour by the time you add in our housing and food allowances. We still have to clip coupons, watch for sales, etc. And we have free healthcare, cheaper groceries, and a few other benefits.

I agree I think the minimum wage should be about $8 I think that would help a lot more since they take a lot from taxes. But the minimum wage has gone up in the past couple of years. I think it went up again this year because when I first started my job. I was only making $6.00 Then it went up I think to 4o cents. But thats still way to low. I think $8.00 is the perfect minimum wage and I think it will reach that probally within 5-10 years hopefully.

Raise in wages is a need in this age and it is to be done often because the standard of living and the cost of living is on the rise everyday. So to be in the flow ,a raise is needed. There is a minimum wage amount to deduct tax isnt it. And greater the wage the more % goes as tax .Any wages below the minimum requirement is not taxable. So taxes are a worry to the big salary-getters and not for commoners.

I think they should raise it higher..I know here in WV they raised the minimum wage as well..but it's still like peanuts..

They do need to raise the minimum wage to a higher amount as the current amount is definitely not sufficient with the rising cost of everything. My company is trying to hire some people to do some temporary data entry work but they will not take it because of it being minimum wage. They need to make it around $9 at the least I think or the cost of living needs to go down.

Minimum wage DOES suck, but, in reality, are jobs that pay minimum wage truly WORTH anymore than that? Is asking "Do you want fries with that?" a hard enough job to deserve more? I really that it's difficult to live off of it because my husband is currently in school and the manager of a chick fila...and as manager he only makes $8/hour. We struggle, but I mean, in reality, it's a fast food job. You can't expect much more. Plus, most places don't even pay just minimum wage anymore. mcDonalds starts at $12/hour in some places.

I think it's not enough, everyone should have more to make everyone's life easier and make our lives better.

i think it is better to raise the minum wage. it is some little . and i know if you only get minum wage to live you will die for hungry. we can not live a simple live with that little money. so i think it is needed to raise.

Raising the minimum wage The Good: People have more money The bad: More outsourcing, raised prices in the market due to a higher demand, huge impact on economy. I like minimum wage being raised, but why not just give everyone free health care or a dorm room to live in.

Companies want the minumum wage to stay lower so that they can increase their profits while people are trying to support their familys. But I agree that the minumum wage should be higher than what it is at this present time. I was am EMT and only made $9.00 an hour.