Raise the damned minimum wage!

[Andy823]

I agree that we need to raise the minimum wage. I agree with those who complain that even with good job growth many jobs are not pay a decent wage. The problem is it is not going to happen at the national level as long as republicans can stop it in congress. No way will republicans push for a higher national minimum wage, it just isn't going to happen.

The only way it is going to happen is at state levels. If you live in a state with low minimum wage laws, or none at all, the start protesting at your state capital. Get the issue on a ballot so your state can vote on it, because once the overs have a chance to vote on this it will pass.

Here is a site show what each state has done, or not done, with raising the minimum wage:

http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx

Here is a summary:

Summary
As of Jan. 1, 2015, 29 states and D.C. will have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage.

Four states - Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota - approved minimum wage increases through ballot measures in the 2014 general election; Illinois voters approved an advisory measure.

The legislatures in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and D.C. enacted increases during the 2014 session.

Minimum wages will go up in nine states on Jan. 1, 2015 because of indexed increases in their state law: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington.

If people want change they need to start at the state level. Don't wait for republicans to fix this, because they won't. Don't wait till 2016 and hope things change by then. Take matters into your own hands and do like other states have done, and fixed the problem.

[randys1]

1. LOCAL is where EVERYTHING happens...We all need to petition or city and county officials

or political party to propose this, i guess you could have a proposition for the 2016 election

[Andy823]

5. I agree

Anyone who lives in states who have a low minimum wage, or none at all, should star working on ballot measures for the 2016 elections. It would get out the voters, and it would pass hands down.

[SheilaT]

2. Plus, Santa Fe, where I live

has one of the highest minimum wages out there, currently $10.51/hour, will go up to $10.66/hour in March. And it's officially called the Living Wage. People commute from Albuquerque for the higher pay here, even though I'd think they'd be using up much of the difference in the cost of commuting.

[Andy823]

4. I live in Washington state

Our minimum wage is $9.47 and it started going up back in 2001. I remember all the republicans complain how it would "kill" jobs, destroy our state, etc. and yet things are doing fine, the state economy was not destroyed, and it didn't kill jobs.

[SheilaT]

7. I get so angry at the claim that raising the minimum

wage hurts business and kills jobs. If, during the all-too-lengthy periods when minimum wage doesn't rise, I don't exactly see prices of very many things staying the same.

Washington state is among my several most favorite states.

[Politicalboi]

3. Looking at the list is so sad and pathetic

We talk about slave labor in other countries, but we have it right here at home. These small hikes are nothing. I live in Ca and we have to wait till next year for our dollar. And they expect us to live off this shit.

[Andy823]

6. Exactly.

It needs to be a priority for all states that need a higher wage, and the ones that don't even have a minimum wage. I agree it's a slow process this way, but it's a start, and if we can get enough states with this issue on the ballots in 2016, not only will it pass, but it will drive the turnout of voters up.