New Year, New America

As the new year begins, 21 states will see a rise in the minimum wage. Although the federal minimum will remain at $7.25 an hour, these states are well on their way to having a minimum wage of $10.10 an hour by Jan. 1 of 2017, the wage that Obama wants to pass as the federal minimum. These increases will introduce countless positive changes in the coming year, and hopefully the remaining 29 states will follow.

About 4.3 percent of all hourly paid workers, until now, were paid below the federal minimum. No wonder the poverty level in America is at an all time high. Perhaps these 21 states have kick-started a period of positive change for the United States, a period of increased prosperity and less poverty. About 12.5 percent of the United States population lives below the poverty line of $23,550 a year. Increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour (Obama's goal by 2017) would bring about 1 million families above the poverty line. Additionally, the cost of living in the U.S. is increasing rapidly: "Groceries cost 20% more, a gallon of gas costs 25% more, and average tuition at a community college increased 44%." As the cost of living increases, the minimum wage must as well, or else more and more families will be thrown under the poverty line. 

We as Americans pride ourselves in being the "land of opportunity." Realistically, though, we live in a land of opporunity for the rich. We've all heard the statistics: that 1% of the U.S. population controls a third of the wealth in our country. And it's true, and it's insane. To me, it seems as though until more Americans are able to afford basic necessities, we Americans have nothing to pride ourselves in, for we are not a "land of opportunity" for all. And until the minimum wage is raised to a reasonable degree, this cannot and will not happen.