Blog 6 The Minimum Wage

The title of this video caught my attention: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwAQwItEjUo

What is most striking to me, from having watched the above video, is not that the minimum wage hasn't been raised to $22; rather, it is that the minimum wage is less than one third of this value. The very idea that income inequality has grown such that our minimum wage is so small compared to what would be had it grown with the economy--not to mention how the minimum wage looks when compared with what the average CEO makes or the wealth of the top 1%--is mind-boggling to me.

After watching the Philosophy Kings video we were asked whether the film romanticizes custodial careers or simply acknowledges the 'human-ness' of them. I certainly think the film romanticizes their careers in calling them 'Philosophy Kings' and focusing on custodial careers at prominent educational facilities; but I also think the 'human-ness' of these individuals was shown via exploring their personal histories and having them talk about their aspirations. We need people to work these types of jobs because these types of jobs need to be done and we should respective that fact and respect those who are stuck in (or choose) these jobs. I'm guessing that there are many people that do enjoy cleaning buildings for a living while I'm sure there are many that don't; regardless, the stigma that is attached to service-industry jobs must be destroyed. For example, I believe that many people in the restaurant business that work ever-changing hours for low wages actually work harder many people that work in a bank with comfortable salary and even more comfortable hours.

Aside from eradicating the stigma that people have with regard to service jobs, the minimum wage should be increased. If economists are as sure as they are said to be (from the video) that our economy would not be significantly harmed from an sharp increase in the minimum wage, then I'm sure a reasonable increase in the minimum would have an even lesser negative impact on the economy--it might even have a positive impact as some have argued.