The minimum wage is not a living wageThe cost of living can become very expensive and with these expenses, money is necessary. By raising the minimum wage, living expenses could be less of a financial crisis for families. A higher minimum wage would also make it easier for families, as they would have less difficulty making ends meet. This article examines the benefits of a higher minimum wage, why it is necessary for those living in or very close to living in poverty, and the downsides of the current minimum wage. All this to say that the current minimum wage is not enough to allow families to survive and therefore must be increased. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Act, establishing, among other things, the minimum wage (United States). Ministry of Labor). In 1938, it was 25 cents an hour and a maximum work week of 44 hours. At the time, this was a historic bill that caused quite a controversy between factory workers who toiled all day and the owners of the industry. "Don't let any screaming executive with an income of $1,000 a day... tell you... that a wage of $11 a week is going to have a disastrous effect on all of American industry." President FDR said after hearing the speech. agitation around the setting of a minimum wage. His statement ignoring the fact that a minimum wage places a burden on industries begs the next point. The historical argument that raising the minimum wage would lead to job losses because businesses can't afford it and would therefore lay off employees needs to be dispelled. With a majority, 66 percent, of low-wage workers not employed by small businesses, but rather by large companies with more than 100 employees, this means that these employers are large enough and producing... . middle of paper.... ..most affected by the recession. » With the federal minimum wage currently at $7.25, raising it to just $9.00 would allow 7.6 million workers to earn enough per week to survive. With $10.10 an hour, more than 16.5 million workers could escape despair and possibly rise above the poverty line (The Effects of Raising the Minimum Wage on Employment and Family Income). With these increases, the wages of more than 30% of Americans would increase. This represents potential financial stability for 30% of American households. A higher minimum wage would benefit working-class families who need extra money to survive. Not only are higher wages needed, but businesses can afford to give them. With the minimum wage one of the lowest ever, an increase is of utmost importance as it would strengthen families and the economy..