In a vote of 49-46 the Congress denied an increase in the minimum wage. The current wage is set at $5.15 a hour. It is hard for me to imagine living a life on income that low. A 40-hour week would yield a net income of less than $10,000 a year, regardless of your state. For a teenager of a middle income family, or a college student living at home an extra $100-$200 a week is adequate, but not for a single-parent family or a high school graduate living on their own. An increase in minimum wage is not on the GOP Agenda, but this has been an objective that the DNC would like to achieve.

Questions for debate:
1.) Why does the Republican party oppose an increase in minimum wage?

2.) Why is the Democratic party an advocate of increased minimum wages?

3.) Pro and Cons: What would the effect be on small business owners if they are required to pay more money for the same level of skill?

Saw a cartoon on that subject once, I wish I could find it again. In a fast-food restaurant a man is standing with six of his crew, saying:

"I have good news and I have bad news."

"The good news is, Congress has just increased the Minimum Wage, so I have to pay you more."

"The bad news is, I can't afford that, so two of you are fired."

Sad but true.