HistoryPaper1
Rachel Lackrajh
Ms. Moore
Economics 12
October 15th, 2014
The Problems Facing a Low-Wage Worker
In the United States, low-wage workers are facing serious problems. These workers are living in poor conditions, some suffering from poverty and others just barely scraping enough together to making ends meet. There are three major problems that these low wage workers are struggling to deal with. One of them is that America is basing its wages on a 1969 standard of living, which means that there has been no updates to cater for today’s needs. Another problem is that the conditions that they work in is so harsh and for such little pay, yet they have to work their hardest so they do not lose their job. Lastly, the struggles that these workers have to go through because their pay is not enough is a huge problem. They end up sacrificing their time with family, living in their cars or rented trailers, and just worrying about how they will get enough money to cover their financial needs. These low-wage workers are what makes this country so productive; it is their hard work and productiveness that keeps the businesses thriving and the economy going, and for that they deserve a higher pay that will not leave them struggling.
America has been running on a 1969 standard of living for around 40 years, and as a result, low wage workers are not able to afford today’s basic necessities such as rent, utility, and food. The poverty line is derived from the minimum cost of feeding a poor family in 1963, times three because a typical family spent approximately one-third of their income on food. These wages have not been adjusted due to inflation and have been restricting those who work for it from being able to afford the products they need. Barbara Ehrenreich has written a book through her perspective, on the impact of the 1996 welfare reform act on the working poor in the United States. One thing that she realizes is that, “Something is very, very wrong when a single person in good
Ms. Moore
Economics 12
October 15th, 2014
The Problems Facing a Low-Wage Worker
In the United States, low-wage workers are facing serious problems. These workers are living in poor conditions, some suffering from poverty and others just barely scraping enough together to making ends meet. There are three major problems that these low wage workers are struggling to deal with. One of them is that America is basing its wages on a 1969 standard of living, which means that there has been no updates to cater for today’s needs. Another problem is that the conditions that they work in is so harsh and for such little pay, yet they have to work their hardest so they do not lose their job. Lastly, the struggles that these workers have to go through because their pay is not enough is a huge problem. They end up sacrificing their time with family, living in their cars or rented trailers, and just worrying about how they will get enough money to cover their financial needs. These low-wage workers are what makes this country so productive; it is their hard work and productiveness that keeps the businesses thriving and the economy going, and for that they deserve a higher pay that will not leave them struggling.
America has been running on a 1969 standard of living for around 40 years, and as a result, low wage workers are not able to afford today’s basic necessities such as rent, utility, and food. The poverty line is derived from the minimum cost of feeding a poor family in 1963, times three because a typical family spent approximately one-third of their income on food. These wages have not been adjusted due to inflation and have been restricting those who work for it from being able to afford the products they need. Barbara Ehrenreich has written a book through her perspective, on the impact of the 1996 welfare reform act on the working poor in the United States. One thing that she realizes is that, “Something is very, very wrong when a single person in good