If You Work Full-Time in America, You Shouldn't Have to Live in Poverty

     On Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 1:00 PM, outside of the NYS Department of Labor at  215 W. 125th Street, New York, NY,   Organizing For Action and volunteers are holding a grassroots event calling on Congress to raise the minimum wage and expand economic opportunity for millions of hardworking Americans. We should all be able to agree: if you work full-time in America, you shouldn't have to live in poverty. But the reality is, a minimum wage worker has a yearly salary of just $14,500. Even after accounting for programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit, a family of four supported by a minimum wage worker still ends up living below the poverty line. (source: OFA)

     I truly believe this is a matter that we all need to support. During my lifetime I have seen the minimum wage raised and it did not lead to the "END OF THE WORLD", "ECONOMIC DISASTER", or "MASS UNEMPLOYMENT". Simply put, raising the minimum wage puts a little more money into the hands of those who will spend it on food, clothes, health care, and housing. I think the word that is most often overlooked is the word "SPEND". Minimum wage workers who support themselves, not to mention supporting others as well, need their money to survive.

     Ask yourself, "How am I doing on what I make?" then ask yourself, "How would I be doing if I made minimum wage?" ASK YOURSELF! I'll see you Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 1:00 PM outside of the NYS Department of Labor at 215 West 125th Street, NY, NY.