The President

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr./Mrs. President,

It’s a controversial question, should the national minimum wage be raised? The answer is no. I believe that it is important to keep the minimum wage low in order to promote a higher education and to keep adding jobs. Raising the minimum wage shows teenagers that you can make enough money working in fast food and they will think college is not necessary. It will also eliminate jobs because the more money being given to a single person will prevent business owners from being able to hire more people. Raising minimum wage will cause more harm than good on the youth and the working class.

Minimum wage earners are pushing to increase their pay to $15 an hour, which is ridiculous. According to pewresearch.org, about 50% of these workers are students and 64% have a second job. Some adults in America are trying to make a “living wage” off of the current $9.00 an hour for large chains and $7.25 an hour for smaller businesses. If Americans make more while not having a higher education they will choose to continue earning minimum wage and not go to college.

Raising the minimum wage could also eliminate jobs. When companies are forced to pay more, they hire less. Jason Riley points out that the reason for poverty is not because minimum wage it too low, it's the lack of jobs. Minimum wage being raised wouldn't help reduce poverty, it will increase it because people will be put out of work. When small businesses are forced to pay more, they have to hire less because they cannot afford to hire more people. Minimum wage must remain low in order to create more jobs.

The national minimum wage needs remain low in order for Americans to keep their jobs. Eliminating jobs is not what we need to do, and we need to focus on pushing teens to pursue a higher education by leaving minimum wage at a stand still.

Sincerely,

Sydney