Eva M. Clayton: “one is asked, why do we need a minimum wage? I just heard the reference to victims. I gather these people feel that they…”

“one is asked, why do we need a minimum wage? I just heard the reference to victims. I gather these people feel that they need the minimum wage, and 80 percent of the American people feel they need to increase the minimum wage. First you need to increase the minimum wage because it is the fair thing to do. It is indeed fair to say that those who are employed at the lowest level are also employed at a livable wage. It says something about our economy. Why is a livable wage needed? Well, it is needed to provide the very basic essentials of living: a shelter, food on the table, clean clothes, being able to take care of medical expenses, transportation, all those things that a human being needs to exist. Again, we heard reference to the teenagers who are on the minimum wage. I would suggest to you there indeed are teenagers who are on the minimum wage, but they are supplementing their family's income. Many of them are working their way through college. Indeed, they have a right, as I have suggested to you, as the adults have in making a livable wage. The adults are mostly women, single women heads of households who have a sole responsibility for their families. So who will be helped? A lot of people will be helped, if indeed we raise the minimum wage.”