On the recordApril 29, 1997
when you think about the history of the growth, the economic growth in this country, which permitted the rise of the middle class, which permitted people to go from $10 to $15 to even $20 an hour, it is really somewhat of a miracle that America sustained this. And then comes trade agreements like NAFTA and people start to see those jobs slip away. And the question arises, why would someone pay $20 an hour, let us say, as opposed to 91 cents an hour, as some workers in Mexico, are making for basically doing the same work that someone who had a job that paid $20 an hour did prior to that job leaving? The reason why you pay that amount is, in order to maintain a democracy, you have to make sure people have a lot of choices, and they have to have a good income. And that income gives them the ability to be free economically. Because let us face it, if you do not have economic freedom, your political freedom is compromised.
Source
govinfo.gov
