Term Papers on The Effects Of Minimum Wage On Leisure And Free Time: The Cons

Term Paper Title	The Effects Of Minimum Wage On Leisure And Free Time: The Cons
# of Words	1509
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	6.04

The Effects of Minimum Wage on Leisure and Free Time: The Cons

     Leisure is something that I feel is important in everyone's lives today, although not everyone is accessible to certain types of leisure.  I feel in some way leisure has an effect on everyone's lives in America, from those in poverty to the Bill Gates of the world.  For some people leisure might be going to the park to picnic or just play basketball, but to others it is taking an exotic trip to another country.  Whatever form of leisure each individual enjoys or can afford this leisure is most likely having a positive effect on their lives and is almost a necessity to them.
     This is not just my opinion it is also said by Kelly(1990) that, "Some indications have been presented that leisure is increasingly important in the value schemes and schedule of modern western adults"(p.11).  Kelly states some of the benefits of leisure are:
"Self expression, companionship, integration of mind and body or
Physical health, a needed contrast or rhythm in the work constrained schedule, rest and relaxation, a chance to try something new and to
meet new people, to build relationships to consolidate the family, to  get in touch with nature, to test oneself in risk or competition, to meet the expectations of people who are important to them, and
to just feel good without analyzing why"(p.12).

     I agree with Kelly and feel that these are some of the main reasons as to why leisure is an eccentric part in each individuals lives and that each member that contributes to society in some positive way should have a chance to participate in some form of leisure.  Yet this is where the individuals economic status comes into play.  Not everyone is able to pursue desired leisure activities but many struggle to experience the "normal" types of leisure, such as watching television or listening to music.  Many politicians argue that raising the minimum wage will help the lower class and give them greater opportunities in society, but I beg to differ.  I believe that the minimum wage should not be raised because it is in actuality not helping the economically lower class but hurting them.
The minimum wage was established in 1928 at a wage rate of 25 cents.  The minimum wage is a price that is imposed by the federal government on the labor market.  The central aim of establishing a minimum wage was to increase the standard of living among low skill wage earners.  Since its introduction the minimum wage has been raised sixteen times in an effort to try and keep up with inflation.  In 1989, President Bush signed an increase in the minimum wage from $3.35 to $4.25.  In 1995 President Clinton and his economic advisers decided the minimum wage should be raise to $4.75 by July 1995, and to $5.15 by July 1996. (In formation provided by American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research 1996.)  It is now being argued again by Clinton and his advisers that the minimum wage should be raised beyond its current level of $5.15.  They claim they are looking out for today's poor working men and women, however increasing the minimum wage is a misguided and wrongheaded policy that will do far more to hurt the poor then help them.
     First of all when you look at American families there are a few different aspects to examine when looking at their wages. As stated by the National Center for Political Analysis (June 9, 1998), first of all about ten percent of families have less than $10,000 income and about thirty two percent of families have incomes of $50,000 or more, but surprisingly only fifteen percent of low wage workers are in the lowest income families.  This means that most of the low wageworkers or those making minimum wage are either teenagers or secondary earners for the family.  Usually teenagers are not the ones supporting the family for leisure, rather the parents.  So this is not going to benefit the low-income families.  Yet why do low-income families have low incomes?  Usually it is not because of the low wages people are being paid but rather no wages at all.  Many of these ...

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