Stealing a page out of the playbook

Listening to NPR today they had a brief story about the current movement to pass the anti-gay marriage amendment, mentioning that it will do little to actually improve people’s lives. The commentator said that it was seen by most as a political move to rally the base of the Republicans, which of course it is.

It seems that the Democrats are taking a play out of the Red’s playbook and doing something similar, except instead of gay marriage it’s the federal minimum wage. I think this is actually a great idea, although I don’t see it passing. This is something that could help people out and really resonate with the voter base of a lot of hard hit areas. Unfortunately, I see many congressmen who side with big corporations voting this down.

Fact is, the minimum wage has been at the same 5.15 an hour since 1997, the longest stretch since it was changed after 9 years in 1991 to 3.80.  This is absurd. Study after study has shown that in areas that mandate a higher minimum wage, such as in states that have voted to increase it, it has improved the economy of those areas.

While I’d prefer to see them tackle some other issues first, this is something I’ve wanted to see done for a long time, and although it’s not likely to pass, if enough people pick up on it and are in favor of it they will be forced to vote it in eventually.

-Steve