Worth 20 points The federal minimum wage and 40-hour workweek were first introduced in 1938 by Congress under the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). FDR, president at the time, claimed the law was "the most far-sighted
program for the benefit of workers ever adopted," arguing that fair wages ensure a "minimum standard of
living necessary for health, efficiency and general well-being." The FLSA established standards affecting
employees in the private sector and in government sectors at all levels, minimum wages, overtime pay,
employment recordkeeping, and youth employment.
At the time of this writing, workers covered by the federal minimum are entitled to a wage of not less than
$7.25 per hour. Although the federal minimum wage has been increasing steadily since the end of World
War II, it has actually remained pretty stagnant in real-dollar terms. In fact, today's $7.25 minimum
federal wage is actually less than it was in the late 1960s in terms of buying power, after increases in the
cost-of-living are factored in.
Many states also have minimum wage laws. In 2016, for example, California passed legislation that will
eventually increase the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour. Think about state and federal policies
regarding minimum-wage levels in relation to the overall efficiency and strength of the economy as well
as their impact on U. S. citizens.
Now construct a brief argument for or against this proposition: Increases in the federal minimum wage
would have the effect of increasing the standard of living for the lowest socioeconomic classes and would
not increase the level of unemployment in the United States. How would you defend your position to a
fellow student? What would be your main line of argument? What evidence do you believe best supports
your position?
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