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I currently live in Ohio. We raised the minimum wage by quite a bit the first of this year. My wages were 36% above the previous minimum wage. Now, those same wages are only 16% above the "new" minimum wage. So I feel qualified to speak upon the issue as a relatively low-wage earner whom is not making miniumu wage.

The prices of nearly everything went up substantially. The minimum wage only increased 24% but it seems that the prices of many essentials, such as groceries, increased many times that. There are other factors involved in the price increases for certain items, at least that is what the businesses say. But it is suspicious that the prices greatly increased in the first several months of this year, with stepped, smaller individual increases every few weeks. It is very believable that these increases were planned, and made due to to the wage increase.

I work with several folks whom make the minimum wage. And it does seem that it is just as difficult for them to make it now as it was before the wage increase. I live on the border of a state that did not increase the minimum wage. It seems that for the first twenty or so miles into this state, the minimum wage no longer applies. The business there had to raise their wages as well, or face a departure of their workers to higher-paying jobs across the state border.

What is really vexing is that there are many folks living on fixed incomes in this area, not based on minimum wage laws, but in nearly the same boat financially. These folks did not see a raise in their income, but they have to face the increase in prices just the same.

It does not seem that the minimum wage increase has raised the living standards of the poor working class in this area. That might be something to consider if a national minimum wage increase were put into place.

Learn more about this author, Brad Smith.
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