Dear John,
Thirty years ago, in 1995, I gave a speech in which I debunked several right-wing myths about raising the minimum wage. Sadly, besides my hairline, it’s obvious not much has changed since then.
In this week’s video, we’ve added some updated graphics to my 1995 talk so you can see how today’s statistics compare to the statistics from back then. As you’ll see, many of the same myths that surrounded the debate at that time still frame today’s conversation. And we still need to be armed with the actual facts.
This is one blast from the past worth revisiting. Check it out as we debunk each myth one by one, then share it with your friends to make sure we all stay informed together.
Some of the common myths peddled back in 1995 that still live with us today include the idea that minimum wage workers are only teenagers. And that minimum wage workers don’t support families. Other whoppers include the false notion that raising the minimum wage kills jobs and hurts minorities in the workforce.
But as you’ll see when you watch the video, these are all lies peddled by corporate interests to suppress wages and harm working people.
Minimum wage workers are the workers that keep America going. Tens of millions of them, still working harder than ever, and still barely making it.
They deserve more from us than pocket change. They deserve a raise.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media
