Democrats Give Millions A Raise
It's Friday, so it's payday for untold millions of Americans. And for millions of them, their paycheck will come with the first raise they've gotten in a decade. Because this is the week when the Democratically-sponsored minimum wage hike goes into effect.
The first of three yearly raises, the minimum wage goes from $5.15 an hour to $5.85 an hour this week. That is a 70 cent an hour raise, or roughly 14%. Next year, another raise of 70 cents to $6.55, and then the last in two years, to $7.25. Overall, this is almost a 41% raise for those paid the least in our country. While 70 cents doesn't sound like much, when is the last three-year period when you got a 40% raise? It's even more impressive if you look at yearly figures for a full-time worker: from $10,712 to $15,080.
This story didn't get much play in the mainstream media, or the elite Washington political punditry. That's because it doesn't affect them or anyone they personally know, so the story is flying under their radar.
But it does indeed affect millions upon millions of hard-working Americans, so the story deserves a spotlight. Because, after all, it was congressional Democrats who made this happen.
This is another reason the story isn't getting much play in the media. They seem to be accepting the spin from the White House that "this Congress can't do anything but investigate and obstruct."
About the Cartoonist | Reprint Policy
Congress is about to take August off, as they do every year. All the Congressfolks are going back to their home districts to schmooze with The People. If Democrats are smart, they'll open every single speech they give this August with: "If President Bush and the Republicans in Congress would stop obstructing good ideas, we could get more good laws passed, like the minimum wage hike which just took effect."
Because unlike some tax loophole passed for some giant corporation, a minimum wage hike is immediately visible in people's lives. It's concrete, tangible evidence that Democrats care more about working Americans than the Republicans -- who blocked every minimum wage increase they could when they were in charge of Congress.
So Democrats should use their time back in their home district to drive this point home. Rather than the old joke: "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?" what the Democrats should ask the public is: "Who are you going to believe about the Democratic Congress's ability to make your lives better -- George Bush's spin, or your lying paycheck?"
Cross-posted at The Huffington Post
-- Chris Weigant
Yes, the Democratic Party should be applauded.. They got a minimum wage increase for Americans..
That is truly an achievement...
And all they had to do was support the Iraq War to get it..
Personally, it's a win/win situation..
Michale.....
The connection is accurate, but isn't it really arbitrary?
I mean, isn't it more accurate to say that the Republicans finally got the war funded, and all they had to do was support a minimum wage increase?
Win/lose in my mind. The only war that will ever bring peace will be total destruction ... we don't need it.
>The connection is accurate,
>but isn't it really arbitrary?
Not necessarily... The Democrats were put in office on the "We will stop the war" platform.. They gave up the one thing that their political base was passionate about for a cheap political victory... When it would have been so easy to just let Bush's VETO stand...
Sure, they would have lost their Min Wage increase, but they would have accomplished the ONE THING that they were elected to do..
>Win/lose in my mind. The only war
>that will ever bring peace will be
>total destruction … we don't need it.
What don't we need?? War?? Peace?? Or total destruction??
Contrary to popular liberal belief, there ARE somethings that are worth fighting for. In this regard, I part ways from my liberalism and firmly embrace the conservative ideals..
Show me a person who wants peace at any costs and I'll show you a slave ready to be purchased...
Michale.....
How about peace at no cost?
I mean, think about it. If nobody spent a minute or a dime attacking anyone else ... what does that cost? Nothing. No death, no fear, peace for all at no cost ever.
I'm not suggesting you should not be prepared to defend yourself, I'm just suggesting that if no-one ever attacks, your preparation cost more than it was worth. Support free peace ... NEVER attack.
I yi yi, so off topic. Aren't you glad for the min wage folks that they're making inroads towards the American dream? I am. At this rate, they'll reach poverty status soon.
>I mean, think about it. If nobody
>spent a minute or a dime attacking
>anyone else … what does that cost?
>Nothing. No death, no fear, peace
>for all at no cost ever.
IMAGINE by John Lennon
It's a beautiful dream.. But when one chases dreams to the exclusion of reality, one ceases to exist...
I too, am happy for the min wage increase. It's another one of those many many issues that I am completely against the GOP and the administration on...
Michale.....
Hey, but what did you guys think of the first embedded political cartoon? Personally, I thought this one was both funny and thought-provoking, the hallmark of a good political cartoon.
Sorry for interrupting the comment thread, but I thought the addition of the visual cartoon really added something to this story. What did you all think?
Remember, this is "Multimedia Week" on ChrisWeigant.com, and that this is a new experiment for me, so let me know if it "works" for you!
We now resume our regularly scheduled comments...
-CW
It definitely added to the Commentary..
I also thinks it illustrates how much and how WELL the Republicans control the public's political perception..
Michale.....
@Michale
Illustrates how well Republicans control public perception. That may be true now, but it will change abruptly in the near future. Each pixel of my cartoons has a unique hand carved subliminal message. As my cartoons gain a wider audience, critical mass will be reached. At that point, I'll publish a cartoon with the master pixel, and BAM, I'll own the world. I will be selling off parts of New Jersey later that day, so if you want to own a superfund site at a bargain price, get your bids in early.
@CDub
I'll take some of that free peace! I've saved up enough nothing through the years, I'll take two peaces.
@CW
I certainly enjoy the cartoons, whoever draws them is a friggin' genius. I strongly recommend you triple his wages immediately.
[ Let's see ... three times zero ..um.. carry the r ..um.. ]
Better make that double the wages, don't want to end up in a bad tax bracket.
Thanks for the compliments, sincerely appreciated.