The federal minimum wage is $7.25/h in the United States as of 2009. Each state can mandate their own minimum wages above $7.25/h like in Massachusetts where it's $9.00/h as of 2015.

On the left the two front runners Hilary Clinton and Berny Sanders both agree that the federal minimum wage should be increased to nearly double of what it is currently (Sanders - $15/h) (Clinton - $12/h).

While on the right Trump is advocating for minimum wages to stay the same. And some advocating that we completely ditch the idea of a minimum wage in the US.



On the other hand, for those who support the idea of $15 an hour or ($31,000 annually) suggest that this will allow us to have a better standard of living.

Taking many of the people who are impoverished out of poverty and allowing for many cuts in government assignment programs now that people will be able to pay for food/healthcare and other daily things.



But the biggest concern I have with the $15/h argument is the fact that we already an issue with outsourced jobs. It's much cheaper for companies to pay China/Mexico and many other countries lower for similar work.

Since raising the minimum wage to $15 would possibly deter employers from hiring young employees a way to combat the issue would be to have a lower minimum wage for teenagers (maybe around $10.00/h) and once they become adults (age: 18+) they will be paid at the federal level (Possibly $15.00). This might also be flawed because people with more experience may get a lower chance of getting the same job but still promotes teenagers to get experience. This is just something that popped into my head, it's not the main discussion but it's just something to start on.

What do you guys think? Does this apply to your country too (if you aren't from the US)?

Things to stay away from in the discussion:
> Female/male pay gap (that's another discussion entirely)