Customer Reviews

Raise the Floor: Wages and Policies That Work For All Of Us

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As Congress prepares to debate the national minimum wage this Fall, there couldn't be a more timely or compelling book. At first I was a bit surprised to see this coming from the Ms. Foundation for Women, and while it may be an expansion of their advocacy work, they seem to have assembled an experienced, knowledgable group of researchers and writers to put this study together. It is clear, readable, convincing. Even the manner in which tables and data are presented is easy on the eye (and the head). But as I was drawn into the book, I began to see that looking at an issue like the minimum wage, one needs to do so understanding its history (and the authors do this compactly but thoroughly) and its relevance today (and the tie-in to the Living Wage movement is vivid and convincing). This is a book not only about female or male workers, but families, and beyond that, to the values this nation is supposed to stand for...and it made me so fired up that this country still keeps hard working people poor that I wrote both my senators about it. I hope they read it, and I hope you do too...

For the past 5 years, even with all the corporate scandals and a worse than Vietnam war killing America, never before in U.S. history has our government recklessly hit the gas pedal on giving more "tax cut" handouts for the wealthy elite and big business scoundrels. I'd rather socialize wealth than socialize poverty and terrorism any day. Anyone who thinks otherwise is only looking forward to turning America into a business concentration camp.

Though published in 2001, Raise the Floor addresses an issue that still affects millions of Americans. And it makes the case for anyone who believes that the government should play a role in reducing poverty. The authors show the need for new policies, and they outline the required steps. They show how good wages are good business, and in spite of fear mongering, that states that are good for small business also offer better wages.

If you believe that work should help raise people from poverty, not keep them in it, this book will inform, anger, and inspire you.

By stating that the minimum wage should be at a certain level, the authors dated their book, erasing some of the impact it could have.

Unfortunately, it reads too much like a report to Congress--or as an extensive research-term paper. The authors quote author Barbara Ehrenreich's NICKEL AND DIMED (2001), but they didn't get their message across as emotionally as she.

There are just too many charts and repetitive figures thrown at the reader. I could not plow through the whole book of predictable dry prose. And it really doesn't say much more than the better-written NICKEL AND DIMED.

Though sympathetic with the authors' causes (but basically to raise the minimum wage) and even outraged by the research, I found my eyes glazing over. I assigned the book three stars not because of the freshness of the writing, but because of the importance of the subject.

From the editorial review:
"In a January 2002 poll of likely voters, Americans overwhelmingly identified raising the minimum wage as key to stimulating the economy."
And of course, this poll result should translate into federal policy, for surely each one of those likely voters has a strong background in economic theory.
"...$8 an hour-the amount a single, full-time worker needs to meet minimum needs."
Minimum needs...like the "religious services" mentioned above?

For the rational Homo sapiens seeking an understanding of how minimum wage laws affect the economy, I recommend Capitalism by George Reisman.