NOTE: “Answers” emails have ended for the school year and will resume September 2nd.
Daily posting will end for the summer on June 13th and will resume August 25th.

1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. What is significant about the Seattle city council’s vote?

3. What specifically does the new rule require?

4. a) Which political party wants the government to increase the minimum wage for entry-level employees?
b) Which party does not support government increasing the minimum wage?

5. What did socialist city council member Kshama Sawant say of the mandate? (see para. 4-5)
b) Ask a parent the following: Who is the “establishment”? Was it good for the government to force business owners to increase wages for their employees? Will there be any adverse economic results to Seattle?

6.  a) Suppose you are a supervisor making $15/hour in Seattle right now. When all of the employees you supervise are required to make $15/hour also, how will you feel? Will the business be forced to raise all employees salaries? How will this impact the profitability of the business?

b) In addition to increasing actual salary costs, this will also increase the employer’s payroll taxes (which are based on what the employee earns). How will the increase in minimum wage salaries, as well as resulting increase in other employees’ salaries and increased payroll taxes impact small and large businesses’ bottom line? Will they pass these added expenses on to the customer by increasing prices?  If not, where will the additional cost come from?

7. Understanding both sides of this issue is necessary before forming your own opinion. Most media reports favor the Democratic position (raising the minimum wage will help families – can’t raise a family on minimum wage, it will help women, it will help the economy). The position opposing a government mandated increase is not as often explained in the media. To gain an understanding of both sides, watch the video under “Resources” below and read the commentaries.
a) List the reasons for and against the government mandating a higher minimum wage.
b) Think about the reasons people have for opposing or supporting government mandated increases. With which position do you agree? (Who has the stronger argument?) Explain your answer.
c) Ask a parent if he/she thinks raising the minimum wage will have a positive or negative impact on the economy (or no impact either way) and to explain why he/she thinks so.