Minimum Wage: Why can't I live comfortably too?

The topic of minimum wage is not as controversial as gay rights or as dangerous as gun control but I feel it needs to be addressed. In my opinion minimum wage has gotten out of control and seriously needs to be discussed. I understand that we all can’t start out making millions but I think that every one should be able to support themselves comfortably.

I have lived on my own since a young age and can tell you all about how difficult it is to support yourself on minimum wage. I’ll also tell you that making less than 8 dollars an hour while paying rent will leave you very hungry. Unless of course you can find roommates or receive government assistance but it’s pretty difficult to make it on your own with minimum wage. It’s near impossible to get a good paying job without a degree or some sort of learned trade. If I can barely keep from becoming homeless how am I supposed to pay for school? Besides that what is the quality of life like for some one who works endlessly and still can’t afford cost of living? I’ll tell you from experience that it’s pretty disheartening. There has to be a way to allow minimum wage to keep up with living expenses.

People expect that those who earn minimum wage are teenagers starting out with their first job but that is not the case, according to epi.org 88% of these workers are 20 years or older. If minimum wage is really for those who are just starting out that statistic glaringly states other wise. At this point when our own President states “In the richest nation on earth, nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty.” it really shows how much attention this topic really needs. Obama also reminds us that minimum wage is “20% less than when Reagan was in office” which is shocking when you think about the inflation of living expenses since then.

Governor Chris Christie says he’s “tired” of hearing about minimum wage, I’m sure people who work for these wages and still can’t keep up with daily expenses are “tired” too. It absolutely sickness me to think that there are people who believe that I don’t work hard enough to feed, house and occasionally enjoy myself. Hopefully it can be agreed upon that some thing needs to be done about minimum wage.

Disturbing case brings up disturbing point about our justice system.

I found a disturbing article on The New York Time's website by their Editorial Board. The board consists of 19 journalists who claim to have “wide-ranging areas of expertise” several specialize in law, criminal justice and legal affairs. The article explains the tragic case of a young girl, Sabrina Buie, being raped, beaten and then suffocated. The men convicted were Henry Lee McCollum who was 19 at the time and his half brother Leon Brown who was 15. The police quickly received confessions from both the boys. Later they were found to be false confessions received under duress, but not before both men spent decades in prison. The article states "The exoneration of two North Carolina men- who spent 30 years in prison-provides a textbook example of so much that is broken in the American justice system." I completely agree with the author.

            This past Tuesday a North Carolina state judge freed the brothers after several pieces of evidence proved their innocence. These had never been turned over to defense lawyers and if they had been would have been able to convict Buie's murderer. A DNA covered cigarette at the scene would have convicted Roscoe Artis.  Currently he is serving life for a very similar murder committed not but a few weeks after Buie's murder. No physical evidence tied McCollum or Brown to the case and their statements were recently found to be false. There was even a request in to have a finger print that was found at the scene to be run against Artis's print. I feel it should be stated that by this time Artis already had a long history of sexually assaulting women.
            Thankfully the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission got their hands on this case and found the inconsistencies which led to the brother’s recent release. Now McCollum and Brown whom are both mentally handicapped have to assimilate to living with the rest of society. Unfortunately in my opinion the boys spent their most critical years in prison and will have a very hard time incorporating themselves in to the real world.

The author states in regards to the innocent "How many more remain on death row today? Can the American people be assured that none will be killed by the state? For this reason alone, the death penalty must end." I agree. I think that until we have a fool proof justice system it is unfair to send possibly innocent people to their death when there are records of wrongly convicted people out there. I think every one in America should be concerned about the content of this article but I think it more geared toward liberals. However I think that until we quit sending people to prison based on uncertain evidence, racial prejudices and false confessions we have no right to be killing possibly innocent people.

CDC Director on Isolation of West Africa

I’m sure with the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States, especially being so close to home, we have all been thinking about this terrible disease. I have been looking for articles of what I need to know about the disease as well as plans on containment. However Newsweek provided me with an article not just with this information but also a counter argument as well from the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Tom Frieden. In this article he is quoted from a new debriefing to the American public.

            Dr. Tom Frieden states a different solution to what many feel is necessary; isolation and containment. He claims it is in the United States best interest “not to seal off those countries but to provide services to contain the disease there.” In regards to Western Africa sealing off the country will make it difficult to treat the disease therefore making it possible for Ebola to run rampant and spread. He is confident that the United States can contain its Ebola outbreak through certain precautions.

As of right now the family of Thomas Duncan, he was the first to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, has been ordered to stay at home by the state of Texas. They also have law enforcement stationed outside their apartment. They are monitored and have groceries delivered to them while Duncan is hospitalized. Dr. Frieden claims that there are “systems in place” to prevent out break in the United States. The article unfortunately does not let us know about these.

            I happen to agree with Dr. Frieden, I think he is a good candidate to help make these decisions due to his title as well as his experience in the field. I also think that with containment alone the problem will only worsen. I personally think that we do not comprehend of how huge Africa is; we have to realize that this is not just affecting a few cities there, but several countries! Not to mention that this disease kills in a very painful and disturbing manner. I agree that with containment and treatment of the disease a worldwide epidemic can be avoided. Leaving another country sealed off to fester and fend for themselves seems to be inhumane. Dr. Frieden also says that containment of the West African Countries would be considered "quick, simple—and wrong."