Battle over Minimum Wage

Michelle Leung is a writer for Media Matters; she holds a bachelor’s degree in International Political Economy. Her article Fox Stokes Fears That Minimum Wage Increase Might Help Workers Too Much  is an analysis of the spin FOX news correspondents put on President Obama’s executive order that would raise the minimum wage for newly hired federal contractors. This is in an attempt to influence the national stage so that constituents may refuse to accept inaction from their representatives on raising the minimum wage for the whole country. Kilmeade points out that this is President Obama’s effort to no be “hamstrung by a legislature that does not get along.”

Not getting along is putting it lightly. Kilmeade is defending keeping a low minimum wage for honest hardworking Americans while bureaucrats on both sides of the aisle are paid to not get along and the lack of significant policy making that comes with it. Co-anchor Johnson Jr. also mocks the stance with “let’s stop the income disparity in the country.” As if raising the wage is so kind of entitlement that is being handed out to the impoverished masses.

I fully agree with Leung and her links to the Economic Policy Institute giver her article credibility that refute the arguments posed by Kilmeade and Johnson Jr. Statistics such as the letter signed by over 600 economist that support the raising of the minimum wage. In addition the support is also discredits the notion that it would negatively affect job opportunities. While I agree with the argument posed by Leung I do feel as if she missed a few strong points. For instance President Obama tried to mediate with a broken Congress in his first term and it got him and the American people nowhere. He also lost the influential bully pulpit power and this is a way for him to see significant changes made. Without having to try and negotiate with Republicans in the house who oppose any legislation associated with President Obama’s policies.  That being said the article is still very effective and the attached link to the original FOX video allows readers to trust what Leung is writing. It removes the idea that words may have been taken out of context and lends greatly to the effectiveness of the article.

hope for finding middle ground

   I don’t identify as a Republican and this article http://www.politico.com-gop-rebuttal gave me hope. The article entitled “McMorris Rodgers promotes ‘hopeful’ agenda” gives a detailed analysis of Representative Cathy McMorris Rodger’s address after the State of the Union was delivered. In this address she speaks about her personal life in and how her hard work and determination has led her to speaking to her current success. I feel as if she was a smart choice to be the face of the Republican address. After 2013 was full of Republican men making insensitive comments and the media declaring the war on women by the Republican Party.

   In addition to the personal narrative, Rep. McMorris Rodgers presented some new and old ideas for the party. There was the usual government is too big and Obamacare isn’t working. However a new idea presented was working on Immigration reform. This gave me hope that the Republican Party would have an agenda in 2014 that is more than just being against President Obama’s legislation. This article is important to read for those at all points of the political spectrum. The Republicans are attempting to broaden their base. It is up to informed citizens to keep them honest.

Experiences Influence Ideology

       I completed the current events quiz and actually performed better than I thought. I scored 85% better than the general public that have taken the quiz. I missed three out of ten questions; one of the questions I missed was about Google Glass and the other two were graphs. I feel as if the only reason I passed is because I often watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. I have tried to keep up with FOX, CNN, or MSNBC. However I often feel that all the channels parrot the same information without regard to the truth. I feel as though I am an Independent that leans Democratic. I tend to lean towards liberal views on many environmental issues. Polarized views of politics in our nation leads to extreme opinions that rarely reach across the aisle for reasonable compromises. The political typology quiz revealed that I am a "solid liberal" I agree with this given the questions that were asked. However I will continue to try and be as open minded as possible.