President Barack Obama, seeking to restore confidence in his leadership, declared in his State of the Union address that he would use executive power to try to narrow the gap between rich and poor and speed the nation’s economic recovery. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the House GOP’s highest-ranking woman, asserted that Obama was making it tougher for most Americans. “Right now, the President’s policies are making people’s lives harder; Republicans have plans to close the gap.” Costa and Kane (2014, January 29). Flurry of GOP responses to State of the Union address .WSJ, p. A1, A4.
The President talks a lot about income inequality, but the real gap we face today is with this administration’s policies, that gap has become far too wide. The unemployment rate fell last month, but more Americans stopped looking for jobs than found one. The President also spoke about increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. House Speaker John Boehner said “Raising the minimum wage would result in less hiring and the loss of low-wage jobs.” Costa and Kane (2014, January 29). Flurry of GOP responses to State of the Union address .WSJ, p. A1, A4.
I do support the increase of the minimum wage but it has to be done incrementally every year for the next six years. If it is not done incrementally the disadvantage of a minimum wage increase will be an additional cost to businesses that will lead to job cuts. The last thing the country needs right now is job reduction because the economy is still very weak and the