Hawaiʻi’s conservative democrats leave workers struggling to survive
Even with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation—at just 2 percent—Hawaiʻi ranks ninth for the worst poverty rate, with 48 percent of households not able to make enough income to meet their basic needs. One of the main causes for Hawaiʻi’s high poverty rate is the incredibly low minimum wage.
Some concerns about raising the minimum wage include the effects it will have on unemployment and small businesses. However, in just the past few years, after seeing a nearly 40 percent increase in the minimum wage, small business employment in Hawaiʻi has increased and unemployment has reached record lows.
If we were to raise the minimum wage, not only would the quality of life for all minimum wage workers improve, but that would also open doors for more skilled workers to demand and earn the higher salary that they deserve.
Despite the glaring evidence that shows raising the minimum wage would improve our economy on all fronts, this issue is still met with so much resistance.
With bills such as Senate Bill 2291—which would raise the minimum wage—not even getting to the House for a hearing this past legislative session, and bills being passed such as House Bill 2748 that give developers $360 million to build rental apartments at $4,000 per month—it is obvious that our current politicians are not acting in the best interests of the people.
