5 Quotes From Socialist Thinkers on Increasing the Federal Minimum Wage

President Barack Obama called for a big hike in the federal minimum wage in the 2014 State of the Union Address. Socialists say his aim of $10.10 does not go nearly far enough to increase the minimum wage to a living wage.

Here are five quotes from socialist thinkers on the issue and how it is changing wage structure across the nation:

Urgent: Do You Think the Minimum Wage Should Be Raised?

1. "It is obvious that a pure and simple "minimum" wage just won't cut the proverbial mustard. For example, effective January 1 of this year, 20 states raised their minimum wage. In liberal states like Washington state where the minimum wage was raised to $9.47 an hour, we still have a resultant yearly income of less than the poverty level. What is required by the working poor is a living wage, which is a standard more clearly delineated according to local market conditions." - Steve Rossignol, Archivist for the Socialist Party USA.

2. "This is a victory for our movement. Fifteen in Seattle is just the beginning." - Seattle City Council member, Kshama Sawant tells The Washington Post following the city's decision to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

3. "Our donor base would all be affected, and the low-wage workers who support us with $5 to $6 a month would be able to give more. That would affect our ability to pay higher wages as well." - Doug Barnes, Freedom Socialist Party National Secretary tells The Huffington Post regarding why he wants to see minimum wage raised to $20 an hour.

Vote Now: How Do You Feel About the Minimum Wage?

4. "Most low-wage jobs are concentrated in a small number of industries. The top three employers are Wal-Mart, McDonald's and Yum! Brand, which operates Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC. The food service industry accounts for 60 percent of all low-wage positions, paying workers less than $10. At McDonald's, even mid-level managers qualify as low-wage positions. Raising the minimum wage would impact a small number of industries — in which mega-corporations make record profits." -  Samantha Valente on Socialistworker.org

5. "At a time when almost all new income is going to the top 1 percent, it is time that working people, lower income workers get a raise, and we have got to do that." - Sen. Bernie Sanders on MSNBC December 2013.

Tell Us: Should the Government Raise the Minimum Wage?

Related Stories:

• How Have Minimum Wage Increases Affected Employment Levels and New Hiring?

• 4 Benefits Minimum Wage Proponents Cite to Raise It