Start Date: April 28, 2002 Finish Date: June 25, 2002

"Greed, the Industrial Revolution, the free enterprise system, and corruption of government by the monied are adequate to explain nineteenth-century capitalism." -- Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, page 260.

Section I: Introduction

     There is a war going on between the classes, the Proletariat without any capital struggles with the classes that control capital. The lowest class only has their labor to sell, their blood and sweat. With excruciating, heartless, and merciless wage slavery, employers exploit their workers to the fullest extent, robbing them of every happiness, depriving them of every joy. Days are filled with the torment of flog and whip, workers treated with less regard than the machinery that they operate. The slavery of African humans is such an abomination that no African human will ever condone it, and the slavery of workers is such an abomination -- an intolerable brutality -- that no worker could ever confess it was humane, kind, or affectionate. Capitalism is the epitome of theft, exploitation, and brutality.

     Are the current minimum wages of states enough to keep families supported and the workers alive? The poverty level is an income level below which a person is incapable of adequate subsistence -- those who are at the poverty level are called living in poverty. This means that they are incapable of proper food and housing. There are three different time groups that must be taken into consideration when dealing with workers and their rights. They must be given leisure time, time to sleep, and work time. Some industrialists have been so heartless as to cut out leisure time and some to cut out parts of sleep time, focusing all on work time.

[NOTE: Income taxes are left out of the analysis, although they do take out a considerable amount of money from the worker's paycheck.]

Section II: The State of Kansas

     The minimum wage in Kansas is $2.65. [See Appendix B for minimum wage information.] If 1 worker were to try and survive, they would need to make at least $8,590 per year. [See Appendix A for poverty level information.] This worker, however, would only make $5,512, missing the poverty level by $3,078, or by 35%. With the benefit of overtime pay ($3.975 per hour), this worker would have to work 3 more hours each day, making an extra $3,100.50 per year, for a whole of $8,612.50, passing the poverty level by $22.50. That would give the worker $22.50 as luxury money per year, or $1.875 as luxury money per month. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 5 hours of leisure. If the Kansas worker did not have overtime pay, then they would have to work 5 more hours each day, making an additional $3,445 per year, for a whole sum of $8,957, passing the poverty level by $367. This would give the 1 worker $367 as luxury money per year, or $30.58 as luxury money per month. The workday of this worker is as follows: 13 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 3 hours of leisure.

     If a family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, had to survive in Kansas, they would have to make $17,650 a year. 2 working adults working 40 hours a week at minimum wage would only make $11,024 per year, missing the poverty level by $6,626, or by 37%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($3.975 per hour), the 2 working adults would have to work 4 more hours each day, making an extra $8,268 per year, for a whole of $19,292, passing the poverty level by $1,642. This would give the family luxury money of $1,642 per year, or luxury money of $136.83 per month. That means $410.50 as luxury money per year per family member, or $34.20 as luxury money per month per family member. The workday of each of these 2 working adults is as follows: 12 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 4 hours of leisure. If the 2 working adults did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would each have to work 5 hours each day to make an additional $6,890 per year, for a lump sum of $17,914, passing the poverty level by $264. This would give the family $264 as luxury money per year, or $22 as luxury money per month. This means that each family member receives $66 as luxury money per year, or $5.50 as luxury money per month. The workday of these 2 workers is as follows: 13 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 3 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent had to raise 1 child, they would need to make at least $11,610 per year. A single parent would only make $5,512 per year, missing the poverty level by $6,098, or by 52%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($3.975 per hour), the single parent would have to work 6 more hours each day, making an additional $6,201 per year, for a whole sum of $11,713, passing the poverty level by $103. This would give the family $103 as luxury money per year, or $8.58 as luxury money per month. With consideration to the family members, this means $51.50 as luxury money per year, or $4.29 as luxury money per month. The workday of this worker is as follows: 14 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 2 hours of leisure. If the single parent did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would have to work 9 more hours each day, making the same as the worker with overtime pay. The workday of this worker, however, would be as follows: 17 hours of work, 7 hours of sleep, and 0 hours of leisure. What is noticeable here is that there is so much work time, that it even takes out time from sleep.

Section III: The States of New Mexico and Ohio

     The minimum wage for New Mexico and Ohio is both $4.25. [See Appendix B.] If a worker living alone worked 40 hours a week, they would make $8,840, going past the poverty level by $250 dollars, giving them $20.83 to spend on luxury per month. (Based on the poverty level being below $8,590. [See Appendix A.]) In this case, a person would spend 1/3 of their time as sleep, 1/3 as work, and 1/3 as leisure time. However, in such a situation, they would have an extremely small amount of luxury money. If two people living together (poverty level below $11,610) both worked full time jobs of 40 hours a week at state minimum wage, they would make $17,680, going past the poverty level by $6,070, allowing each to have $3,035 in luxury money each year, or each having $252.91 of luxury money each month. These conditions, compared to Mexico, seem even desirable.

     However, if a couple are trying to raise a family of 2 children, then the poverty level would be below $17,650. If the two adults of the family both worked 40 hours a week, working minimum wage, they would get $17,680, going past the poverty level by $30. This would give the couple $2.50 a month as luxury money, or $1.25 each as luxury money per month. Certainly not a desirable situation, as with such a low amount of luxury money, if there happened to be a problem in the family, they would have no resources to draw upon. Even beyond that, however, with 1/3 of their time as sleep, 1/3 as work, and 1/3 as leisure, $2.50 in today's economy does not go far.

     If a couple were trying to raise a family of three children, then the poverty level would be below $20,670. If the two adults in the family worked 40 hours a week at minimum wage, they would make $17,680, missing the poverty level by $2,990. If the state has an overtime pay, which both New Mexico and Ohio have (however, it would also require the employer to be willing to pay overtime), the overtime would be $6.37. With this, if each adult worked an extra, overtime hour each day, they would make $3,315 more each year, for a total of $20,995. They would be working 9 hour workdays, 45 hours a week, and they would have a total of $325 of luxury money each year, or $162.50 each, or $27.08 each a month for luxury money. If, however, they could not find an employer who would pay for overtime, then both adults would have to work two more hours each workday, for a total of 10 hour workdays. Without overtime pay and working 10 hours a day, they would be getting $4,420 more each year, for a total of $22,100. This would mean they go past the poverty level by $1,430, which would be $715 of luxury money for each, or $59.58 for each adult for each month for luxury money.

     If a couple were trying to raise a family of four children, then the poverty level would be below $23,690. If two adults worked 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, they would make $17,680, missing the poverty level by $6,010, or by 25%! If they adults worked with overtime pay of $6.37 and worked 2 hours more each day (for a total of 10 hours), they would make $6,630, for a total of $24,310. This would leave the couple with $620 to spend on luxury items between six people, averaging $103.33 per person, or $8.61 per person per month. If, however, the two adults were incapable of finding a boss who would offer overtime pay and had to work more than 40 hours a week at different jobs, then they would have to 3 more hours each day, making the same amount of money as those who are paid with overtime.

     Another factor that seriously should be taken into account are those families that are supported by only one father or only one mother. (Simplified: One person making the money.) This has not significantly decreased over the years, either. In the year 2000, there were 30,985,000 single, divorced, widowed, and separated women with children to support. [Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001, 121st Edition, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics, and Statistics Administration, page 372, No. 576, Marital Status of Women in the Civilian Labor Force: 1970 to 2000.]

     If a single parent had to support 1 child, the poverty level for them would be below $11,610. If this single parent worked 40 hours a week, 8 hours a workday, they would make only $8,840, missing the poverty level by $2,770. This single parent, though, supporting one child, would have to work only 2 more hours with overtime pay each day to get past the poverty level. With working 2 more hours each workday with overtime pay, the single parent would make $3,315 more, for a total of $12,155, exceeding the poverty level by $545. This would allow the two, the single parent and their child, $45.41 a month for luxury money.

     If a single parent had to support 2 children, the poverty level for them would be below $14,630. If this single parent worked 40 hours a week, 8 hours a workday, they would make only $8,840, missing the poverty level by 5,790, or by 39%. To meet the poverty level by working overtime hours and earning overtime pay, they would have to work 4 extra overtime hours (12 hours a workday), making $6,630 more a year, adding up to $15,470 altogether, passing the poverty level by $840. If these three individuals, the parent and the 2 children, had split the luxury money, this would mean they each get $280 each, or $23.33 for each individual each month. The single parent would spend 1/3 (8 hours) of their time sleeping, 1/2 (12 hours) of their time working, and 1/6 (4 hours) of their time as leisure time. Of course, this is assumed with the benefit of overtime pay, being normal pay multiplied by one and a half. If the working, single parent could not procure overtime pay, they would have to work 6 hours (a total of 14 hours a day) more for the same amount of money each year. This single parent would spend 8 hours of their time sleeping, 14 hours of their time working, and only 2 hours of their time allowed to leisure (per workday). One week to this person would consist in 56 sleep hours, 70 work hours, and 42 leisure hours.

     If a single parent had to support 3 children, the poverty level for them would be below $17,650. Working 40 hours a week and 8 hours a day, the single parent could only be able to make $8,840, missing the poverty level by $8,810, or by nearly 50%! If the single parent worked with overtime pay, they would have to work 6 more hours each workday, giving them $9,945 more a year, collectively adding up to $18,785, passing the poverty level by $1,135. In this typical work day, 8 hours would be devoted to sleep, 14 to work, and 2 would be allowed to leisure (or preparation to work, as it happens to be in numerous cases). If, however, the single parent could not obtain overtime working hours from their boss and had to work another job, they would have to work 8 more hours than they normally do (for a total of a 16 hour workday). In this situation, they would be making $17,680 a year, just making it past the poverty level by $30. The workday of this single parent would consist of as follows: 1/3 (8 hours) of sleep, 2/3 (16 hours) of work. This would deprive the single parent of much time not only to themselves, but with their children, depriving the children also of time with their parent. The life of the single parent is full of toil and work without the joy of seeing the children that such blood and sweat provide food for. Working 16 hours a day, this single parent of 3 children manages to get $30 as luxury money in an entire year. This can be broken down to $2.50 each month as luxury money.

     The minimum wage in New Mexico is fixed at $4.25, but in Ohio, there are certainly policies which allow employers to decrease minimum wage even further. According to the laws, employers with gross annual sales from $150,000 to $500,000 can lower minimum wage to $3.35, and employers with gross annual sales under $150,000 can lower minimum wage to $2.80, only 15 cents higher than the minimum wage of Kansas.

     If 1 person wanted to support themselves while working at a business that had gross annual sales of $150,000 to $500,000, in the state of Ohio, then the minimum wage for this individual would be $3.35. If a person worked 40 hours a week, then in a year, they would be able to make $6,968 in a year, missing the poverty level by $1,622, or by nearly 19%. Overtime pay in this situation would be $5.02 as opposed to the $6.32 (time and a half of $4.25). This 1 person would have to work 2 more overtime hours each workday (for a total of 10) to get enough money to keep them out of poverty level. In this situation, they would be making $2,613 more a year, for a total of $9,581, putting them above the poverty level by $991. This would provide them with $82.53 as luxury money each month. If, however, this 1 individual did not have overtime pay, they would have to work 3 more hours each workday (for a total of 11) to get enough money to keep them out of poverty level. In this situation, they would be working one hour more than the worker who was given overtime pay, but they would be earning the same amount of pay.

     If a family of 4, with two working adults and two non-working children, had to work at the minimum wage of $3.35, the poverty level would be below $17,650. However, with 2 adults working 40 hours a week, they would only make $13,936 a year, going beneath the poverty level by $3,717. If they were making overtime pay (approximately $5.02), they would both have to work 2 extra hours each workday, making $5,226 more each year, making a whole of 19,162. This would put them above the poverty level by $1,512. With a family of 4, that means each member gets $378 of luxury money (if divided evenly), or they each get $31.50 a month as luxury money. If the parents are not making overtime pay, they would each have to work 3 extra, overtime hours each work day, making the same amount of money as the parents working 2 hours extra, overtime hours with overtime pay. Their day would be: 8 hours sleep, 11 hours work, 5 hours leisure, with the luxury money of approximately $31.50 per family member per month, or $126 luxury money as a whole each month.

     However, next comes the question of a single parent raising a child under these conditions. If a single, working parent had to support 2 children, the poverty level would be below $14,630. If a single working parent worked 40 hours a week with the minimum wage of $3.35, they would make only $6,968, missing the poverty level by $7,662, or 52%! In the best of situations, this single parent would not be living in a Capitalist economy, but within in a Capitalist economy, minimum wage would be $5.025. This would mean that they would have to work 6 extra, overtime hours each day. They would make $7,839 more each year, and go past the poverty level by $177. This would mean, for a family of 3 with 2 children and 1 adult, that they would get $177 as luxury money each year, which would be $59 for each individual for the whole year (if split evenly. Or, this would mean that the whole unit gets $14.75 each month, or that each individual (each child and the adult) gets $4.91 each month. However, take a look at the day of the single, working parent: 8 hours sleep, 14 hours work, and 2 hours leisure. Are these days any imaginable way to spends one life?

     One final example of a family unit living on minimum wage in Ohio would be a single parent with 3 children to support. In this household, the poverty level would be below $17,650. A single working parent working 40 hours a week, at $3.35, would earn $6,968, missing the poverty level by $10,682, or 60%. With overtime pay, of $5.025 per hour, this working parent would have to work 9 more hours each day, making an additional $11,758 each year, for a whole of $18,762, passing the poverty level by $1,076.50. With this additional amount of money, the family would have $1,076.50 as luxury money each year, or each individual would get $269.12. Or, monthly, as a whole they would get $89.70, or each they would get $22.42 per month. In this scenario, the adult would be working 17 hours a day and sleeping 7 hours a day -- with the benefit of overtime pay, just to provide food, clothing, and housing to their family. The week would consist in 56 sleep hours, 85 work hours, and 27 leisure hours. If, however, the working parent did not have the benefit of overtime pay, they would have to work 21 hours a day, making a whole of $18,291. Of course, if a person works 21 hours in a day, they would only get 3 hours of sleep. This would be anatomically near impossible. They person would have to divide the work into their weekend, possibly shifting 15 hours to the weekend. This would mean that each weekday consists of 18 hours of work and 6 hours of sleep. However, the weekend would consist of 26 hours of sleep, 15 hours of work, and 7 hours of leisure. The enter week of this individual would be as follows: 105 hours of work, 56 hours of sleep, and 7 hours of leisure.

     If a worker works for an employer with gross annual sales under $150,000, minimum wage becomes $2.80. If a single person had to support themselves on this wage, this would mean that the poverty level would be below $8,590. If a person worked 40 hours a week with this minimum wage, in a year they would earn $5,824, missing the poverty level by $2,766, or 32%. Overtime pay with this would be $4.20. With this overtime, this worker would have to work 3 overtime hours each day (11 hour days), and would make an additional $3,276 each year, for a whole sum of $9,100, going past the poverty level by $510. That would allow the worker $42.50 a month as luxury money. Without overtime pay, however, they would have to work 4 extra hours each day and would make an additional $2,912 each year, for a whole sum of $8,736. With working half of their day (12 hours), they would get $146 a year as luxury money, or $12.16 a month.

     A single worker would have to spend half of their workdays working to keep themselves above the poverty level. If 2 working parents, however, with 2 children wanted to keep themselves out of poverty, they would have to make over $17,650. If both adults worked 40 hours a week at the minimum wage of $2.80, then they would collectively make $11,648 per year, missing the poverty level by $6,002, or by 34%. If the two parents worked overtime and received overtime pay, that would be $4.20 an hour. If they earned overtime pay, both parents would each have to work 3 hours more each day, for a total of 11 hours each day. This would bring in $6,552 more, adding up to a whole of $18,200. This would bring them past the poverty level by $550, giving them each $137.50 in luxury money each, or $45.83 to the whole family per month, or $11.45 each per month, as luxury money. However, if the working adults did not receive overtime pay, then they would have work 5 more hours each day, earning an additional $7,280 each year. With that addition, they would be making a whole of $18,928 each year, passing the poverty level by $1,278. The day of the working adults would consist as follows: 8 hours sleep, 13 hours work, and 3 hours allowed to leisure. They would have $1,278 in luxury money each year, or $106.50 each month; or, if they were to divide it evenly, each member of the family would have $319.50 each year, or $26.62 each month, as luxury money.

     That would be 2 sources of income, however, to support a family of 4. If a single parent had to raise 2 children, the poverty level would be below $14,630. If one adult was working on $2.80 an hour and working 40 hours a week, they would make $5,824, below the poverty level by $8,806, or by 60%. If the adult made overtime pay, it would be $4.20. To get above the poverty level, they would have to work 9 more hours each day. This would increase their income by $9,828 each year, for a total of $15,652, above the poverty level by $1,022. That would mean, for a family of 3, that each individual would get $340.33 each year for luxury money, or that each individual would get $28.38 each month as luxury money. Of course, with so much work, it would actually cut into the sleeping time of the adult. Their day would consist of the following: 7 hours sleep and 17 hours work. In such a degrading system, not only would their lives be defined to toil and work, and not only would they be sleep deprived for years, but they would not get any time to watch their children grow up, one of the most magical times of a parent's life. If, however, this single parent did not have the privilege of overtime pay, then they would have to work 13 more hours a day, making $9,464, for a total of $15,288, passing the poverty level by $658. Of course, if this person had to work another 13 more hours a day, added to their 8 hours of current work, this would mean they had to work 21 hours a day and sleep for 3 hours, or shift 15 hours to the weekend. In that case, each weekend would be either 12 or 13 hours of work, and each weekday would be 18 hours of work. However, this is simply for the family of three to support themselves with food, clothing, and housing. They would have $658 in luxury money each year, or $54.83 a month.

Section IV: The States and Territories Adhering to Federal Minimum Wage

     There is a federal minimum wage of $5.15; however, this is for jobs which fit the prerequisites of "federal." All other jobs that are within a state must adhere to the state's minimum wages. Many of the state have equaled their own state minimum wage to the minimum wage placed by the federal government and others have done similarly with the possibility of no minimum wage on certain industries. 18 states have legalized the minimum wage of $5.15: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The minimum wage in the territory of Guam is $5.15. [See Appendix B for more information.] In these states and territories, there is no way to get a lower minimum wage. The minimum wage in the territory of Puerto Rico is $5.15, but it can sink to $3.61 if employers are not covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). There are certain states that have $5.15 as minimum wage for certain circumstances. For example, in Indiana, the minimum wage is $5.15 if a business has at least 2 or more employees. In Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and Virginia, the minimum wage is $5.15 if a business has at least 4 or more employees. In George, the minimum wage is $5.15 if an employer has 6 or more employees. In West Virginia, the minimum wage is $5.15 if an employer has 6 or more employees at one location. In Minnesota, the minimum wage is $5.15 if an enterprise has annual receipts of $500,00 or more. In all of these states mentioned with federal minimum wage unless reaching certain requirements -- Arkansas, George, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Virginia, and West Virginia -- if the requirements for minimum wage are not met, then there is no minimum wage, and workers can literally work for quarters an hour. In the state of Montana, the minimum wage is $5.15, unless a business has a gross annual sale of $110,00 or less, and then they have a $4.00 minimum wage. In Oklahoma, the minimum wage is $5.15 for employers of 10 or more full-time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full-item employees; for other businesses, in Oklahoma, the minimum wage is only $2.00. 18 states have the federal minimum wage as their own minimum wage, while 9 states have the federal minimum wage if certain requirements are met, together 27 of the states (more than half of the nation) has a minimum wage that revolves around the federal minimum wage.

     If a single person without a family lived at home and had to work, the poverty level would be below $8,590. If this 1 single person worked 40 hours a week at federal minimum wage, they would make $10,712, passing the poverty level by $2,122. This would mean that they have luxury money of $176.82 a year. Since this person is not working overtime at all, this is perhaps the best situation for the worker yet to be examined. Of course, this is examining a single person who does not have a family.

     If 2 adults wanted to raise a family with 2 children, then the poverty level would be below $17,650. If 2 adults worked 40 hours a week with the minimum wage of $5.15, then they would make $21,424, passing the poverty level by $3,774, which would mean $943.50 for each individual per year as luxury money, or $314.50 to the whole family per month, or $78.62 per individual per month as luxury money.

     If 2 adults wanted to raise a family with 3 children, then the poverty level would be below $20,670. If these 2 adults worked 40 hours a week at federal minimum wage, then they would make $21,424, passing the poverty level by $754. This would mean that as a whole, they get $754 a year as luxury money, or $62.83 a month as a whole family unit as luxury money, or individually they would get $12.56 per month as luxury money. At least the adults would earn enough money working full time and be able to avoid starving to death.

     If 2 adults wanted to raise a family with 4 children, then the poverty level would be below $23,690. 2 adults working federal minimum wage, however, would only be able to make $21,424, missing the poverty level by $2,536. Minimum wage would be $5.15, but overtime pay would be $7.72. If the 2 working adults received overtime pay, to get above minimum wage, they would only need to work one extra hour each day. With this, they would earn an additional $4,017 a year, for a whole sum of $25,441, surpassing the poverty level by $1,751. This would allow the family $145.91 of luxury money each month. If, however, they divide up the luxury money, then that would mean that each individual member of the family gets $24.31 each month as luxury money. This is, of course, with the assumption that the family would be making overtime pay. If, however, the family did not make overtime pay, then the 2 working adults would have to work the same amount of hours (1 additional), but they would only be making $2,678 more a year, only passing the poverty level by $142. This would grant the 6 unit family an amount of luxury money of $11.83 per month as a whole, or $1.97 for each individual in the family per month.

     There is the case of the single parent to be explored. If a single parent lives with 1 child, the poverty level would be below $11,610. If a single parent worked 40 hours a week at the federal minimum wage, they would only manage to make $10,712 per year, missing the poverty level by $898. If the parent made overtime pay, then they would only have to work 1 more hour each day, making an additional $2008.50. This would put them above the poverty level by $1,110.50. With that, they would have $92.54 per month as luxury money, but $46.27 a month per individual. Of course, this is with the assumption that the single parent could procure overtime pay. If they could not, then they would have to work the same amount of hours, but they would only obtain an additional $1,339 per year, putting them above the poverty level by $441. That would mean that the whole family unit has $36.75 as luxury money per month, but each individual of the family unit gets $18.37 per month as luxury money. The work of this worker consists of the following: 8 hours of sleep, 9 hours of work, and 7 hours of leisure. This is, of course, only an examination of a single parent with a child and their economic situation. Also, it is important to note that even with overtime pay and overtime hours, the family fails to make over $100 a month as luxury money.

     If a single parent lives with 2 children, the poverty level would be below $14,630. With federal minimum wage, this adult working full time would make $10,712, missing the poverty level by $3,918, or by 26%. If this working adult made overtime pay, they would have to work 2 more hours each day to get past the poverty level. With 2 more hours each day, making an overtime pay of $7.725, they would make $4,017 more each year, for a whole sum of $14,729, passing the poverty level by $99. This would allow the family an amount of luxury money of $8.25 each month as a whole family unit, or $2.75 to each individual family member as luxury money. If the working adult was incapable of attaining overtime pay, they would have to reach above the poverty level by working 3 more hours each day and earning the same amount of money. The day of this person would consist in 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 5 hours of leisure (whereas the one with overtime would only work 10 hours a day and get 6 hours of leisure).

     If a single parent lives with 3 children, the poverty level would be below $17,650. This would mean that if the adult worked full time, they would only earn $10,712, missing the poverty level by $6,938, or by 39%. If the single parent could procure overtime pay of $7.725, then they would have to work 4 hours more each day to get above the poverty level. They would be making $8,652, going past the poverty line by $1,714. This would give the family of four luxury money of $1,714 per year, or $142.83 per month, or $428.50 each per year, or $35.70 per member of the family per month. It is also important to note the day of the working adult: 8 hours of sleep, 12 hours of work, and 4 hours of leisure. This is, of course, with the assumption that the working adult was capable of obtaining overtime pay. If they were not, then they would have to work 6 hours more each day. With this new work schedule, they would make an additional $8,034, passing the poverty level by $1,096. This would give the family of 4 luxury money of $91.33 per month, or $22.83 per month per individual. The workday for this worker would consist of the following: 8 hours of sleep, 14 hours of work, and 2 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent has to support 4 children, then the poverty level would be below $20,670 per year. However, a single, working adult would only make $10,712 per year, missing the poverty level by $9,958, or by 48%. If the working adult could attain overtime wage, then they would be making $7.725 per hour. With this overtime wage, they would have to work 5 hours more each day, making an additional $10,042.50 With this amount, they would pass the poverty level by $84.50 This would allow the family unit $7.04 per month as luxury money, or $1.76 per individual per month as luxury money. The day of this worker would be as follows: 8 hours of sleep, 13 hours of work, and 3 hours of leisure. This is, of course, with the assumption that the parent was capable of obtaining overtime wage. If they were not capable of obtaining overtime wage, then the single parent would have to work 8 more hours each day, making an additional $10,712, for a whole of $21,424, passing the poverty level by $754. This would mean $62.83 of luxury money for the family per month, or $12.56 per individual of the family per month as luxury money. The day of this worker would be as follows: 8 hours of sleep, 16 hours of work. It is important to understand these particular statistics, as they govern the minimum wage for 18 states, and influence the minimum wage in 9 other states.

Section V: The State of Oklahoma

     In the state of Oklahoma, the minimum wage is the federal minimum wage, if employers have 10 or more full-time employees at any one location, or if employers have annual gross sales over $100,000. Those employers who fit into these requirements would have a minimum wage for their employees of $5.15. If, however, an employer did not meet these requirements, then the minimum wage is $2.00. There are some important aspects to note about these policies. First, aside from the states that do not have a minimum wage, this is the lowest set minimum wage in the entire United States ($2.00). Another important aspect to note is that an employer must have at least 10 or more full-time employees at any one location. Some states require 2 employees, 4 employees, or 6 employees, part-time or full-time. To make the federal minimum wage in Oklahoma, a worker would have to be working at a business that had 10 full-time employees. However, minimum wage is set to $5.15 under either that requirement or another requirement: if an employer has an annual gross sale over $100,000. Ohio and Minnesota both have requirements for a minimum wage that apply to businesses that have an annual gross sales over $500,000, meaning Oklahoma's second requirement is below these two other states by 80%. Of course, Ohio's record for minimum wage -- dripping down to $2.80 -- is appalling. Minnesota follows federal minimum wage, but it can drop down to as low as $4.90.

     If a person worked for an industry that did not meet the state requirements for federal minimum wage in Oklahoma, then they would be working for a minimum wage of $2.00. This single person, working 40 hours a week at this minimum wage, would make $4,160 a year, missing the poverty level by $4,430, or by 51%. With overtime pay, this worker would be making $3.00 per hour. To meet the poverty level, this worker would have to work 6 hours more a day, making an additional $4,680. This would put them above the poverty level by $250, giving them that amount in luxury money, or $20.83 per month as luxury money. This worker, with overtime pay, would be working a day that consists of the following: 8 hours sleep, 14 hours work, and 2 hours leisure. If, however, a person was not capable of attaining minimum wage, then they would have to work 9 more hours a day, making an additional $4,680 per year. In this situation, they would earn just as much money as the person with overtime pay. However, this person's day would consist of the following: 7 hours of sleep, 17 hours of work.

     There is always the strategical option of living with another individual and splitting the bills between the 2. If 2 people lived together, the poverty level would be below $11,610. If these 2 individuals both worked 40 hours a week with the minimum wage of $2.00, they would earn $8,320 a year, missing the poverty level by $3,290, or by 28%. If they earned overtime pay of $3.00, then they would both have to work 3 more hours each day, making an additional $4,680 a year. This would bring them beyond the poverty level by $1,390. Between the 2 individuals who have 11 hour workdays, this would mean that they each get $695 as luxury money per year, or they each get $57.91 each month as luxury money. If, however, they were not able to obtain overtime pay, then they would both have to work 4 hours more each day, to make an additional $4,160, passing the poverty level by $870. This would give each individual a total of $435 per year as luxury money , or $36.25 a month as luxury money. In this second case, without overtime pay, the work day of these 2 individuals would be as follows: 8 hours (1/3) of sleep, 12 hours (1/2) of work, and 4 hours (1/6) of leisure. If a group of individuals wanted to live together working minimum wage and only 40 hours a week, while still making it over the poverty level, there would have to be 5 individuals living in the same building. The poverty level would be $20,670, and they would pass it only by $130, meaning that each individual gets $26 a year as luxury money, or $2.16 a month as luxury money per individual.

     If a family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, had to survive, they would have to make it above the poverty level of $17,650. If 2 adults worked 40 hours a week, they would only make $8,320, missing the poverty level by $9,330, or by 52%. To get past the poverty level, with overtime minimum wage of $3.00, these two adults would have to work 6 hours more each day, making an additional $9,360. This would give them $30 in luxury per year, since they passed the poverty line by that amount. This would mean that the family as a whole would receive $2.50 a month as luxury money, or that each individual would receive $0.62 a month as luxury money. The workday of these 2 workers would each consist of the following: 8 hours sleep, 14 hours work, and 2 hours leisure. This is, of course, with the blessing of overtime pay. If these 2 adults did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 9 more hours each day, making the same amount of money as those with the advantage of overtime. This would cut into their sleeping time, however. The day of each working parent would consist of the following: 7 hours of sleep, 17 hours of work.

     If a family of 5, 2 working adults and 3 non-working children, had to survive, they would have to make it above the poverty level of $20,670. These 2 adults, however, would only be able to make $8,320, missing the poverty level by $12,350, or by 59%. If the working adults were able to acquire overtime pay of $3.00, then they both would have to work an additional 8 hours each workday, making an additional $12,480. With this, they would go past the normal poverty level by $130. With that, the whole family would get that much as luxury money per year, $10.83 for the whole family per month, or $2.16 per individual per month as luxury money. The workday of the two parents each consist of the following: 8 hours (1/3) sleep, 16 hours (2/3) work. Of course, this is if the working adults can manage to make overtime pay. If they cannot, then they will have to work an additional 12 hours a day. With this additional 12 hours a day, they would make $12,480 more a year, for a total of $20,800, passing the poverty level by $130. The problem is, though, that these workdays would be 20 hours of work and 2 hours of sleep, something that no human is really capable of. If 6 hours were taken off every workday and given to the weekend, that would mean each weekend would be 15 hours of work, 1 hour of leisure, and 8 hours of sleep. The workday would be as follows: 8 hours of sleep, 16 hours of work. In the whole week, just to keep the family of 5 supported, each adult would have a week as follows: 56 hours of sleep, 110 hours of work, and 2 hours of leisure. If I went further to examine families that had more than 3 children, I would find families with starving children.

     If a single parent had to raise 1 child, then they would have to make more money than the poverty level; for them, that would be $11,610. If a parent worked 40 hours a week, they would make $4,160, missing the poverty level by $7,450, or by 64%. To get above the poverty level, with overtime of $3.00 an hour, the adult would have to work 10 more hours each day, making an additional $7,800, passing the poverty line by $350. This would mean that each month, the family has $29.16 to spend as luxury money, or that each individual gets $14.58 each month as luxury money. Of course, it is important to understand the workday of this single parent: 18 hours of work and 6 hours of sleep. The weekends would render their 16 hours of sleep as needed, but would also have 10 more hours of sleep to make up for not getting the adequate number of hours of sleep per week. Thus, the week would be as follows: 56 hours of sleep, 22 hours of leisure, 90 hours of work. This is with the advantage of overtime pay. If the working adult could not obtain overtime pay, then they would have to work 15 more hours each day and they would make the same amount of money as the one with the advantage of overtime pay. This would mean, of course, that their workday would consist of 23 hours of work and 1 hour of sleep, something impossible. If 6 hours were taken off each workday and put to the weekend, then the average workday would be 17 hours of work and 7 hours of sleep, and the average weekend would be 15 hours of work and 9 hours of sleep; the worker, however, would be sleep deprived for years, until the burden of the 1 child was lifted. I could go on to explain the current plight of those single parents who have to raise 2 kids or 3 kids, but to do so would be to no avail, as it has already been shown that a single parent trying to raise 1 child can result in pure disaster, as barely enough hours are acquired for sleep, if enough of them are.

Section VI: The State of Alaska

     The state of Alaska differs from the 48 contiguous states in that the poverty level is higher. Therefore, in this region, if a worker desires to live, they must have a higher amount of income. Luckily, though, the minimum wage of Alaska is $0.50 higher than the federal minimum wage; it is $5.65. The poverty level of Alaska, however, is $9,890 for one person (add $3,470 for each additional person). This is higher than the minimum wage for the 48 contiguous states by $940.

     If 1 individual were to try and live in Alaska, working 40 hours a week at minimum wage, they would make $11,752 a year, passing the poverty level by $1,862. This would mean that this 1 individual has $1,862 as luxury money per year, or $155.16 per month as luxury money. To survive, 1 individual would not have to work overtime at all.

     If a family of 2 working adults and 2 non-working children were living in Alaska, they would need to make over $20,300 to stay out of poverty. 2 working adults, both working full time, would be able to make $23,504, passing the poverty level by $204. This would give them an amount of luxury money equal to $204, or $17 per month. Of course, it is imperative to understand that this money needs to be split between 4 people. That would mean that each person gets $51 per year as luxury money, or $4.25 per individual per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 2 working adults and 3 non-working children were living in Alaska, to stay out of poverty they would need to make over $23,770. 2 working adults would make $23,504, missing the poverty level by $266. If the 2 working adults had the benefit of overtime pay, then they would be making $8.475 per hour. They would both have to work only 1 more hour each day to get past poverty level in this situation, making an additional $4,407 per year, for a total of $27,911. With this, they would go over the poverty by $4,141 and get an amount of luxury money of the same amount per year. With a family of 5, however, this would mean $828.20 per individual per year as luxury money, or $69.01 per individual per month as luxury money. If the 2 working adults did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would have to work the same additional hour per day, but they would only get an additional $2,938 per year, for a whole sum of $26,442. This would put them above the poverty level by $2,672. That would mean that the whole family gets that amount a year as luxury money, or $222.66 per month as luxury money. If the amount of family members was taken into consideration, then each family member would get $534.4 a year as luxury money, or $44.53 a month as luxury money.

     If a family of 2 working adults and 4 non-working children were living in Alaska, the poverty level would be $27,240. 2 adults working together would be making only $23,504, missing the poverty level by $3,916. To get past the poverty level, and with the benefit of overtime pay ($8.475 per hour), the 2 working adults would each have to work just 1 more hour each day. This would mean an additional $4,407 each year, for a whole of 27,911 passing the poverty level by $671. With $671 as luxury money each year for the whole family, that would mean $55.91 for the whole family per month as luxury money. If we take into consideration the individual members of the family, this would mean that each gets $111.83 per year as luxury money, or $9.31 per month per family member for luxury money. If the 2 working adults did not have overtime pay for overtime hours, then they would each have to 2 more hours each day (for a total workday consisting of 10 work hours). With these 2 extra hours each day, they would make an additional $5,876, for a whole sum total of $29,380, putting them beyond the poverty level by $2,140. That would mean that the whole family would have luxury money equal to $2,140 each year, or $178.33 per month. With consideration to the individuals of the family, that would mean that each one gets $356.66 per year as luxury money, or that each one gets $29.72 each month per individual as luxury money.

     A single parent trying to support 1 child would have to earn over $13,360 to meet the basic necessities. However, this 1 working parent working minimum wage would only earn $11,752 a year, missing the poverty level by $1,608. If with overtime pay ($8.475 per hour), then the single parent would have to work only 1 more hour each day, making an additional $2203.50 per year, or a whole sum of $13,955.50, going past the poverty level by $595.50. This would mean an amount of luxury equal to $595.50 per year, or $49.62 per month. Considering that 2 individuals are in this family, this means $297.75 per individual per year as luxury money, or $24.81 per individual per month as luxury money. If the single parent was incapable of obtaining overtime wage, then they would have to work 2 more hours each day (for a 10 hour workday), making an additional $2,938, making a whole sum of $14,690, putting them past the poverty level by $1,330. That would mean $1,330 as luxury money per year, or $110.83 as luxury money per month. If taking into consideration the amount of people in the family: $665 per individual per year as luxury money, or $55.41 per individual per month as luxury money.

     A single parent trying to support 2 children would have to earn over $16,830 a year to keep the family out of poverty, but if the adult worked 40 hours a week, they would only earn $11,752 a year, missing the poverty level by $5,078. With the advantage of overtime pay ($8.475 per hour), the single parent would have to work 3 more hours each day, earning an additional $6,610.50 a year, going past the poverty level by $1,532.50. That would mean that they entire family unit gets $1,532.50 a year as luxury money, or $127.70. If every member of the family was considered, that would mean each family member gets $510.83 per year as luxury money, or $42.56 per month as luxury money. The workday of this working adult would be as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, 5 hours of leisure. If the working adult did not have overtime pay, then they would have to work 4 more hours each day, making an additional $5,876 each for, for a whole sum of $17,628, passing the poverty level by $798. This would give the whole family of 3 luxury money of $798 per year, or $66.50. If each individual was taken into account, that would mean $266 per each person as luxury money, or $22.16 per person per month as luxury money. The day of the working adult in this scenario would have workdays that consist of the following: 12 hours (1/2) of work, 8 hours (1/3) of sleep, and 4 hours (1/6) of leisure.

     If a single parent had to support 3 children, the parent would have to earn over $20,300 per year to stay out of poverty -- thus being capable of providing food, shelter, and clothing to their children. Working 40 hours a week at minimum wage, the working parent would only be able to muster $11,752 a year, missing the poverty level by $8,548, or by 42%. If the working parent had overtime pay ($8.475), then they would have to work 4 more hours each day, making an additional $8,814 per year, for a whole sum of $20,566 per year, passing the poverty level by $266. The luxury money per year for the whole family would be $266, or $22.16 per month. The day of the working parent would be as follows: 12 hours (1/2) of work, 8 hours (1/3) of sleep, and 4 hours (1/6) of leisure. If the working adult did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 6 hours more a day. They would earn the same amount of money as the working parent that did have overtime pay. However, their day would be as follows: 14 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 2 hours of leisure.

Section VII: The State of Hawaii

     Similar to Alaska, Hawaii's poverty level is harder to meet. It has the highest poverty level in the entire nation, of $10,730 for 1 person, and $3,780 for every additional person. This poverty level in Hawaii is $2,140 higher than the poverty level in the 48 contiguous states. Currently, the minimum wage in Hawaii is $5.75, but in the year 2003, it will be increased to $6.25. Although I could do the following calculations on $5.75, I will do the calculations on $6.25, since it will be implemented soon enough as a state minimum wage.

     If 1 person, only supporting themselves, living in Hawaii was making this minimum wage, in 1 year, they would make $13,000, passing the poverty level by $2,270. This would give the 1 person an amount of luxury money equal to $2,270 per year, or $189.16 per month as luxury money. This would be a rather good situation, considering that the person does not have to work any overtime.

     If a family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, wanted to live in Hawaii, they would have to earn at least $22,070 a year to have enough money to buy food, shelter, and clothing. 2 working adults would be able to make $26,000, passing the poverty level by $3,930. This would give the family of 4 luxury money of $3,930 per year, or $327.50 per month as luxury money. However, if this was compared to the amount of members of the family, this would mean $982.50 per family member per year as luxury money, or $81.87 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 5, 2 working adults and 3 non-working children, wanted to live in Hawaii, they would have to earn at least $25,850 a year to have enough money to get past poverty level. 2 working adults, however, working 40 hours a week, would earn $26,000, passing the poverty level by $150. This would give the family luxury money of $150 per year, or $12.50 per month. If the other members of the family were taken into consideration, this means that each member of the family gets $30 a year as luxury money, or $2.50 a month as luxury money.

     If a family of 6, 2 working adults and 4 non-working children, wanted to live in Hawaii, they would have to make at least $29,630. However, 2 working adults would only make $26,000, missing the poverty level by $3,630. If with the advantage of overtime pay ($9.375 per hour in this state), the 2 adults would each have to work 1 more hour each day, making an additional $4,875 per year, for a whole total of $30,875, passing the poverty level by $1,245. This would mean that amount as luxury money per year, or $103.75 a month as luxury money. If the other family members were taken into consideration, this would mean $207.50 of luxury money per individual per year, or $17.29 per individual per month as luxury money. If the 2 working parents were unable to obtain minimum wage, then they would have to work 2 more hours each day (for a workday of 10 work hours), making an additional $6,500 a year, for a whole sum of $32,500, passing the poverty level by $2,870. This would give the entire family unit $2,870 as luxury money per year, or $239.16 per month as luxury money. If every member of the family is taken into consideration, then that means that each family member gets (or has spent on them) $478.33 per year, or $39.86.

     If a single parent with 1 child lived in Hawaii and wanted to make it above the poverty level, they would have to make more than $14,510. If 1 single parent worked in Hawaii at minimum wage for 40 hours a week, they would make only $13,000, missing the poverty level by $1,510. With the benefit of overtime pay ($9.375 per hour), it would be only necessary that the parent worked 1 more hour each day, for a total of $2,437.50, for a whole amount of $15,437.50, passing the poverty level by $927.50. The family would have an amount of luxury money equal to $927.50 per year, or $77.29 per month as luxury money. This would mean that $463.75 would be spent on or given to each family member per year, or they would get $38.74 per month as luxury money. If the single parent did not make overtime pay, then they would have to work only 1 hour, just like the parent that did have overtime, but this worker would only make an additional $1,625 per year, for a whole total of $14,625, passing the poverty level by $115. That would give the family of 2 an amount of luxury money equal to $115 per year, or $9.58. This would mean that each family member has $57.50 as luxury money per year, or $4.79 per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent with 2 children lived in Hawaii and wanted to make enough to feed and house themselves, they would have to make at least $18,290. The single parent, however, would still only make $13,000, missing the poverty level by $5,290, or by 28%. To get past the poverty level, and with the benefit of overtime pay ($9.375 per hour), the worker would have to work at least 3 more hours each day, making an additional $7,312.50 each year, for a whole of $20,312.50, passing the poverty level by $2,022.50. This would give the family an amount of luxury money equal to $2,022.50 per year, or $168.54 per month. If taking into consideration the family size, that would mean $674.16 per person per year, or $56.18 per person per month. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 5 hours of leisure. If the worker did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 4 more hours each day, making an additional $6,500, for a whole total of $19,500, passing the poverty level by $1,210. This would give the family luxury money of $1,210 per year, or $100.83 per month. If this was compared to the amount of people in the family, that would mean that each family member would receive luxury money of $403.33 per year, or $33.61 per month as luxury money. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 12 hours (1/2) work, 8 hours (1/3) sleep, and 4 hours (1/6).

     If a single parent with 3 children lived in Hawaii and wanted to make enough money so they could live, then they would have to make at least over $22,070. A single worker would be able to make $13,000 a year working full time, missing the poverty level by $9,070, or by 41%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($9.375 per hour), the worker would have to work 4 more hours each day, making an additional $9,750 per year, for a whole total of $22,750. This would mean that the entire family will receive $680 per year as luxury money, or $56.66 per month as luxury money. With proper consideration of all family members, that would mean $170 as luxury money per family member per year, or $14.16 per family member as luxury money. The workday of the worker here would be as follows: 12 hours (1/2) of work, 8 hours (1/3) as sleep, and 4 hours (1/6) as leisure time. If the single parent did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would have to work an additional 6 hours each day. They would make the same amount of money, though, as the parent who worked with overtime pay. The day of the worker without overtime pay would be as follows: 14 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 2 hours of leisure.

Section VIII: The State of California, Washington, Massachusetts, and Connecticut

     The minimum wage for California and Massachusetts is $6.75, the minimum wage for Connecticut is $6.70, and the minimum wage for Washington is $6.90 (the highest in the nation). Since the difference between the states of California and Massachusetts with Connecticut is only 5 cents, and the difference between Washington and California with Massachusetts is only 15 cents, I see no reason for creating extra pages for a slight economic difference. I shall use the minimum wage of $6.75 to represent all these states in a generic analysis.

     If 1 person wanted to obtain enough money to survive, they would have to make at least $8,590 per year. If 1 person worked a full time job of 40 hours a week with a minimum wage of $6.75, they would earn $14,040, passing the poverty level by $5,450. They would have $5,450 as luxury money per year, or $454.16 per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, wanted to live in these states, they would have to make at least $17,650 a year. 2 working adults would be able to make $28,080 per year, passing the poverty level by $10,430. That would give the family luxury money of $10,430 per year, or $869.16. If divided between each family member, that would mean $2,607.50 per family member per year, or $217.29 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 5, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, wanted to survive, they would have to make at least $20,670. 2 working adults would be able to make $28,080 per year, passing the poverty level by $7,410 per year. That would give the family $7,410 per year as luxury money, or $617.50 for the family per month. Considering the amount of family members, that would mean $1,482 per family member per year as luxury money, or $123.50 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 6, 2 working adults and 4 non-working children, wanted to survive, they would have to pass the poverty level of $23,690. 2 working adults would make $28,080 per year when working full time, passing the poverty level by $4,390. That would give the entire family unit $4,390 as luxury money per year, or $365.83 per month as luxury money. When each family member was taken into consideration, that would mean $731.66 per year per family member as luxury money, or $60.97 per family member per month as luxury money. So far, in all of the cases examined in the states of Connecticut (assuming a minimum wage increase of 5 cents), Massachusetts, and California, no family or individual has had to work overtime to meet the poverty level. In fact, individuals were capable of making some of the largest amounts of luxury money compared to all of the states observed so far. In the best situation, a single worker, they would obtain $5,450 as luxury money per year (or $454.16 per month). However, we have yet to examine the case of a single parent.

     If a single parent were trying to raise 1 child, they would have to make over $11,610 to survive. A single parent working in these states would make $14,040, passing the poverty level by $2,430. That would provide luxury money of $2,430 per year or $202.50 per month. If the amount of members of the family was taken into consideration, that would mean $1,215 per family member per year as luxury money, or $101.25 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent were trying to raise 2 children, they would have to make over $14,630. A single parent working minimum wage and 40 hours a week would only acquire $14,040 a year, missing the poverty level by $590. If the single parent had the benefit of overtime pay ($10.125 per hour), then they would only have to work 1 more hour each day, making an additional $2,632 per year, for a whole total of $16,672.50, passing the poverty level by $2,042.50. This would grant the family an amount of luxury money equal to $2,042.50 per year, or $170.20 per month as luxury money. With concern to the other members of the family, that would mean that each would get $680.83 per year as luxury money, or $56.73 If a working parent was incapable of obtaining overtime pay, then they would have to work 1 more hour just like the parent who had overtime pay, but instead the worker without overtime pay would make an additional $1,755 per year, for a whole sum of $15,795 per year, passing the poverty level by $1,165. That would provide the family with $1,165 per year as luxury money, or $97.08 per month as luxury money. This would mean, considering other family members, that each family member receives $388.33 per year as luxury money, or $32.36 per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent were trying to raise 3 children, they would have to make over $17,650 per year. However, a single parent would only be able to make $14,040 per year, missing the poverty level by $3,610, or by 20%. To make it past the poverty level, and with the benefit of overtime pay ($10.125 per hour), the single parent would have to work 2 additional hours each day, making an extra $5,265 per year, for a whole sum of $19,305, passing the poverty level by $1,655. This would give the family of 4 luxury money of $1,655 per year, or $137.91 per month. If every member of the family was taken into consideration, this means $413.75 per family member per year as luxury money, or $34.47 per family member per month as luxury money. The day of this worker would be as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep,and 6 hours of leisure. If the single parent did not have the advantage of overtime, then they would have to work 3 hours each day, and they would make the same as the single parent that was awarded overtime. The workday of this single parent would be as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 5 hours of leisure.

Section IX: The States of Delaware, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, and the Territory of Washington D.C.

     The minimum wage for Delaware, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. is $6.15. It is interesting to note that the federal minimum wage is $5.15, $1 lower than the minimum wage is the nation's capital. It can then be said with confidence that the politicians who decided the federal minimum wage and the nation's capital's minimum wage believed that they were to be surrounded with better-paid workers. The minimum wage in Maine and Vermont are both $6.25. Vermont's minimum wage, however, is only applicable to employers who have 2 or more employees. If an employer does not meet that requirement, then he does not have to give his workers more than $0.01 per hour. Since the difference between $6.15 and $6.25 is only $0.10, I will give an economical analysis of states with both minimum wages, assuming the minimum wage of $6.25. By doing this, I am giving those who assert "we pay our workers enough" the advantage of the argument. However, even so, I am quite certain that statistics and data will confirm the Socialist position that workers certainly are not being paid enough -- that is to say, being paid what they deserve.

     If 1 person worked 40 hours a week at a minimum wage of $6.25, they would earn $13,000, passing the poverty level by $4,410. This would mean luxury money of $4,410 per year or $367.50 per month.

     If a family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, lived in these states, they would have to make at least $17,650 to stay out of poverty. 2 working adults would manage to make $26,000, passing the poverty level by $8,350. This would grant the family luxury money of $8,350 per year, or $695.83 per month. If the family members were individually taken into consideration, then each one would get $2,087.50 per year as luxury money, or $173.95 per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 5, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, lived in these states, to stay out of poverty, they would need at least $20,670 a year. 2 working adults would make $26,000 at minimum wage and full time, passing the poverty level by $5,330. This would mean that the family has $5,330 as luxury money to spend per year or $444.16 per month as luxury money. If each family member was considered, that would mean $1,066 per family member per year as luxury money, or $88.83 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 6, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, lived in these states, they would need at least $23,690 a year to obtain their basic necessities. 2 working parents would be able to acquire $26,000 per year, passing the poverty level by $2,310. This would give the whole family luxury money of $2,310 per year, or $192.50 per month. If the amount of family members were taken into account, this would mean luxury money of $385 per family member per year, or $32.08 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent were to raise 1 child, they would need to make at least $11,610 for their fundamental necessities. A single parent working at minimum wage 40 hours a week would make $13,000, passing the poverty level by $1,390. This means that the family of 2 receives $1,390 as luxury money per year, or $115.83 per month as luxury money. This means that each family member receives $695 per year as luxury money or $57.91 per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent were to raise 2 children, they would need to make $14,630 a year to get past poverty level. A single parent would only make $13,000, missing the poverty level by $1,630. If the single parent had the benefit of overtime pay ($9.375 per hour), then they would have to work 1 more hour each day, making an additional $2,437.5 per year, for a whole sum of $15437.50 per year, passing the poverty level by $807.50. This would provide the family of 3 with luxury money of $807.50 per year, or $67.29 per month. Considering the others in the family, this would mean $269.13 per family member per year as luxury money, or $22.43 per family member per month as luxury money. If this single parent was not capable of obtaining overtime pay, then they would have to work 2 more hours each day. In fact, if they worked only 1 more hour each day, they would miss the poverty level by only $5. If this family could go without that and still live, which I believe is possible, then demonstrating statistics of them working 2 more hours each day would seem quite unimportant. However, for the sake of being scientific, the working adult would have to work 2 more hours each day, making an additional $3,250 per year, for a whole sum of $16,250, passing the poverty level by $1,620. This would mean the family has $1,620 per year as luxury money, or $135 per month as luxury money. Considering the others in the family, this would be $540 per individual per year as luxury money, or $45 per individual per month as luxury money. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent had to raise 3 children, then the poverty level would be $17,650. Working minimum wage and 40 hours a week, the single parent would earn $13,000 per year, missing the poverty level by $4,650, or by 26%. If the parent had the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 2 more hours each day, making an additional $4,871 per year, for a whole sum of $17,871, passing the poverty level by $221. This would give the family luxury money of $221 per year or $18.41 per month. With concern to the members of the family this would mean $55.25 per year per family member as luxury money, or $4.60 per family member per month as luxury money. If a single parent did not have overtime pay, then they would have to work 3 hours a day, but they would make the same amount of money as the parent that had overtime pay.

Section X: The State of Oregon

     The minimum wage in the state of Oregon is $6.50, only $0.40 lower than the state of Washington, the highest minimum wage state in the United States. If 1 person were working minimum wage in this state for 40 hours a week, they would make $13,520 per year, passing the poverty level by $4,930. This would give the worker $4,930 as luxury money per year, or $410.83 as luxury money per month.

     If a family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, wanted to live in Oregon, they would have to make $17,650 to stay above the poverty level. 2 working adults would be able to manage to make $27,040 a year if they worked minimum wage for 40 hours each week. They would pass the poverty level by $9,390, giving them that amount of money as luxury money, or $782.50 per month as luxury money. Considering the amount of people in the family, that would mean that each person gets $2,347.50 per year as luxury money, or $195.62 per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 5, 2 working adults and 3 non-working children, wanted to live in this state, the poverty level for them would be $20,670. The 2 working adults would be able to make $27,040 per year working minimum wage and 40 hours a week. With that, they would go past the poverty level by $6,370, giving them an amount of luxury money equal to that, or $530.83 per month as luxury money. Considering each person, each person would get $1,274 a year as luxury money, or $106.16 per month as luxury money.

     If a family of 6, 2 working adults and 4 non-working children, wanted to make it above the poverty level, they would need to make at least $23,690. The 2 working adults would make $27,040 a year, passing the poverty level by $3,350. This would give the family of 6 luxury money equal to $3,350 per year, or $279.16 per month as luxury money. For the individual family members, that would mean that each one gets $558.33 per year as luxury money, or $46.52 per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent raising 1 child had to survive in Oregon, they would have to make more than $11,610 per year. This 1 worker would make $13,520 per year, passing the poverty level by $1,910. That would give the family of an amount of luxury money equal to $1,910, or $159.16 per month. Considering all family members, that would mean $955 per family member as luxury money, or $79.58 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent raising 2 children had to survive, they would need at least $14,630 per year. 1 working adult would be able to make $13,520 per year if they worked minimum wage for 40 hours a week, missing the poverty level by $1,110. If the single parent had the advantage of overtime pay ($9.75 per hour), then they would have to work only 1 more hour each day, making an additional $2,535 per year, for a whole of $16,055, passing the poverty level by $1,425. This would give the family luxury money equal to $1,425 per year, or $118.75 per month. Per individual, this would mean each person would receive $475 per year as luxury money , or $39.58 as luxury money per person per month. If the single parent did not have the benefit of overtime, they would still need to work only 1 more hour each day, but they would only earn $1,690 more a year, for a total of $15,210 per year, passing the poverty level by $580. That would mean $580 for the family as luxury money per year, or $48.33 per month as luxury money. Concerning the different members of the family, that would mean $193.33 per family member per year as luxury money, or $16.11 per family member per month as luxury money.

     If a single parent raising 3 children had to survive, they would need $17,650 per year. 1 working parent would be able to make $13,520 a year when working 40 hours a week at minimum wage, missing this poverty level by $4,130, or by 23%. With the benefit of overtime pay ($9.75 per hour), the single parent would have to work 2 more hours each day, earning an additional $5,070 per year, for a whole total of $18,590, passing the poverty level by $940. This would give the family $940 as luxury money per year or $78.33 per month for the family as luxury money. Considering the 4 family members, that means $235 per family member per year, or $19.58 per family member per month. The workday of this single working parent would be as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure. If this single working parent did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 3 hours more each day and make the same amount of money as the worker with the advantage of overtime pay. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, 5 hours of leisure.

Section XI: The Territory of Puerto Rico

     The situation in Puerto Rico is an interesting one to examine. The minimum wage is $5.15, the federal minimum wage. However, the employers who are not covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) only have to pay their workers 70% of minimum wage, or $3.61. Since I have already compared the living conditions and pay of the workers in states with a minimum wage of $5.15, I will only cover what it would be like to live in Puerto Rico and live at a minimum wage of $3.61.

     If 1 person was living in Puerto Rico and was trying to survive, they would have to make at least $8,590 a year. A Puerto Rican worker working 40 hours a week at minimum wage would make $7,508.80 a year, missing the poverty level by $1,081.20, or by 12%. With the benefit of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), the Puerto Rican worker would have to work only 1 more hour each day, making an additional $1877.20 per day, for a whole of $9,386, passing the poverty level by $796. This would give the single worker luxury money of $796 per year or $66.33 per month as luxury money. If the Puerto Rican worker did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 2 more hours each day, making the same amount as the worker with overtime pay. The day of this worker would be as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure.

     If a family of 4, 2 working parents and 2 non-working children, wanted to live, they would need to earn at least $17,650 per year. 2 working parents would only be able to $15,017.60 per year on minimum wage and 40 hours a week, missing the poverty level by $2,632.80. With the advantage of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), these 2 Puerto Rican workers would each have to work 1 more hour each day, making an extra $3,754.40 per year, for a whole total of $18,772, passing the poverty level by $1,122. This would mean the family has $1,122 as luxury money per year, or $93.50 per month as luxury money. Concerning the individual members of the family, this would mean $280.50 as luxury money per year per family member, or $23.37 as luxury money per individual per month. If these 2 workers could not obtain overtime pay, then they would have to work 2 more hours each day, but they would earn the same amount of money as the workers with overtime pay. The day of these 2 workers each would consist of the following: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure.

     If a family of 5, 2 working parents and 3 non-working children, wanted to exist, they would need to make at least $20,670. 2 working adults working 40 hours a week at minimum wage would only earn $15,017.60 per year, missing the poverty level by $5,653, or by 27%. With the benefit of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), they 2 working adults would each need to work 2 more hours each day, making an additional $7,508.80 per year, for a whole sum of $22,526.40, passing the poverty level by $1,856.40. For this family, that would mean $1,856.40 as luxury money per year, or $154.60 as luxury money per month. For each individual member of the family, that would mean $371.28 per year, or $30.94 per month. The workday of these 2 working parents consists of the following: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure. If these 2 working adults did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would each have to work 4 hours each day, but they would make the same pay as the family that had earned overtime pay. The workday of these 2 working adults without overtime pay is the following: 12 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, 4 hours of leisure.

     If a family of 6, 2 working adults and 4 non-working children, needed to survive, they would have to make $23,690 a year. 2 working adults who work minimum wage for 40 hours a week would make $15,017.60 per year, missing the poverty level by $8,672.40, or by 36%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), the 2 working adults would each have to work 3 more hours each day, making an additional $11,263.20, for a whole total of $26,280.40, passing the poverty level by $2,590.40. That would mean $2,590.40 per year for the family as luxury money, or $215.86 per month as luxury money. Considering all family members, that means $431.73 per year as luxury money, or $35.97 per month as luxury money. The workday of each working adult is as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, 5 hours of leisure. If these 2 working adults did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would each have to work an additional 5 hours a day, making $9,386 more each year, for a total of $24,403.60 per year, passing the poverty level by $713.60. This would mean that the family gets $713.60 as luxury money per year, or $59.46 per month as luxury money. Considering all the family members, this means $118.93 per year per family member as luxury money, or $9.91 per month per family member as luxury money.

     If a single parent had to raise 1 child, then they would have to make at least $11,610 each year. A single parent working 40 hours a week at minimum wage would only make $7,508.80, missing the poverty level by $4,101.20, or by 35%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), this single parent would have to work 3 more hours each day, making an extra $5,631.60 per year, for a whole sum of $13,140.40, passing the poverty level by $1,530.40. For the family of 2, this means that they get $1,530.40 each year as luxury money, or $127.53 per month as luxury money. Considering each individual, that means $765.2 per individual per year, or $63.76 per individual per month. The workday of this single parent is as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 5 hours of leisure. If this single parent did not have the benefit of overtime pay, then they would have to work 5 more hours each day, making an additional $4,693 per year, for a whole sum of $12,201.80, passing the poverty level by $591.80. This would give the family $591.80 as luxury money per year, or $49.31 to the family per month as luxury money. When considering the individuals of the family, this means that each family member receives $295.9 per year as luxury money, or $24.65 per month as luxury money. The workday of this single parent is as follows: 13 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, 3 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent had to raise 2 children, then they would have to make at least $14,630 each year to stay out of poverty. A single working parent who worked 40 hours a week at minimum wage would only make $7,508.80, missing the poverty level by $7,121.20, or by 48%. If the single parent had the benefit of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), then they would have to work 4 more hours each day, making an additional $7,508.80 per year, for a whole total of $15,017.60 per year, passing the poverty level by $387.60. This would mean that the family would have $387.60 as luxury money per year, or $32.30 as luxury money per month. This would translate to $129.20 per family member as luxury money, or $10.76 per family member per month for luxury money. The workday of this worker is as follows: 12 hours (1/2) of work, 8 hours (1/3) of sleep, and 4 hours (1/6) of leisure. If the single working parent did not have the advantage of minimum wage, then the worker would have to work 8 hours more a day, making the same amount as the worker with the advantage of overtime pay. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 16 hours of work and 8 hours of sleep.

     If a single parent had to raise 3 children, they they would have to make at least $17,650 a year to obtain the basic necessities. A single parent working in Puerto Rico full time would only make $7,508.80 a year, missing the poverty by $10,141.20, or by 57%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($7.22 per hour), the Puerto Rican single parent would have to work 6 more hours each day, making an extra $11,263.20, for a whole sum of $18,772, passing the poverty level by $1,122 per year. This would give the family luxury money of $1,122 per year, or $93.50 per month as luxury money. This would mean $280.50 as luxury money per family member per year, or $23.37 as luxury money per family member per month. The working parent's workday would be as follows: 14 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 2 hours of leisure. Without the benefit of overtime pay, the single parent would have to work 11 more hours each day, making an additional $10,324.60 per year, for a whole sum of $17,833.40 per year, passing the poverty level by $183.40 per year. This would give the family $183.40 as luxury money per year, or $15.28 as luxury money per month. With concern to each individual family member, this means $45.85 as luxury money per year, or $3.82 as luxury money per month.

Section XII: The Territory of the Virgin Islands

     The minimum wage in the Virgin Islands is $4.65 an hour. However, if a business has gross annual receipts of less than $150,000, then the minimum wage is $4.30. The minimum wage of New Mexico and Ohio is $4.25 per hour. Since the difference between that and $4.30 is only $0.05, I will only discuss the condition of those Proletariat workers in the Virgin Islands who made $4.65.

     A single person working in the Virgin Islands would have to make $8,590 per year to stay out of poverty. A single person working for $4.65 an hour for 40 hours a week would make $9,672 a year, passing the poverty level by $1,082. This would give the one person luxury money of $1,082 per year, or $90.16 luxury money per month.

     A family of 4, 2 working adults and 2 non-working children, would have to make $17,650 each year to pass the poverty level. 2 working adults working full time would be able to make $19,344, passing the poverty level by $1,694. This would give the family $1,694 as luxury money per year, or $141.16 as luxury money per month. This would mean $432.50 per individual as luxury money per year, or $35.29 as luxury money per individual per month.

     If a family of 5, 2 working adults and 3 non-working children, wanted to live, they would need to make at least $20,670 each year to stay out of the poverty level. 2 working parents working 40 hours a week at minimum wage would make $19,344, missing the poverty level by $1,326. With the advantage of overtime pay ($6.975 per hour), the 2 working adults would each have to work 1 more hour each day, making an additional $1,813.50 per year, for a whole of 21,157.50, passing the poverty level by $487.50. This would give the family $487.50 as luxury money per year, or $40.62 as luxury money per month. Per individual, this would mean that each one receives $97.50 per year as luxury money, or $8.12 per month as luxury money. Without the advantage of overtime pay, the 2 working adults would each have to work 2 more hours each day, making an additional $2,418 per year, for a whole sum of $21,762, passing the poverty level by $1,092. This would give the family $1,092 as luxury money per year, or $91 as luxury money per month. Concerning the family members, this means that each one receives $218.40 per year as luxury money, or $18.20 per month as luxury money. The workday of each of the working adults would be as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure.

     If a family of 6, 2 working adults and 4 non-working children, wanted to survive, they would need to make at least $23,690 a year. 2 working adults would only make $19,344 a year, missing the poverty level by $4,346. With the benefit of overtime pay ($6.975 per hour), the 2 working parents would each have to work 2 more hours each day, making an additional $7,254 per year, for a whole total of $26,598, passing the poverty level by $2,908. This would give the family $2,908 as luxury money per year, or $242.33 as luxury money per month. This translates to $484.66 of luxury money per year per individual, or $40.38 as luxury money per individual per month. The workday of each of the working adults is as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure. If the 2 working adults did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would each have to work only 2 more hours each day, the same as the adults with the benefit of overtime pay. However, the 2 adults working 2 more hours a day would make an additional $4,836 per year, for a whole sum of $24,180, passing the poverty level by $490. This would give the family $490 as luxury money per year, or $40.83 as luxury money per month. This would mean $81.66 per individual as luxury money per year, or $6.80 as luxury money per individual per month. The workday of the 2 working adults would each be as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent had to raise 1 child, then they would have to make $11,610 each year to pass the poverty level. A single working parent would make $9,672 a year, missing the poverty level by $1,938. With the benefit of overtime pay ($6.975 per hour), this worker would have to work an additional 2 hours each day, making an extra $3,627 per year, for a whole sum of $13,299, passing the poverty level by $1,689. This would give the family $1,689 as luxury money per year, or $140.75 as luxury money per month. This would mean $844.50 as luxury money per individual per year, or $70.37 as luxury money per month per family member. If the working parent did not have overtime pay, then they would have to work 2 hours, still, just like the worker with overtime pay, but they would only earn an additional $2,418 per year, for a whole of $12,090, passing the poverty level by $480. This would give the family luxury money of $480 per year, or $40 per month. This would mean $240 as luxury money per year per individual, or $20 as luxury money per month per individual. The workday of the working parent both with and without overtime pay is as follows: 10 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 6 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent had to raise 2 children, they would need $14,630 per year to survive. A single parent would make $9,672, missing the poverty level by $4,958, or by 33%. With the advantage of overtime pay ($6.975 per hour), the worker would have to work 3 more hours each day, making an additional $5,440.50 per year, for a whole total of $15,112.50 per year, passing the poverty level by $482.50. This would give the family luxury money of $482.50 per year, or $40.20 as luxury money per month. This would mean $160.83 as luxury money per family member per year, or $13.40 as luxury money per month per family member. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 11 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 5 hours of leisure. If the single parent did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would have to work 5 more hours each day, making an additional $6,045 per year, for a whole total of $15,717 per year, passing the poverty level by $1,087. This would grant the family luxury money of $1,087 per year, or $90.58 as luxury money per month. That would mean $362.33 as luxury money per year per family member, or $30.19 as luxury money per month per family member. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 13 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 3 hours of leisure.

     If a single parent had to raise 3 children, then they would need to make $17,650 per year. A single parent would only be able to make $9,672 per year working full time, missing the poverty level by $7,980, or by 45%. With proper overtime pay ($6.975 per hour), the worker in this case would have to work 5 more hours each day, making an extra $9,067.50 per year, for a whole sum of $18,739.50 per year, passing the poverty level by $1,089.50. This would give the family $1,089.50 as luxury money per year, or $90.79 as luxury money per month. That would mean $272.37 as luxury money per family member per year, or $22.69 as luxury money per family member per month. The workday of this worker would be as follows: 13 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 3 hours of leisure. If the working parent did not have the advantage of overtime pay, then they would have to work 7 more hours each day, making an extra $8,463 per year, for a whole total of $18,135 per year, passing the poverty level by $485. This would give the family luxury money of $485 per year, or $40.41 as luxury money per month. That translates to $121.15 as luxury money per year per individual, or $10.10 as luxury money per month per individual. The workday of this worker is as follows: 15 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 1 hour of leisure.

Section XIII: The States Without A Minimum Wage

     The following states do not have a minimum wage: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. [See Appendix B.] It is acceptable for employers in these states to offer 20 or 30 cents an hour to their employers, keeping them literally in a position of slavery indefinitely. In the state of Arkansas, the minimum wage is $5.15, but if an employer does not have at least 4 employees then there is no minimum wage. There is an identical situation in Illinois, Nebraska, and Virginia. In Indiana, the minimum wage policy is the same as Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and Virginia, except the amount of employees an employer must have is at least 2 for the minimum wage law to apply. The same can be said of Georgia and West Virginia, except the employer must have at least 6 employees for a minimum wage law to apply. In Vermont, the minimum wage is $6.25, but that only applies to employers who have at least 2 or more employees. If these states do not meet the requirements for a minimum wage law, then the employees have no minimum wage.

[Source: The Department of Labor, Minimum Wage Laws in the States, according to website.]

Appendix A: 2001 HHS Poverty Guidelines

Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States and D.C	Hawaii	Alaska
1	$8,590	$10,730	$9,890
2	$11,610	$14,510	$13,360
3	$14,630	$18,290	$16,830
4	$17,650	$22,070	$20,300
5	$20,670	$25,850	$23,770
6	$23,690	$29,630	$27,240
7	$26,710	$33,410	$30,710
8	$29,730	$37,190	$34,180
For each additional person add	$3,020	$3,780	$3,470

[Source: Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 33, February 16, 2001, pp. 10695-10697. Issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).]

Appendix B: State Minimum Wages

[Source: The Department of Labor, Minimum Wage Laws in the States, according to website.]

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