Michael Artlip, Megan Dougherty, Michael Martinelli, and Lauren Mazzatesta
ENGL 137H
November 20, 2020
Plan: 2016 Federal Minimum Wage Debate; primary concentration on the conversations about said topic in the 2016 Presidential race.
TED Talk Work Day(s) Activity Summary
Duties of Each Member:
- Michael A.- designated video editor (via iMovie or other applicable editing applications), garner and organize research (explore the plan of action– policy), drafting video script, finding videos and images, Narrator, and compile interview questions.
- Megan- designated goalkeeper, garner and organize research (explore the seriousness of the issue– quality), drafting video script, finding videos and images, Narrator, assist with video editing, and compile interview questions.
- Michael M.- designated scribe, garner and organize research (explore the facts– conjecture), drafting video script, finding videos and images, Narrator, assist with video editing, and compile interview questions.
- Lauren- designated park ranger, garner and organize research (explore the meaning or nature of the issue– definition), drafting video script, finding videos and images, Narrator, assist with video editing, and compile interview questions.
Timeline:
- November 22-29 (Thanksgiving Break)- synthesize research, indicate and specify direction, as well as prepare the script.
- November 30- complete and review the script. In addition to allotting precise roles to begin the preliminary steps in creating the video; steps include choosing images and videos, as well as finding background music via the royalty free sites.
- December 2- commence the video process; i.e. designing text slides, inserting selected images, video clips, and generated background music.
- December 4- launch the filming portion; i.e. interviews, and narration.
- December 7- assemble and organize video sections; i.e. synthesize content. As well as start the video editing process.
- December 9- final review of the overall project– ensure that everything meets everyone’s standards.
- December 11- present videos in class
- December 14- submit video by 11:59pm to the canvas drop-box.
Day 1:
We sifted through an array of topics covering:
- Electoral College
- Capital Punishment
- Minimum Wage
- Evolution Theory
- Free Market Capitalism
- Religious Freedoms
- Pledge of Allegiance
- National Anthem
After a thorough review of each, we decided that the debate surrounding the federal minimum wage would provide for a concrete and compelling exposition.
Day 2:
We began our examination into the stasis questions of our selected topic and allotted each among the group:
- The facts (conjecture): Michael Martinelli
- The meaning or nature of the issue (definition): Lauren Mazzatesta
- The seriousness of the issue (quality): Megan Dougherty
- The plan of action (policy): Michael Artlip
As well as we began to prepare our research and considered the best avenues to gather information:
- Google Ngram
- JStor
- Google Scholars
- Library of Congress
- University Library
Our meeting concluded with an aim to begin to delve into our given stasis question and determined our immediate direction as compiling a series of facts from a sampling of our research, and then reviewing said research in the forthcoming meeting in order to discern a clearer target for our topic.
The result of our exploration:
- Facts (conjecture)
US DOL’s overview on minimum wage (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage)
History on minimum wage by Legal Information Institute (https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/minimum_wage)
Analysis of Alan Krueger’s 1992 Study: New Jersey higher MW vs. Pennsylvania normal MW (https://www.econlib.org/no-krueger-didnt-prove-that-raising-the-minimum-wage-doesnt-increase-unemployment/#:~:text=To%20overcome%20that%20problem%2C%20Card,the%20same%20in%20neighboring%20Pennsylvania)
- Meaning/nature of the issue (definition)
What Does the Minimum Wage Do? By Dale Belman and Paul J. Wolfson (https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iRDVAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR3&dq=what+is+the+minimum+wage&ots=hhMJMBQ7es&sig=6EMRK4Fxv-M7-vrAefgM7eA2Qrc#v=onepage&q=what%20is%20the%20minimum%20wage&f=false)
Minimum Wages by David Neumark and William L. Wascher (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Minimum_Wages/DGg0MzglouYC?hl=en&gbpv=0)
Who Benefits From A Minimum Wage Increase? By John W. Lopresti and Kevin J. Mumford (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26753694?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=what+is+the+minimum+wage&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dwhat%2Bis%2Bthe%2Bminimum%2Bwage%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don%26fc%3Doff%26group%3Dnone&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_SYC-5187_SYC-5188%2F5187&refreqid=fastly-default%3A7146590b859a20f41de970eac7ed9c99&seq=2#metadata_info_tab_contents)
- Seriousness of the issue (quality)
Effects Of Minimum Wages On Population Health By J. Paul Leigh and Juan Du
Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor By Ben Zipperer
https://www.epi.org/publication/minimum-wage-testimony-feb-2019/
- Plan of the action (policy)
Effect of minimum wage measurably benefits workers: https://www.nelp.org/publication/raising-minimum-wage-leads-significant-gains-workers-not-benefits-cliffs/#:~:text=%5B1%5D%20A%20separate%20November%202018,and%20the%20voluntary%20action%20of
$15 minimum wage benefits businesses and economy in addition to workers:
https://www.epi.org/publication/minimum-wage-testimony-feb-2019/
Minimum wage increase can have adverse effects on those it attempts to help:
Day 3:
We shared our aforementioned research and produced more of a resolute concentration to our topic:
- The debate surrounding the federal minimum wage that was rekindled through the ensuing Presidential race in 2016 and magnified due to, notably, the democratic Presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, claims regarding an instant increase to such amount should she be elected.
Our meeting completed with a consensus to further our research through the adoption of our new concentration, which allowed us to identify valuable materials that will shape the direction of our video:
Fed Law declares the minimum of 7.25, state law can raise its own minimum above 7.25
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage
What price is fair for minimum wage? Would raising the minimum wage be detrimental to the economy and job flow in America?
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/minimum_wage
Alan Krueger’s 1992 Study: Found that higher MW in Jersey correlated with an increase in employment, but there are more variables in this situation Controversial study >> used to prove MW increase can be done well, yet many claim there are flaws in this study.
Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance– adopted in 2015.
https://www.nber.org/papers/w23532
Oregon’s minimum wage increase through Senate Bill (SB) 1532– implemented in 2016; emphasis regarding the effects upon farmers and agricultural workers.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/2/370
Illustrates a bevy of politicians’ differing stances on the federal minimum wage issue; especially inside of comparable ideological circles.
https://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2016040800
Provides a detailed look into minimum wages above $7.25 across states and cities in 2016 through a chart. Also includes the states’ and cities’ future plans for their minimum wages as of 2016.
Details minimum wage increases approved in 25 states in 2016.
https://www.nelp.org/news-releases/21-states-localities-approved-minimum-wage-increases-in-2016/
Provides details about California’s 2016 minimum wage increase.
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/sb3_faq.htm
Framing the Issue
In political circles, leaders have not reached any consensus regarding solutions about the federal minimum wage crisis. Even within similar ideologies, public servants have offered contrasting solutions. Time magazine offers a rendition of the Democratic Presidential debate where Secretary Clinton and Senator Sanders argued vehemently about their proposed solutions to the issue: “What has happened is history has outpaced Secretary Clinton, because all over this country people are standing up and their saying $12 is not good enough, we need $15 an hour…To suddenly announce now that you’re for $15, I don’t think is quite accurate.” This expresses a schism within the Democratic party in 2016 regarding their solutions in solving the federal minimum wage debate between Presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Yet, this is not limited to the Democratic party, the Republican party also faces this issue. As CNBC notes in Time to Ditch $7.25 minimum wage? Republicans weigh in, “[Donald Trump] Now, I want to create jobs so that you don’t have to worry about the minimum wage, they’re doing a great job and they’re making much more than the minimum wage…[Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush] We need to leave it to the private sector. I think state minimum wages are fine. The federal government shouldn’t be doing this.” This illustrates the distinction between the candidates in the Republican party’s Presidential Race in 2016, namely, Donald Trump and Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, that hold conflicting explanations to this demanding need.
These discepharies among party leaders indicate a vast difference to satisfying this issue, as considering the aforementioned, the matter is far from being resolved. However, another aspect that categorizes this issue as a controversy is that it is a pressing concern that affects real Americans in their everyday lives. Thus, the sensitive nature of the topic sparks personal connections to the consequences of its implementation. It is even more timely that this debate was ignited due to the kairos of the 2016 Presidential election. The President is evidently Commander in Chief, hence they occupy a great deal of influence in meeting this need. Through the immediate impact that this issue has upon the American public, we plan on seizing this characteristic and orienting our media modes to reflect such an impression to convey the topic’s living significance even in today’s society.
Framing Questions:
- Should the federal minimum wage be increased? If not, should it be maintained, decreased, or completely ceased?
- What is the federal minimum wage? What is its purpose?
- Who does the federal minimum wage affect? Why does it target this specific demographic?
- Why do politicians struggle to find agreement on the solutions surrounding the federal minimum wage? What are their proposed answers?
- What are the side effects of a federal minimum wage quota across the nation? Which cohorts are impacted the most by this standard?
- Why has the government not embraced the exemption of small businesses, farmers, and youths in their plans?
- How do states’ delegation of the minimum wage set a precedent for the government in determining the federal minimum wage?