If you or your family were to go out into the world today and find an easily paying job, you would expect a minimum wage. The minimum wage has been defined as the lowest wage, determined by law or contract, that an employer can pay an employee for a specific job. For many this is not enough, I know it will help, but it is not enough. For most of my college career my mother was the only one earning more than minimum wage and it was barely enough. Recently this topic has been in the news more than ever. Ten states are looking to raise the minimum wage cap in their state to allow their workers to earn more. As stated before, this is only the state minimum wage, not the federal minimum wage. The last time the federal minimum wage was increased in July 2009, it was raised to $7.25 an hour. However, while raising the minimum wage can help, it only helps those who have jobs. Bob Pollin of Massachusetts told marketplace.org "It's not a panacea for poverty. In fact, the main source of low-income poverty is that people don't have jobs at all." fewer jobs, why not offer small entrepreneurs, who have an economically stable business, the opportunity to expand their business and branch out. This would be more like the old saying that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Creating more jobs in turn guarantees the lower middle class the possibility of obtaining money that they currently do not have. The Boston Herald describing one company's contribution to the topic As business leaders and owners, we are sensitive to every factor that affects our ability to grow our businesses. No matter what some may say, it's awfully short... middle of paper... businesses will have to look for ways to offset the wage increase, and if that can't be found, the only solution, as mentioned in the foxnews article. com is eliminating jobs. Bottom line, if we can find a way to fix the minimum wage to match the cost of inflation, we could slowly solve the level of employment and poverty in our country. But until then we must first focus on what we know, which for businesses is the law of diminishing marginal returns and for people is how to survive on as little as possible. Boston Herald. Np, nd Web. December 28, 2013. “Businesses Brace for 'Severe Cuts' as City Adopts Nation's Highest $15 Minimum Wage.” Fox News. FOX News Network and Web. December 30, 2013. "Ten states raise minimum wages in 2013, but impact on low-skilled workers and teenagers unknown." The daily caller. Np, nd Web. December 22. 2013.