It's been eight years since the last raise in the minimum wage. A raise seems long overdue since the price of necessity items has risen across the board over the last couple years.
A few years ago, a gallon of gas was less than a dollar. Now, $1.50 is about the best price you're going to find.
Three years ago, you could buy a No.2 at McDonald's, which consist of two cheeseburgers, fries and a drink, for $3.09. Today, that same order costs $3.59.
The purchasing power of the minimum wage has dropped tremendously since 1968. The hourly wage was $1.60, but a McDonald's hamburger was only 18 cents and a Hershey bar was a nickel. You could buy 32 candy bars after an hour of work. Now, you might be able to buy six candy bars or one meal at McDonald's. In order for the wage to have the same purchasing power it did in 1968, it would have to be $8.05 today.
The last increase was in 1996 when the wage was increased from $4.75 to $5.15. In the last five years, Congress has increased their pay five times from $136,700 to $158,000.
A person working minimum wage, full-time for a complete year will make only $10,700 before taxes. For a family of three, that is $3,400 below the poverty line. If more money could be earned by families below the poverty level, all that money will likely go back into the economic cycle to help the economy. According to adaction.org raising the minimum wage by $1.00 will add $20 billion to consumer spending.
Some argue that a raise in the minimum wage would effect inflation and jobs, but a study by Princeton economists found that a raise had little or no impact on either.
After the last two wage raises in 1991 and 1996, thousands of new jobs were created and the economy was booming.
If you believe in a more equitable minimum wage, call your congressman and let them know how you feel.

Airwaves smothered by corporate radio
JASON KIMBRO | Staff Reporter

Have you ever encountered the following situation?
You are driving down a dark road on a dark night in the darkest regions of Wichita Falls , when suddenly you have the urge to turn on the radio. You choose one of the many Clear Channel or Cumulus stations available here in town. They play a song you like.
You bop your head to the beat. The song ends and the next song comes on. You continue to drive for whatever reason you may be aimlessly driving around for, when out of nowhere, the song you heard when you initially turn on the radio is played again.
It is then when you realize that all the stations are virtually playing the same five songs over and over and over and over again, with an occasional smattering of a song that was overplayed ten years ago.
If this sounds like something you have experienced before and you want to avoid such insufferable horrors, I have a solution for you. MOVE!
But move somewhere far, far away, for stations owned by corporations like Clear Channel virtually monopolize the airwaves.
Many great bands are never played due to our wonderful capitalistic society. They are not the studio bands backed and over glorified by big-name music labels out to make a buck.
Now, don't get me wrong. There is nothing foul about making a buck. This is the basis of America , right?
But when great bands such as Spiritualized and Built to Spill, and great songwriters such as Jason Horne, and Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes aren't able to get their music and their words out because Clear Channel is unable to make enough bucks to buy the Hummer with the psychedelic paint-job, then the real purpose of music, artistic outlet and entertainment, are lost.
Nothing can really be done. All anyone can do is move to a city like Austin and find a good college station, or they can get a satellite radio and pay out the wazoo every month.
But, if you're a poor college student, stuck in Wichita Falls , and you want to hear more than the studio stylings of Disturbed, Puddle of Mudd or Outkast, then I am afraid that you're S.O.L.
What we really need is a rich benefactor to donate a million dollars or so to the university toward the creation of our own public radio station. There we can be exposed to the wonderful bands and songs that are out there.
We could have student disc jockeys and have the playlists chosen by students and faculty. Different shows could play different styles of music, from lesser-known excursions into hip-hop to the up and coming acoustic beats of emo.
There can be a show where the music of our fellow MSU (MWSU for our readers in Michigan ) students can be given a chance to be heard across the airwaves, for many of our hopeful musicians would never get the chance to be heard on 106.3 The Buzz's Local Licks.
There is nothing wrong with the music that is played here in America 's most average city. Some of the songs are quite satisfactory. But a salad isn't much of a salad if all there is to it is lettuce.
You need some tomatoes, cucumber, croutons, maybe some cheese, a few peppercinis, Bacos, and a nice dressing, be it ranch, bleu cheese, or French in order to make the pile of lettuce into a salad that is worthy of being a meal.
On that thought, I am going to listen to my roomie's CD collection. I have given myself a hankerin' for some croutons and bleu cheese. In the meantime, if you are interested in listening to some great forms of modern rock, I suggest checking out www.spiritualized.com , www.pleaserock.com or www.saddle-creek.com and remember that there is much more out there than what our local music providers are willing to share with us.