Viewpoint on Policy Proposal ChangesIn my belief, raising the minimum wage to $12 is a positive policy which when enacted would see a positive change in the lives of people. My argument is in line with the current state of Texas, where there have been increasing numbers of individuals from all walks of life. The number of African-Americans, Hispanics and Mexicans and people of Asian descent has grown within the state of Texas over the years. As the residents increase, so does the struggle for available resources (Tannahill, 2000). This has led to a majority of those living in the state to live in poverty since they cannot fend for themselves adequately.
Raising the minimum wage would reduce the number of people living in poverty by availing to them the necessary tools to raise their standard of living. They would also be able to procure health care services which are poorly funded within the state. Moreover, owing to a higher income, the number of people within the state who cannot pay for insurance such as healthcare would get the opportunity to have such services (DLC). This is in part due to limited government intervention in Texas which does little to protect those without power, and thus the state has high costs when it comes to insurance.
Moralistic Approach
I choose to take a moralistic approach to the problem at hand, as the government has a role to play in facilitating the well-being of all citizens. While self-development is important in any society to grow, government intervention is necessary to prevent infringement of the rights of individuals without the means to defend themselves. I believe it is the duty of the government to come up with policies which raise the political, social, and economic status of its citizens, and thus provide avenues for individuals to better themselves.
Moreover, as people of one nation, we have a responsibility towards our neighbors. Through the government, people of all classes should have their rights respected, which includes access to base needs such as health care and schools. In a society where the rights of some individuals are taken to mean more than those of others, social contrast is visible. Equality dictates that all people are equal, and should, therefore, be accorded equal rights. Regarding the needs of a select few and disregarding the rest would entail denying people their rights, which would also mean denying them their freedom.
Relevant Solutions
Government intervention is necessary to raise the standard of living of the poor in Texas. Though the traditionalistic political culture is dominant in Texas, there is a need to address the growing number of people in the state. A hierarchical system put in place by the state has led to the government acting as a blanket over the activities of the elite (Elazar, 1972). However, to safeguard the minority groups, systems have to be put in place which defends their rights. A person without the ability to fend for themselves and their family cannot be expected to grow, both economically and socially if they do not have adequate wages. Therefore, I believe it is important to cater to the needs of these individuals, which can only be done through government action, which in this case would mean raising the minimum wage.
In addition to this, provision of health care is crucial to the development of society. While the traditionalist/individualistic approach deems self-development as one’s obligation, the growing percentage of those living in poor conditions continues to grow (Texas Politics, 2016).
Measures should be put in place to prevent further escalation of the situation. Empathically reasoning helps us understand that while one may wish to preserve their status, they should not do so at the expense of others. As such, the national government should take responsibility for social services to improve the lives of the poor better.
- DLC. Texas Political Culture. Democratic Leadership Council: Dallas County Community College District, Retrieved October 9, 2016, from https://dlc.dcccd.edu/ADA/TxGov/ADA_TXGOVT_2306_L01-2_Phler7a.pdf
- Elazar, D.J. (1972).American Federalism: A view from the states. (2nd edition).New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.
- Tannahill, N. (2000).Texas Government: Policy and Politics, 6th ed..New York: Longman.
- Texas Politics (2016). Texas Politics – Texas Political Culture. Texas Politics. Retrieved October 9, 2016, from http://www.laits.utexas.edu/txp_media/html/cult/print_cult.html.
