The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has not been raised since 2009. That’s 13 years, the longest period without an increase since the minimum wage was enacted, meaning today’s minimum wage is actually worth far less than it was in 2009.

This is an insult to American workers, and bad for our economy. It’s far past time to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour.

But conservatives are out to scare you about raising the wage. Our latest video, in partnership with the Gravel Institute, debunks four conservative myths about raising the minimum wage.

Founded by Mike Gravel, a former U.S. senator from Alaska and two-time U.S. presidential candidate, the Gravel Institute is a crowd-funded organization creating short videos to counter rightwing online misinformation and spread progressive ideas to new audiences, especially young people.

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Raising the minimum wage is good for workers, good for businesses, and good for the economy.

Not to mention that raising the minimum wage is the morally correct thing to do. It ought to lift working people out of poverty, not keep them in it.

We’re the richest country in the world, home to the richest people on the planet. We can, and we must, treat our workers with the dignity and respect they deserve.

That starts with paying them a living wage.

Thanks for watching,
Robert Reich
Inequality Media