Do you know how many people in the U.S would be lifted out of poverty if the minimum wage were raised to $15? About 7.6 million people would be lifted out of poverty, and some of them even earn more than the minimum wage! And if action isn't taken, the number of people who are impoverished, as well as the number of people who would be greatly helped by an increase in the minimum wage, will only increase. 

Nowadays, the minimum wage is becoming ever more important. As inflation continues to rise, so do prices. This leads to more people becoming impoverished, unable to afford basic essentials such as food, shelter, and childcare for themselves and their families. However, it's possible to change this. By raising the minimum wage, not only will people be able to afford the basic necessities all people deserve, but there would be numerous social and economic benefits. 

Various studies have shown that raising the minimum wage, by lifting families out of poverty, children and teens would have higher performance and attendance in school, while reducing dropout rates. Thanks to an increase in the money families earn, they would also be able to better afford healthcare, buy enough food for themselves and family, as well as to engage in healthier habits more often. In addition, this increase would prevent about 389 premature deaths every year. Of course, an increase in income also decreases the crime rate. Studies have found that by increasing the minimum wage, the crime rate, specifically murders and robberies would drop by a fair amount.

Of course, there are also several economic benefits, some of which can even help the government. Thanks to an increase in the minimum wage, people will find it more attractive to work, decreasing employee turnover and absenteeism in workplaces. This would increase economic activity and start job growth, growing the GDP and creating tens of thousands of new jobs for people. It will also benefit businesses, as people would then be able to spend more money, further helping the economy. An increase in the minimum wage would also decrease the federal deficit, as many people who originally relied on federal support programs would no longer be reliant on it, and thanks to an increase in people's incomes, they would also pay more taxes.

Overall, there are multiple social and economic benefits for workers, businesses, and the government too. And even if we do nothing, inflation will still continue, and prices will still rise, making everything even harder to afford than before, allowing even more people to fall into poverty. There are people that are unable to afford even the most basic necessities that everyone should have, and we should work our best to help them. People deserve to have food and shelter, and to be able to take care of their family. We should at least try our best to make changes in our society and government so that this doesn't continue. Therefore, we petition the government to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, for the benefit of everyone in the U.S who may struggle to afford the essentials that every person deserves.