You know what, this is just despicable. I mean the federal minimum wage has not been raised since 1997! For god's sakes!

Senate Rejects Minimum Wage Hike

"A labor-backed measure by Sen. Edward Kennedy would have raised the minimum to $6.25 over an 18-month period. A Republican counterproposal would have combined the same $1.10 increase with various breaks and exemptions for small businesses.

The Kennedy amendment to a spending bill went down 51-47, and the GOP alternative 57-42. Under a Senate agreement, they would have needed 60 votes for approval."

Why oh why did these bills go down to defeat? This has happened when the congress has approved pay raise after pay raise for themselves. It's the height of hypocrisy! You people are awful! Yes Republican AND Democrat, whoever voted against this you should be ashamed.

"Kennedy, D-Mass., said Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the depth of poverty in the country and he pointed out that a single parent with two children working a minimum wage earns $10,700 a year, $4,500 below the poverty line."

Is there anything else to say? Really? I don't think so. Basically the United States of America has effectively, but not raising the minimum wage in 8 years, has effectively legislated people into poverty.

I know I know, they should just work harder or get more education, blah blah. Well you know what? Not everyone has all the opportunity that you and I have. And they deserve better than poverty. No one deserves to live in poverty. I am disgusted.