TOW #5: The Minimum Wage - How Much Is Too Much?

     The federal minimum wage has been a topic surrounded by controversy for years, and ever since the change to $7.25 in 2009, Democratic politicians have been fighting for a change. Alan Krueger, an economist and writer for the New York Times, argued that although the increase of the federal minimum wage can be helpful, increasing the minimum wage too much can have harsh consequences. The topic of the minimum wage requirements is not an easy one to understand, especially if the reader is not involved in politics. An aspect of this article that is unique is how simple it is to understand Krueger's message. He adjusts the subject of his article to accommodate various audiences such as parents with teenagers, adult minimum wage workers, business owners, and the average American.
     Kruger effectively conveys his opinion by using ethos, diction and research in order to convince the reader to disagree with the proposed $15.00 minimum wage. Krueger uses ethos by referencing various politicians' opinions that he agrees with and includes that their opinions are "supported by President Obama and Hillary Clinton." No matter the opinion of the reader based on Obama and Clinton, the appeal to ethos is still present because these two people are extremely powerful in America. Also, Krueger changes from formal to informal diction that makes this article a lot more entertaining. Politics can often be described as a rather mundane topic, but Krueger effectively makes what he is saying more interesting to the reader because he does not use highly sophisticated vocabulary. This is more likely to encourage someone to read his article. Lastly, he includes a lot of research which supports his argument. He states that he has been studying "minimum wage for 25 years," so he knows many aspects of this issue. The reader is much more likely to trust him because of his knowledge and education.
     In conclusion, Krueger proved his argument and achieved his purpose by creating trust through reliable sources and making this loaded, political argument a lighter subject.