No Work Experiance

Teenagers. The stage between childhood and adulthood that makes people cringe at the thought of it. It's in this stage you're encouraged to get a job and learn some true life skills. Gives you a sense of entitlement. However, in these days in order to get a job you need "work experience" but if it's a first time job, how can you get a job? Many teenagers suffer with this conflict. Also with Child Labor Laws taking everything to insane measures many business's find it easier to hire young adults rather than teenagers. With many college applications wanting the most experienced people it raises problems for future teenagers. 

In recent years the teenage employment rate has gone down significantly. According to US News , 1.7 million teenage jobs have been lost. Teenagers compete with college students, previously unemployed adults, and retirees. There has been a 40% decline in employment rates among 16-19 year old. Lowest it's been since WW2. Those teens who are college bound are more likely to get a job rather than high school dropouts, being a 5% chance. Why are so many teens getting shut out? Well Child Labour Laws may be a part. Don't get me wrong, children need to be protected at work but should it come to the point where employers will only hire an adult because it's easier? In California, there's a law that limits a child's work hours so they can "be safer" but an adult can work the same job and be just fine. Who will an employer hire? The adult of course since they can work more hours. 

Also many employers will hire an adult rather than a teen due to work experience. How can a teen get work experience if the teen can't get hired? My friend Levi, he's been trying to find a job for months. He's a pastors kid been homeschooled, what some employers may look for right? Not really. He's applied everywhere. He applied for a job at a local pizza place. He went in every so often to check up on his application, he was doing everything right. Not even a few weeks later the pizza place had a new employee that is probably about 20. I'm making assumptions so this may not be right but I imagine this could be due to work experience. 

I am one of those few lucky teens with a job. However, my boss hates some of the laws our state has. I work a western wear store where I sell boots and shirts and whatever. It's a small business (see pervious blog for more rants) and it's not very strenuous work to be honest with you. I think the most strenuous thing is having to move a saddle stand once in a while. But in California it's illegal to not have a 30 minute lunch and two 10 minute breaks. And my boss hates the 10 minute break rule. No she doesn't over work me, I'm
not getting hurt in anyway, I still get lunch and whatever. I basically don't even use my breaks because I don't want to. I'm not saying we need to get rid of all labour laws and have 12 year olds work in saw mills. I'm saying tone it down, then maybe some more teens will have the opportunity to get a job. 

Minimum Wage Increase vs. Small Business

The creation of Minimum Wage started in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. At the time it was $0.25 an hour, now that wouldn't get you much in today's economy. Minimum wage in California is $10.50 an hour, and the goal is to progressively reach $15 an hour.  The reason for increased wages is for people to be able to "live on" their income, being that almost 3 million people with or below the minimum wage. Also to have less of a gap between lower and middle class workers. But what will happen to small business? 

As of right now minimum wage is $10.50  and hour in the state of California. California also has the 3rd highest percentage of people on welfare. With the increases its possible more people will get off welfare and get jobs. According to the Center for American Progress, if the minimum wage keeps increasing 3.5 million people will get off food stamps, thus saving us $46 billion over 10 years. Also this will help with the poverty rate. Take a second and think of a big business, Walmart, Apple, McDonalds, whatever. Think of the CEO and how much they make. For example, Doug McMillin, the CEO of Walmart makes $25.6 million a year. Now think of the average minimum wage employee, they make about $15,080 a year. With this increase that gap will get significantly lower.

As happy as the first paragraph sounded, there's two sides to every story. The Congressional Budget Office did a similar study to CAP and they concluded the increase of minimum wage would actually result in the loss of 500,000 jobs. Thus creating a ripple effect, raising poverty rates, increasing crime rates, etc. 60% of small business owners say their companies will shut down due to the increase, they cannot afford that high of wages. Thus putting teens and non experienced employees at risk. Who wants to hire someone that's inexperienced? Let alone pay a ton for them to not know what to do. Meldine Rodda, the manager of a local western store said, "Minimum wage was meant for teens, like you, not for someone to live off of". Minimum wage increases also increase the risk of more automated systems instead of employees. Why pay someone to do something if a robot can do it for free? With that could also decrease health benefits, putting a lot of people in danger.

Personally I do not agree with the increases. I'm a teenager working for a small business that may have to fire me and/or close their doors due to this increase. Many family business's have had to shut down because of these wages. Cotton, the owner of the store I work at, has owned his company 55 years and counting. He loves his business more than anything, if it closes he'd be so heartbroken. These increases affect more than employees, they affect families. My moms work gives health benefits, without those health benefits my mom and I wouldn't be able to afford doctors visits, eye appointments, orthodontist appointments, etc. That puts my family at risk, along with many others. These increases are honestly selfish, think of the families your putting in danger just so you can buy fancier car.

 Four reasons not to raise the minimum wage

Reasons to raise minimum wage

https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/four_reasons_not_to_raise_the_minimum_wage.pdf
http://www.alternet.org/economy/10-reasons-raise-minimum-wage-charts
http://minimum-wage.procon.org/
http://minimum-wage.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=002075
http://www.alternet.org/economy/10-reasons-raise-minimum-wage-charts
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/052815/does-raising-minimum-wage-increase-inflation.asp

Ashes Ashes The Population Falls Down

Immigration. A word that we can't escape in today's news. Every time we turn our heads, walk around the street corner, or turn on the television, all you hear is immigration. People explode over whether refugees should be allowed over and whether illegals should be allowed to stay, but why? Are immigrants a threat to national security or does it help America stay afloat?

318.9 million people live in America. 11.7 million are immigrants. 10% of those being illegal. With 50,800 living in Texas and California alone. Granted these states are along the Mexican border. According to Donald Trump, "Mexico’s leaders have been taking advantage of the United States by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country". Even though, crime rates have significantly lowered in recent years.


CNN posted an article , about a woman named Guadalupe who lived in Arizona and got deported back to Mexico due to Trumps new immigration laws. She was told she was not targeted, however she committed a felony and had to leave. Guadalupe was quoted as saying, "The truth is I was there [in the United States] for my children. For a better future. To work for them. And I don't regret it, because I did it for love... I'm going to keep fighting so that they continue to study in their country, and so that their dreams become a reality". However, the Trumps new policy says, if you are an illegal immigrant and you commit a crime there is a chance of you getting deported. Many people, including Guadalupe's lawyer, say he's a racist and claiming he's doing this to separate families.

Another huge controversy is whether or not Muslim refugees should be allowed inside the united states. Donald Trump has already tried a No Muslim Rule, but that flew straight into the ground. Many are claiming it's unconstitutional and we were founded on immigration, while others believe America is being used by these refugees and immigrants. Chuck Schumer, a United States senator and a democrat, said "Tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight as a grand tradition of America, welcoming immigrants, that has existed since America was founded has been stomped upon..."  
Recently, Trump has sent out an abundance of tweets complaining about the decision of the judge that was against his travel ban. Saying, "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and the court system. People are pouring in. Bad!" and that we're not getting the security we're entitled to. The defenition of a refugee is someone who needs to escape war. So America in a sense would be lending a helping hand to those in need. No harm done. However, former president Barack Obama wanted to help these refugees, without giving them any sort of background check. That's where there's harm done. Every other country puts their thoughts before anyone else's and America should put their safety in front of everyone elses. Now do I believe going about it like a pissed off teenager is appropriate? No. Think smart. And for all the snowflakes wanting to allow anyone into the country think to yourself, would I want them in my home?