History proves this Site’s conclusion the minimum wage - as a political and economic concept - will never afford the basic necessities of life for any
full time employee. NO MATTER how belatedly legislated, tardily augmented and inflated. It represents a continued poverty trap for impoverished
workers.

Unionism's decline places the moral responsibility for a living wage advocacy candidly on the shoulders of candidates and elected officials. Their
election to office mandates their discovery of free enterprise mechanisms to make a living wage a reality. In addition to safeguarding and securing the
economic rights of the dwindling middle class.

The national discourse lexicon must be amended. Candidates and elected officials new terminology must traverse from minimum wage rhetoric to
living wage conceptualizations. . Transforming debate into how this nation will subsequently realized a live wage for all full-time employees; and,
part-timed employees working full time in a multiplicity of jobs.

Why? Because the truth is, all American citizens already possess a birthright – to earn a LIVING WAGE. A LIVING WAGE defined as earning
wages at a level necessary to provide for the basic necessaries to sustain life. Such as: the ability to purchase food, clothing, shelter, health-care etc.

Unbeknownst to most people, A LIVING WAGE was inherently guaranteed in the founding of our republican democracy.

Commencing with Jefferson’s words emblazoned in THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: "...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that All
men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator [not government – not conservatives, nor liberals, – not politicians. not corporations] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these is Life, [The right to life and to sustain life] Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.… To secure These rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the Consent of the governed. .... [THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE: In Congress, July 4, 1776, ] In effect, the living wages is not specifically stated but guaranteed by self evident intention as an
unquestionable absolute right of citizenship. Why? Because to pay a worker less is to endanger the citizen's life - very existence.

GUARANTEED BY BITHRIGHT CIRIZENSHIP. For this very reason, Madison insisted upon the inclusion of the 9th and 10th amendments.

Amendment 9: “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others [other human rights]
retained by the people.” Which claries for all time our nation's guarantees of all human rights known and assumed to exist, but not yet written within
the Constitution. For Example: the right to privacy. The 9th is buttressed by the 10th Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States
by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Meaning: all other powers and rights
exist within the citizenry who consent to the State's governing. Including: The right to earn a living wage. Subsequently, The Amendment 14: Endows
birthright citizenship the right to life to earn a living wage. “... All persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States
and of the State wherein they reside. ... Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, [the right to life] liberty, or property, without due process of
law; nor deny to any person ... the equal protection of the laws. ..." Furthermore, many state constitutions unmistakably pronounce an abundance of  expanded rights far superior. For Instance: declaration of the right to privacy etc.

Contrarily, to pay less than a living wage is - in effect - a denial of citizenship. A violation of our guaranteed right to life. Automatically assumed as a
birthright granted from God - not government. Stated another way, EVERY citizen possesses an absolute ["Divine"] right - not a privilege - to earn a
basic LIVING by their labor.

The Living Wage issue is not democrat not republican. It is an American. It defines our nation. What we believe in, and demand transformed into
eventual reality. This explains the necessity for the political lexicon modification. A mandatory change in the mentality of the 21st century America.  The only question remaining is for those we elect and pay substantial salaries - our elected officials. What and how do they propose specific ways
and means to actualize the living wage reality. Their responsibility is to make our declared goals - a reality A new day has arrived. A time for each and every political aspirant and office holder to state their political position. Candidates and elected officials not embracing the living wage concept are unworthy of political support - nor the ability to hold and retain public office.

Otherwise, the minimum wage legal concept must be legislated as a bottom wage. Beneath which no employer can pay an employee. Violation of
the minimum wage bottom must impose severe criminal sanctions. Meaning: employer compensating a lesser amount must be punished with severe
criminal sanctions. Including: mandatory incarceration and strict fines! Yes Additionally potentially subject to loss of license to do business all
together.

A nation is and becomes what it states its ideals and goals to be. At this point in our history the immediate goal must be a living wage not merely a
minimum wage. A Nation not true to its declared foundational principles will not long endure.