A Moral Minimum Wage

In The Nation, Peter Dreier and Kelly Candaele argue that, rather than wallowing in self-pity or moving their party even further to the right, Democrats should begin pushing for an increase in the minimum wage.

"Those who insist on pointing out the widening economic divide in the United States are invariably accused by conservatives of fomenting 'class warfare.' Well," they assert, "perhaps a bit of class warfare is just what's needed. There are thousands of new progressive activists who have emerged from this presidential election ready for the next battle. Engaging in a vigorous fight to raise our meager minimum wage is clearly the morally right thing to do. But it may also be the politically astute thing for Democrats to do."