--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [A]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum…" description: "\"[A]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum wage, we must also recognize that it is no longer achieving its potential impact in our economy or for Americ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg" --- # \[A\]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum wage, we must… ![“[A]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum wage, we must also recognize that it is no longer achieving its potential impact in our economy or for America's working families. Every American deserves the chance to build a better life for his or her family - and raising the minimum wage will provide…” quote by Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg) > “\[A\]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum wage, we must also recognize that it is no longer achieving its potential impact in our economy or for America's working families. Every American deserves the chance to build a better life for his or her family - and raising the minimum wage will provide that opportunity.” [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that the minimum wage no longer fulfills its original purpose and must be raised to improve living standards for working families. **In simple terms:** Current minimum wage is insufficient; raising it helps families. Key Takeaway Support raising the minimum wage for better livelihoods. Themes economics social justice policy reform Mood determined hopeful Type political advocacy When to use this quote - legislative debate - community organizing - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts living wage income inequality labor rights Questions to Reflect On - What impact would a higher wage have locally? - How can we balance business concerns with workers’ needs? A Different Perspective Opponents claim higher wages could hurt businesses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-working-671536/) [Better life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-life/) [Celebrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrate/) [Celebrate 75](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrate-75-3653297/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Minimum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimum/) [Minimum wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimum-wage/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Raising Minimum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising-minimum-485880/) [Wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wage/) [Wage Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wage-recognize-3653298/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Raising the minimum wage isn't just pro-worker; it's pro-economic growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/raising-the-minimum-wage-isn-t-just-pro-worker-it-s-pro-economic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do, but it's a popular thing to do as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/raising-the-minimum-wage-is-the-right-thing-to-do-but-it-s-a-popular/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Certainly other things we can do, we gotta promote after-school employment, give kids an opportunity, raising the minimum wage was part of that, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/certainly-other-things-we-can-do-we-gotta-promote-after-school/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [I have not heard almost anybody suggest that raising the minimum wage to the level we have in Vermont has been an impediment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-have-not-heard-almost-anybody-suggest-that-raising-the-minimum-wage/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Raising the minimum wage means we have workers paying more in to support the Social Security system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/raising-the-minimum-wage-means-we-have-workers-paying-more-in-to/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [Raising the minimum wage allows business people to stop thinking about workers simply as costs to be cut and allows you to start thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hanauer/raising-the-minimum-wage-allows-business-people-to-stop-thinking/) [Nick Hanauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hanauer/) > [There's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/there-s-no-question-raising-the-minimum-wage-excessively-causes-a/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Raising the minimum wage means raising the living wage - and that's good news for Ohio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrod-brown/raising-the-minimum-wage-means-raising-the-living-wage-and-that-s/) [Sherrod Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrod-brown/) > [Most arguments for instituting or raising a minimum wage are based on fairness and redistribution. Even if workers are getting a competitive wage, many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-romer/most-arguments-for-instituting-or-raising-a-minimum-wage-are-based-on/) [Christina Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-romer/) > [I do not support raising the minimum wage, and the reason is as follows. When the minimum wage is raised, workers are priced out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/i-do-not-support-raising-the-minimum-wage-and-the-reason-is-as/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [Raising the minimum wage does not take from growth, it adds to growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-murphy/raising-the-minimum-wage-does-not-take-from-growth-it-adds-to-growth/) [Phil Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-murphy/) > [Raising the minimum wage a lot across the board would make a big difference. It's not the only thing, but it's an indispensable part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hanauer/raising-the-minimum-wage-a-lot-across-the-board-would-make-a-big/) [Nick Hanauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hanauer/) > [Raising the minimum wage represents a substantial financial burden for employers, particularly start-ups, early stage companies, and family-owned businesses. In response, business owners would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/raising-the-minimum-wage-represents-a-substantial-financial-burden/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [Raising the minimum wage is very efficient. Everybody's on the same playing field, it's a very simple rule, it doesn't require a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hanauer/raising-the-minimum-wage-is-very-efficient-everybody-s-on-the-same/) [Nick Hanauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hanauer/) > [Raising the minimum wage may poll well, but having a job that pays $10 an hour is not the American Dream. And our current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/raising-the-minimum-wage-may-poll-well-but-having-a-job-that-pays-10/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## More by Tom Harkin > [The Gulf War was like teenage sex. We got in too soon and out too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-gulf-war-was-like-teenage-sex-we-got-in-too-soon-and-out-too-soon/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [The President must stop gambling with taxpayers' money and get the country back on the path of fiscal sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-president-must-stop-gambling-with-taxpayers-money-and-get-the/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [I've always been for immigration reform; in 2007 I just didn't feel it had enough protections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/i-ve-always-been-for-immigration-reform-in-2007-i-just-didn-t-feel-it/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [The burning issue of our time is the growing inequality in income and wealth in our country, and it's got to be addressed. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-burning-issue-of-our-time-is-the-growing-inequality-in-income-and/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [ You \[the Gallaudet students\] have brought the deaf community together… You are my heroes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/you-the-gallaudet-students-have-brought-the-deaf-community-together/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [Today, only two groups in the United States have total immunity from lawsuits: foreign diplomats and HMOs. We believe it's time to end diplomatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/today-only-two-groups-in-the-united-states-have-total-immunity-from/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [The planes were hijacked, the buildings fell, and thousands of lives were lost nearly a thousand miles from here. But the attacks on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/the-planes-were-hijacked-the-buildings-fell-and-thousands-of-lives/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [I am a Democrat and I love my party and I want them to have good policies and good candidates, so I hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/i-am-a-democrat-and-i-love-my-party-and-i-want-them-to-have-good/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [If we are serious about combating the childhood obesity epidemic and improving child nutrition, then everyone must chip in -- parents, schools, and yes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/if-we-are-serious-about-combating-the-childhood-obesity-epidemic-and/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [There is no such thing as a pro-nuclear environmentalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-pro-nuclear-environmentalist/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [It's been years, but I still say that I went out with the same progressive values and liberal ideals that I went in with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/it-s-been-years-but-i-still-say-that-i-went-out-with-the-same/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [Stem cell research holds enormous promise for easing human suffering, and federal support is critical to its success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/stem-cell-research-holds-enormous-promise-for-easing-human-suffering/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [When you dig down, people are pretty progressive, by and large. I guess, I've said it many times - that a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/when-you-dig-down-people-are-pretty-progressive-by-and-large-i-guess/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [There's no one silver bullet, but money really is the root of all evil. The single biggest problem is how much more money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/there-s-no-one-silver-bullet-but-money-really-is-the-root-of-all-evil/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) > [I fully support President Bush's decision to strike Al Qaeda's terrorist network. Now more than ever, we must stand united as a nation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/i-fully-support-president-bush-s-decision-to-strike-al-qaeda-s/) [Tom Harkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) [Explore all 32 Tom Harkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) [Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[A]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum wage, we must also recognize that it is no longer achieving its potential impact in our economy or for America's working families. Every American deserves the chance to build a better life for his or her family - and raising the minimum wage will provide that opportunity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Harkin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum-wage-we-must-also-recognize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achieve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum-wage-we-must-also-recognize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/tom-harkin-19587_achieve_a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum_2830380.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[A]s we celebrate 75 years of the minimum wage, we must also recognize that it is no longer achieving its…” — Tom Harkin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Harkin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harkin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "[A]s we celebrate 75 years of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum-wage-we-must-also-recognize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harkin/a-s-we-celebrate-75-years-of-the-minimum-wage-we-must-also-recognize/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```