Sabria Reuss

SLA 150 46
April 30, 2021
America’s Unlivable Wage

A major social and economic issue within the United States is the wealth inequality
between all citizens. The significant, negative contributing factor to this issue deals with the
federally mandated minimum hourly wage of $7.25. Although individual states have set their
own minimum wage laws and many have increased the hourly rate, none meet the amount
that enables one to earn a living wage in America. A living wage is equal to the amount of
income needed to supply an individual with the necessities of life including food, water, shelter,
healthcare, transportation, and education. According to the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, the living wage for a family of two working adults and two children equals $16.54
per hour, or $68,808 annually. Both parents would need to work a 75-hour work week just to
make a living wage, enough money to support their family’s basic needs (Nadeau, 2020).
Wealth inequality is a social issue that can be addressed using the direction of Catholic
Social Teaching’s moral standards and to inform of the necessary actions to improve the quality
of life for all members of society, promoting human flourishing. By following the guidelines that
CST offers, we can provide for those who are less fortunate, with a goal focused on the greater
good of society and achieving a more balanced standard of wealth between working
individuals.
Catholic Social teaching provides an ethical framework on how to work towards the
well-being and common good of a society with each individual member having the duty, right,
and responsibility to give and to receive. The triangle of justice is a model offered by Catholic
Social Teaching that contains principles of individual, social, and distributive justice; a reminder
that equality is gained through the balance between the needs of the individual and the needs
of the community. This tool can be used as a moral measurement of an economy based on the
state of the well-being of those that are most vulnerable. There are ten themes within the
concepts of the triangle of justice in Catholic Social Teaching which are applicable in
encouraging change in regard to the minimum and living hourly wage amount in the U.S. These
themes include: The dignity of every person and human rights, Solidarity, Common good and
participation, Family life, Subsidiarity and the proper role of government, Rights and
responsibilities of property ownership in modern society, The dignity of work, rights of workers,
and support for labor unions, Colonialism and economic development, Peace and disarmament,
and Preferential option for the poor and vulnerable (Massaro, 2000).
The first theme, the dignity of every person and human rights, means human rights are
owed to each individual person by virtue of their dignity, each deserving equality through care
and attention throughout their life. God is the ultimate source of the rights owed to individuals
and is in connection with the natural environment, individuals, government, and local
communities, therefore all are owed the human dignity of having the ability to earn a living
wage that will support themselves and their family to live above the poverty level (Massaro,
119). The most important aspect within the triangle of justice is the common good and
participation. This is the sense within a society that everyone is going through life together and
so we all must do our part in contributing to the balance between the individual and the
community. Social justice is the energy flowing from the individual towards the common good.
It is the right and duty of every person to contribute to the common good of a community by
uplifting those who are in need. Distributive justice, or solidarity, flows from the common good
back to the individual. This justice recognizes the positive value of human interdependence
which helps each person reach their full potential by mutually benefitting to the commitment of
the well-being of others (Massaro, 2000). By helping others who earn an income below the
poverty level, one would also be benefitting the community through the fruits of giving back.
The agents of the common good create a flourishing society for all by assisting the flow
of the triangle of justice. One agent of the common good in the United States that contributes
to bettering the issue of helping the those who live in poverty is the non-profit organization,
Feeding America Network. This hunger-relief charity works with individuals, businesses, other
charities, and the government through donations and volunteering to give back to the common
good, providing impoverished citizens with millions of nutritious meals. This organization can
also be looked at through the theme of preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. The
organization conducted a study in 2014 on the relationship between poverty, unemployment,
and food insecurity in America which showed 69% of households they serve each year have to
decide between paying for food or utility bills. The results showed that nine out of ten of their
clients working households reported an annual household income at $30,000 or less, with 72%
earning less than $20,000 per year (Feeding America, 2014). The poverty level for a family of
four in 2013 was set at $23,550 and in 2021, has only increased to $26,500 (Poverty guidelines
2021). For an employee who earns the minimum hourly wage of $7.25 at 40 hours per week,
equals well below the poverty level at $15,080 annually.
Similar to the guidance that Catholic Social Teaching provides, the social teaching of
Islam can also be utilized to assess the issue of wealth inequality within a society. Islamic
teaching expresses moral and ethical principles that relate to the importance of creating a just
society, providing all members with an opportunity to climb the social ladder with a duty to
care for the oppressed. Muslim’s believe that it is the right of each citizen to earn a living wage,
enough to sustain the basic necessities of life. A social responsibility of the religion seeks justice
and equality through the distribution of wealth and other needs to the less fortunate, with
emphasis on the expectations of the rich to give back even more. This is accomplished through
the third pillar of Islam teaching in a monetary form of the Zakat tax, meaning to purify. The tax
is required by all eligible members to pay a portion of their earnings to be dispersed to the poor
and is viewed as being the social interdependence of believers who possess a certain amount of
wealth (Social justice in the catholic & Muslim traditions 2012). By giving to those who are in
need, Muslims are reminded that their own wealth is a gift from God and subsequently
increases their own wealth when given to others.
In conclusion, after conducting further research on the federal hourly minimum wage
standards in the U.S. and analyzing the social issue through the eyes of Catholic Social Teaching,
it is evident that the minimum wage is less than half the amount needed to live and support a
family. By following the guidelines set by the triangle of justice and the principle themes,
individuals can successfully induce change to find a resolution in major social issues that are
negatively impacting our country. This guidance can be used as a moral compass on how to act
as an outstanding member of society as well as a reminder of the importance of selflessness.
Working towards the common good of a community will create a balance of equality with the
goal of reaching a just society of human flourishing.
 Works Cited

Feeding America. (2014). From Paycheck to Pantry: Hunger in Working America. Retrieved from
https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/research/hunger-in-working-
america/from-paycheck-to-pantry.pdf

Income eligibility. (2021, February 23). Retrieved 2021, from https://dced.pa.gov/housing-and-

development/weatherization/income-eligibility/

Massaro, T. (2000). Living justice: Catholic social teaching in action. In Living justice: Catholic
social teaching in action. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.

Nadeau, C. A. (2020, March 03). Living wage calculator (Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Ed.). Retrieved from https://livingwage.mit.edu/articles/61-new-living-wage-data-for-
now-available-on-the tool#:~:text=The%20living%20wage%20in%20the,compared%20to
%20%2416.14%20in%202018

Poverty guidelines. (2021, March 16). Retrieved 2021, from https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-

guidelines

Social justice in the Catholic & Muslim traditions. (2012, October 26). Retrieved 2021, from
https://interfaithcenter.org/social-justice-in-the-catholic-muslim-traditions/