Making Low Wages Livable - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com For the past year, fast-food and retail workers have made it clear that lousy pay should not be the cost for cheap meals and products. Many full-time workers receive food stamps. Thursday's planned demonstrations are the latest in their drive for better pay and a doubling of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. President Obama has also pressed for a higher minimum wage. Should the minimum wage be raised? What's the best way to improve the living standards of workers at the bottom of the pay scale?