the welfare system we need to look at other factors such as the poverty percentage rates, minimum wage laws, and the poverty line. "I 1997 Washington State was tied with Michigan having 11.2% of its population living in poverty." This figure seems high unless it is compared to the United States average of "13.6%" Actually Michigan and Washington tied for the 17th lowest. The state that finished first with the lowest poverty rate is New Hampshire with "6.9%" The state with the highest poverty rate is New Mexico with "24%"
             Another factor with which we must look at before we can examine the welfare system is minimum wage. That means every employee is guarenteed to be paid a certain wage, and no employer can pay them under the stated amount. It is important to explore this because "a ten percent increase in minimum wage causes a one to three percent increase in unemployment in teenage workers and a one percent increase in unemployment in young workers ages 20 to 24." This important to know because in 1996 the federal government increased the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15. This is an increase in the minimum wage caused an increase of 4% in unemployment in teenagers and young adults. Washington State has increased its minimum wage to "$6.72 as of January 1, 2001." This in theory has increased the unemployment of teenagers and young adults by about 3 for each group over the last five years.
             The last factor that needs to be considered before one can look at the welfare program is the poverty line. For a single person living in Washington the poverty threshold is "$8,959" For a married couple the threshold is "$11,531." If a family has two children it is "17,463." This is vital because it sets boundaries on how much income must be earned by a household not to be considered poverty stricken. This figure is interesting be...