If America is the richest and greatest country in the world, there is no reason that we can't pay our fellow citizens a decent, dignified, living wage.
http://data.worldbank.org/country/united-states
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/gdp-per-capita
GDP. This means that for each person in this country, they represent about $45,000 average. That could be higher or lower depending on what region you're in. The fact is that we have enough money to lift those that are working and give incentive to those who want to work the means to get out of poverty.