Why would we want to make it harder for small employers to hire people ? '' Bob Greene asks : What would life in U.S. be like if there were no minimum wage . For most of American history , there was no minimum wage ; it began in 1938 under FDR . Some wants to raise it . Others , like Speaker Green , oppose it as costly to business . Greene : With minimum wage nation tells you : What you do has value worth having .
Bob Greene asks : What would life in U.S. be like if there were no minimum wage . For most of American history , there was no minimum wage ; it began in 1938 under FDR . Some wants to raise it . Others , like Speaker Green , oppose it as costly to business . Greene : With minimum wage nation tells you : What you do has value worth having .