We've created more wealth in the past 30 years than the rest of human of human history combined. But half of Americans make less than $17 an hour.

Annual earnings in the fast-food industry are well below the income needed for self-sufficiency, and fast-food industry jobs are also much less likely than other jobs to provide health benefits.

The vast majority (over 80 percent) of fast-food and similar low wage service jobs (<$9.24/hr) are held by adults. A quarter are adults over 40. Another quarter are moms raising kids.

Fast food also has a uniquely difficult business structure for workers to achieve better wages and working conditions.

A September 2015 poll found that, by a 3-1 margin, voters are more likely to support political candidates who favor raising the minimum wage.

Today, the gap between productivity and compensation for the typical worker is larger than at any time since World War II.

Income inequality and wage stagnation finally took their place among the principal moral issues of our time.