A central debate in the present day is if and how those who have much are obligated to help those who have little. Often, the center of the discussion is minimum wage. Those in favor of raising it argue that it is the only moral choice—that it is only fair to pay those who do the jobs that enable everyday life in America enough to feed themselves and their families. They also argue, from an economic standpoint, that paying higher wages gives more money to potential consumers, and that companies have enough money to survive anyway.

The opposing side argues that companies must act in the interests of their stockholders, it twists the capitalist incentive that is the basis of our economy, and that it will cause small companies to go under. Regardless of which side is right, raising the minimum wage will not succeed without one key aspect, you. To quote Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, “There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” The only way any company will succeed is if it makes a profit. Reformers can march on Capitol Hill, vote and lobby, but if they go to the market and buy products made in a sweatshop, they have struck a blow against a higher minimum wage. Companies will act in their self-interest, whether it is greed or self-preservation, and the logical outcome of higher wages is costlier products.

Employees will only get higher wages if they get a wage at all, which will not happen if consumers don’t buy their products and they make no profit. Don’t ask others to give for your cause, because you are the most reliable supporter. So if you look at the world and see suffering and want to make a change, that change starts with you.