Edwards: 'Working poor' are two words that should never be used in combination in America

[JohnLocke]

Inside, Edwards said people living on the streets are only part of the poverty problem in America. "A huge portion of the people who live in poverty in this country work every day, work all the time," he said.

Solving that problem he said involves "making work pay" by raising the minimum wage, perhaps linking periodic minimum wage hikes to inflation, and making it easier for workers to unionize and gain better pay through collective bargaining.

(...)

Sunday evening, Edwards said the tour to highlight poverty in America isn't a political strategy but an effort to draw attention to a "huge moral issue facing America."

Edwards, speaking to a small gathering Sunday with his wife, Elizabeth, at his side, said "working poor" are two words that should never be uttered in combination in this country.

Elizabeth Edwards said 37 million Americans live in poverty and that the tour is meant to put "a face" on working poor, much as Hurricane Katrina did.

The idea of the three-day tour, set to formally start in New Orleans Monday, is both to draw attention to the struggles people face in urban and rural communities and to show what's possible, John Edwards said.

The tour will wind through eight states, with Edwards scheduled to be in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee on Monday.

http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/99125.html

[AndreaCG]

1. I am liking Edwards more and more

Even a few of the homeless and those living in a shelter are working, just not enough to afford housing. Especially when cities offer tax abatements to builders of luxury housing. That STEAMS me. The rich getting richer. Give the abatements only to those building low and middle income housing.

[iamjoy]

2. I Agree - Said It Years Ago

even before I knew about Edwards I believed that anyone who worked full time in America was entitled to certain basics - decent shelter, adequate food and healthcare.

[JohnLocke]

3. Kick (nt).

[usregimechange]

4. Damn right!

[Catchawave]

5. I worked in a veterinary hospital for 10 years....

most of the employees worked two or three jobs to pay for car/home/health insurance and day care....for minimum wage.

I was lucky, I worked for fun.

[mzmolly]

6. Edwards has moved up a couple notches for me in the past two days.

Though, I confess it may be the Merlot? ;) That's a joke mmmk?!