The Divide Between Rich And Poor

The latest from John Edwards...

I just spoke to Senator Ted Kennedy. He needs our help again.

Next week - possibly as early as Monday - the Senate will vote on his bill to increase the minimum wage. This will be the only time the Senate takes up the minimum wage this year - and we have to make a strong showing of support.

Earlier this year, I was honored and excited when Senator Kennedy asked our online community for help in getting citizen co-sponsors for his bill. You delivered - big time. All across the country, hundreds of thousands of citizens stood up for workers on the low rung of the ladder -- the folks who have labored for ten years without an increase in the minimum wage.

Now we need one final push before next week's vote. I know you have friends and family who are as concerned about the divide between rich and poor as you are. Please forward the petition to them and ask them to sign.

Tell a friend.

Over the past few years, CEO and top executive pay has gone through the roof - often regardless of whether they are doing their jobs well. In just ten years, the average compensation of a CEO at an S&P 500 company jumped from $3.7 million to $9.1 million -- an increase of almost 150%.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 per hour for ten years -- which means you can work full-time and still raise your kids in abject poverty. Everything but pay has gone up for minimum wage workers - the costs of health care, housing, child care and transportation.

A single mom with two kids who works full-time for the minimum wage is about $2,000 below the poverty line. It is time - past time - to reward work with an increase in the minimum wage.

Senator Kennedy has put his faith in us. We need to deliver signatures to him.

Tell a friend.

You've heard me talk about the two Americas. One America that does the work, another America that reaps the reward. One America that pays the taxes, another America that gets the tax breaks. One America that will do anything to leave its children a better life, another America that never has to do a thing because its children are already set for life.

Senator Kennedy's bill would increase the minimum wage in three increments to $7.25 an hour. Raising the minimum wage won't solve the problem, but it is a huge step in the right direction -- toward creating One America. One America where you have something to show for it if you work full-time - a savings account, your own home, the chance to live in a good neighborhood with good schools, and the ability to afford college.

Believe me, the lobbyists for the business interests that oppose increasing the minimum wage have tremendous influence over Congress. It's up to us to help level the playing field. We need to show our strength in numbers -- please encourage your friends and colleagues to become co-sponsors of Senator Kennedy's bill.

Tell a friend.

Thank you for taking action and for all that you do.

Your Friend,

John

To contact your senator on this, click here.