Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Working, but still poor. . .

Here at CitySquare, we've known the hard truth for a very long time.  Most of the low-income people with whom we work also work at a job, often more than one job. 

The problem is not work. 

The problem is pay and earning power. 

Consider the analysis of Bill Quigley that follows.  Take time to go to the complete text of the report.  Then, tell me what you think. 

Is it realistic to think that everyone who works should be able to sustain themselves by that work?

Working and Poor in the USA
Sunday 22 January 2012
By: Bill Quigley, The Center for Constitutional Rights

"Our nation, so richly endowed with natural resources and with a capable and industrious population, should be able to devise ways and means of insuring to all our able-bodied men and women, a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.” -Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937

Millions of people in the US work and are still poor. Here are eight points that show why the US needs to dedicate itself to making work pay.

To read the entire report click here.

5 comments:

  1. $17.52 an hour in New Orleans for a mom with one child to be above the poverty line. Are you serious? That's $30,146.63 per year and doesn't include OT. There is no way that's going to happen to someone without a HS diploma and little to no work history.

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  2. Imagine how a "TRICKLE UP ECONOMY" could be a solution to the "Workingn but still poor..."


    PEOPLE NEED A RELIABLE ADEQUATE INCOME

    The "TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMY" JUST DOESN'T WORK. Regardless of what government and industry does in attempts to solve some of the tragic immigration, financial, investment, unemployment, home ownership, economic and political difficulties of our day, there needs to be a new creative and unique PRIVATE GRASS ROOTS "TRICKLE UP ECONOMY" where anyone who so desires, should have the OPPORTUNITY, either on a full-time or part-time basis, to earn an adequate and reliable income for the rest of their lives. Regardless of one's condition or external problems, --recession, tragic accident, disabling sickness, loss of job, homeless, poverty, physical or mental shortcomings or any other limitation, people should not have to reply upon government or charity to survive. EVERY INDIVIDUAL who so desires, should have the OPPORTUNITY to earn a STABLE income and an income ADEQUATE enough not only to provide the basic necessities of life but for individuals to become so financially self-sufficient that they can develop their full potential as human beings. And as radical as this sounds, such a program is realistically possible.

    As we join hands and hearts around the world with people of radically different religions, politics and cultures, let us try to feel and understand each other's anger, bitterness, hopelessness, revenge, hatred, despair, and futility. Then let us resolve to find enough common ground (and common dreams) to enable us to rise above our differences and enthusiastically and creatively unleash the massive pent-up desires, yearnings, dreams, hopes and visions that the whole human family has for peace and prosperity, goodwill and gratitude, decency and dignity, freedom and justice.

    There is ONLY ONE barrier preventing this from happening. That barrier is “thinking such a vision is impossible.” Imagine what will happen when enough of us realize that such a vision is not only possible but also probable and achievable.
    CATCH THE VISION
    LET US ALL JOIN HANDS AND HEARTS TO HELP CREATE A BETTER WORLD!
    Some see the horrors of the world and ask "WHY?"
    Others dream visions of a world that could be and ask "WHY NOT?"


    Let us all "Build Bridges of Understanding"
    -and help make the world a better place!

    We can create a world -where people of every religion, every race, every culture, every political persuasion, every nationality and every background, can join hands and hearts to help create a better world where we can all live together in peace and prosperity, freedom and justice, goodwill and dignity.

    MAY THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL...
    BECAUSE GOD, JEHOVAH, ALLAH...BLESSES ALL HUMANITY!

    Johnny Appleseed 2nd a legendary cosmic messenger and visionary, a planter of seeds!

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  3. Wow, Jim, you've either been smoking the small cigs or snorting the magic white powder.

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  4. To Anonymous: Sorry to disappoint you. I don't do either. Only with a clear head could I come up with such a vision of what the future of humanity could become.

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  5. Once I unify with your vision, Jim, I'm sure you'll need my wallet.

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