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According to the non-profit Corporate Voices for Working Families,
- 32% of the American working population earns less than $15,000/yr
- 20% of the American working population earns between $15,000 and $25,000/yr
- Low wage employees are among the fastest growing groups in America
Combine that with the fact that the poverty level for a family of 4 is $18,850, and it is obvious that at least half the population can't make ends meet.
Add to this the "hollowing" of the middle class, whose jobs are being eroded through outsourcing and tax policies encouraging corporations to build plants overseas. As John Kerry says:
"Middle-class Americans are now paying more of the national budget. Wealthy Americans are paying less. The middle class [tax] burden has gone up."
This is one side, the worker side. The business side is doing very well. Many corporations pay no taxes. Those that do, have so many loopholes that they pay very little. Then Bush comes with his tax cuts and gives these people a further boost.
The DOW is zooming. But this does not mean that the average worker is better off. Even if employment increases in the months ahead, most of the jobs will come with miserable wages. The situation for the average worker will not improve, as long as the Republicans are in conrol.
The vast majority of citizens are not benefiting from Bush's tax policies. Yet many of them plan to vote for him. The job of the Kerry camp is to show these citizens that they belong in the Democratic Party and that they must vote for Kerry if they want to change their financial situation.
For most americans, the economy is and will remain terrible, unless they seek change in economic policy by voting for John Kerry.
