A Dream Deferred

With over 36 million Americans in poverty, 47 million without healthcare, the American Dream is deferred, for many Americans.

And those in between, the Middle Class? They are not faring so well either. Stagnant  wages, outsourcing and lack of savings and retirement, have created a race to the bottom for many Americans. The median income for men in their 30s has dropped 12 percent over the last few decades. A sizeable percentage of Americans are downwardly mobile.

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

The most glaring discrepancy is found within Black Middle Class Families where a very disturbing downward trend is occuring. Black men had a median income of $25,600, less than two-thirds that of white men. Nearly half of Black children whose parents were solidly middle class fall into the lowest fifth of earners as adults.

Middle Class Dream Eludes African American Families

Excerpts
"There is a lot of downward mobility among African Americans," Mincy said. "We don't have an explanation."

"That's a stunner," said Orlando Patterson, a Harvard University sociologist, when told about the Pew finding. "These kids were middle class, but apparently their parents did not have the cultural capital and connections to pass along to them."

Another reason so many middle-class blacks appear to be downwardly mobile is likely the huge wealth gap separating white and black families of similar incomes. For every $10 of wealth a white person has, blacks have $1, studies have found.

"We already knew that downward mobility was much more likely for blacks," said Mary Pattillo, a Northwestern University sociologist who studies the black middle class. "But this is an even bigger percentage drop than I have seen elsewhere. That's very steep."

John Edwards Wont Walk Away From A Fight

Poverty and downward mobility of the Middle Class are not topics that traditionally get a lot of play in campaigns. Few candidates talk much about poverty at all out, on the stump. Common wisdom has it that fighting for those in poverty doesn't have much of a pay off, politically. Those in poverty are not able to be much of a donor base and the voter turnout is not impressive. In short, advocating for those in poverty and those falling into poverty, generally doesn't win votes.

But, political calculations hasn't stopped John Edwards' fight for economic justice. It's a fight Edwards wont walk away from. In fact, he's made it the centerpiece of his platform: Building One America for All of Us.

Edwards has stated,  "I run for president for my father, who worked in the mill his entire life. I run for president for all those who worked in that mill with my father. I run for president for all those who lost their jobs when that mill was shut down."

The depth of conviction and breadth of understanding Edwards' holds on the issue of economic justice is deeply connected to his roots. Edwards discussed this a bit on the Today Show, Friday morning. From his childhood home in South Carolina, Edwards described the mill village neighborhood where he lived as a child, as "rough," and stated his father taught him to "never walk away from a fight." On class and mobility, Edwards said, "We really love for people to be successful, that's what makes America great, but we want more people to have that chance."

John Edwards on the Today Show from South Carolina: "Never Walk Away from a Fight"

Edwards' words are put into action within his policies and plans which aggressively address economic injustice. Edwards is the only candidate with a Rural Recovery Plan that provides solutions for rural areas where the most abject, widespread poverty in the U.S. is found. He also has proposed a comprehensive plan to End Poverty in the U.S in 30 Years. Also, key in building One America, is Edwards' Universal Health Care Plan. Edwards' plans on Global Poverty, Trade, Lending and a host of other issues are also in keeping with his fight for economic justice.

John Edwards' Plan To Build One America

In America, everyone should have a fair opportunity to realize their dreams, no matter where they came from. John Edwards is running for president to build One America where every American can work hard and build a better life, the same opportunity that Edwards had. At the same time, America's leadership role in the world has grown out of our moral strength as an example for the world, not just our economic and military strength.

In today's Two Americas, it is no coincidence that most families are working harder for stagnating wages when there are nearly 60 lobbyists for every member of Congress. America's image overseas has been tarnished by the war in Iraq, our refusal to join the world in working to halt global warming, and repeated violations of Americans' constitutional rights.

Building One America will take strong, bold steps, not incremental steps and half measures. Edwards has proposed detailed plans to put Washington back on the side of regular families.

Fighting for One America

Edwards isn't stopping there. He's also the only candidate who's truly standing up to big corporations who carry far too much influence on our  legislation. From the onset of his campaign, Edwards has adressed how the system is rigged, rigged against regular working Americans in favor of big multinational corporations.

Edwards not only refuses Washington lobbyist donations, he has asked other candidates to join him in this and is confronting the status quo, head on. He's not afraid of confrontation. When asked recently at an Iowa event, about his past experience, Edwards, answered, "hell yeah, I'm confrontational."

As Edwards reminds voters, he went up against big corporations time and again in the courtroom and beat them. He will do the same as President. He understands that, "It's Time to End the Game."