Senator John Edwards on Poverty
A Facing South Exclusive
Facing South has provided extensive coverage of the Katrina disaster and how it exposed the face of poverty in America. More recently, a study of children's wellbeing revealed much room for improvement in the South, and the common denominator was poverty.
Former North Carolina Senator, Presidential primary candidate, and Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards underscored the issue of poverty with his "two Americas" theme during the 2004 presidential elections. Since then, he has been a champion in the fight against poverty through his work as the Director of the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his One America Committee.
We recently asked Senator Edwards via e-mail about poverty in the South, some of the causes and effects, and what we can do about it. He was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions, and here is what he had to say.
R. Neal, for Facing South: A recent "Kids Count" study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that several Southern states fare poorly in a number of categories such as infant mortality, children's wellbeing, high-school dropout rates, and others. One common theme expressed by state officials and activists was poverty. What are some of the consequences of poverty for families and society in general that maybe aren't so obvious and that people should be more aware of?
Sen. John Edwards We often hear skeptics talk about how costly it would be to make the investments necessary to end poverty. What you don’t hear as much about is how expensive it is for America to have so many citizens mired in poverty. We all pay a price when young people who could someday find the cure for AIDS or make a fuel cell work are unemployed or stuck in low-wage jobs because they didn’t get the education they need.
We all pay a price when our people turn to crime because they have no other hope. A Harvard professor estimates that growing incarceration costs and unemployment of ex-offenders costs 4 percent of our economy, each and every year. And we all pay a steep price when the American dream no longer seems attainable to every citizen.
Facing South: Southern states are consistently ranked near the bottom in education, health care, household income, and other measures of social progress. Is poverty a cause, or an effect? And why is poverty more prevalent in the South?
Sen. Edwards: I think it would be an oversimplification to describe poverty as either a cause or an effect of other problems. We have to adopt a holistic view in order to understand what it means to be poor or to be living at the edge of poverty in America today.
My friend David Shipler, tells a striking story about a single mother he met while researching his book, The Working Poor. She had no savings and low earnings, so she had to live in a drafty wooden house. This exacerbated her son's asthma. That led to two ambulance rides to the hospital. Those trips led to ambulance charges she couldn't pay. Those charges damaged her credit report. And so then she was denied a loan to buy a mobile home. That meant she had to stay in that drafty house. And she had to buy a car from a sleazy dealership that charged her 15 percent interest.
This is just one vivid example of how a combination of forces act together to keep people stuck in a cycle of poverty -- despite their best efforts.
It is important not to overlook rural poverty, which is particularly prevalent in the South. Eighty-two percent of the poorest rural counties in America are in the South. We need to offer tailored solutions to meet the needs of America’s small towns and rural communities. We should invest in community colleges, which are particularly important in rural areas and open rural small business centers to provide investment capital and advice to help entrepreneurs get off the ground.
Facing South: What role does education, or a lack thereof, play in poverty? And why do Southern states consistently rank near the bottom in education spending? Do people in the South not value education as much as they do in other parts of the country, or is there some other explanation?
Sen. Edwards: I believe people in the South value education just as much as other Americans and we will never end poverty in the South, or anywhere else, unless we improve our schools. Today, almost one in three students don’t graduate. On average, minority students enter high school four years behind their peers.
We should start by expanding preschool for three- and four-year-olds, getting good teachers into the places we need them most, and overhauling our outdated high schools.
We can never overcome poverty until we address the dropout crisis in our nation -- not by lowering standards, but by making sure everyone can meet them. We should have "second-chance schools" to lift up former dropouts, offering them one-on-one attention and a chance to earn a diploma at night or at a local community college.
Finally, the skyrocketing cost of college can be an insurmountable barrier for many students. Higher education should be accessible to every American child. I am involved with a pilot program in Greene County, North Carolina, which allows students to go to the first year of college for free if they are willing to stay out of trouble and take a part-time job. This year, we were able to provide students there over $300,000 in aid. That means kids who never before would have dreamed of going to college are not only leaving for school this fall -- but paying for their first year without going into debt.
Facing South: In your view, what are the most important strategic policy initiatives that we should be pursuing at the state and federal levels to fight poverty?
Sen. Edwards: We need to restore the American dream by finding ways to help everyone who works hard and makes smart choices get ahead. First, we need to raise the minimum wage substantially. No one should work full-time and live in poverty. Since the Republicans in Washington won’t raise the minimum wage, we are taking this fight to the states.
It's time to finish the job of welfare reform by giving low-income men the opportunity to work and challenging them to take responsibility for doing so. Welfare reform asked young mothers to join the workforce and gave them help to get there. Millions of poor women benefited, but poor men lost ground during the best economy we've ever had. In America today, there are communities where half the young men are out of work.
I believe that we should create one million "stepping stone" jobs over five years. A good job that will let people work their way out of poverty in the short term, and help them get experience so they can get better jobs in the future.
We also need to give America’s workers a real right to organize. Unions helped move manufacturing jobs into the foundation of our middle class, and they can do the same for our service economy.
There’s a saying -- "income is what you use to get by, but assets are what you use to get ahead." It’s true, and it’s why we should help every working American build their own assets with homeownership tax credits and "Work Bonds," which would match low-income workers’ wages with a tax credit to help jumpstart their savings accounts. And if we are going to help families save, we also need to protect the assets they have by stopping predatory lenders.
Finally, we need a new approach to housing. We need to integrate our neighborhoods economically. The federal government has built public housing in the worst neighborhoods and overlooked the need for affordable housing in the suburbs. These policies cut willing workers off from entry-level jobs, which are often created in the suburbs, far from public transportation. And they keep low-income children far from good schools.
Facing South: What can people do in their own communities to fight poverty?
Sen. Edwards Fighting poverty is a job for government, but it is also a job for all of us in our own communities. I believe our nation is up to this challenge. Hurricane Katrina exposed us to heartbreaking images of extreme poverty but it also reminded us of the extraordinary compassion of the American people -- millions opened their hearts, homes and wallets after the storm.
We need to speak up when we know something is wrong. Let's put poverty on top of the national agenda and pledge to hold our government accountable for ignoring the suffering of so many for far too long. I’ve traveled the country for more than a year, meeting with people who are struggling to get out of poverty. One thing I’ve noticed in these conversations is that they have never had a champion. They have no idea what it’s like to have somebody to speak up for them. All of us must champion their cause.
We must act both locally and nationally to fight for a higher minimum wage and other measures that will improve the lives of low-income families. And we need to get involved when our neighbors are in need. This can be as simple as volunteering your time to be a mentor to a young person or to help build a house for a homeless family. Each of us can make a huge difference.
Facing South would like to thank Senator Edwards for taking the time to share his thoughts on how we can solve the problem of poverty in America. To learn more, and to find out how you can get involved in the fight against poverty, visit One America.
Facing South has provided extensive coverage of the Katrina disaster and how it exposed the face of poverty in America. More recently, a study of children's wellbeing revealed much room for improvement in the South, and the common denominator was poverty.
Former North Carolina Senator, Presidential primary candidate, and Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards underscored the issue of poverty with his "two Americas" theme during the 2004 presidential elections. Since then, he has been a champion in the fight against poverty through his work as the Director of the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his One America Committee.
We recently asked Senator Edwards via e-mail about poverty in the South, some of the causes and effects, and what we can do about it. He was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions, and here is what he had to say.
R. Neal, for Facing South: A recent "Kids Count" study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that several Southern states fare poorly in a number of categories such as infant mortality, children's wellbeing, high-school dropout rates, and others. One common theme expressed by state officials and activists was poverty. What are some of the consequences of poverty for families and society in general that maybe aren't so obvious and that people should be more aware of?
Sen. John Edwards We often hear skeptics talk about how costly it would be to make the investments necessary to end poverty. What you don’t hear as much about is how expensive it is for America to have so many citizens mired in poverty. We all pay a price when young people who could someday find the cure for AIDS or make a fuel cell work are unemployed or stuck in low-wage jobs because they didn’t get the education they need.
We all pay a price when our people turn to crime because they have no other hope. A Harvard professor estimates that growing incarceration costs and unemployment of ex-offenders costs 4 percent of our economy, each and every year. And we all pay a steep price when the American dream no longer seems attainable to every citizen.
Facing South: Southern states are consistently ranked near the bottom in education, health care, household income, and other measures of social progress. Is poverty a cause, or an effect? And why is poverty more prevalent in the South?
Sen. Edwards: I think it would be an oversimplification to describe poverty as either a cause or an effect of other problems. We have to adopt a holistic view in order to understand what it means to be poor or to be living at the edge of poverty in America today.
My friend David Shipler, tells a striking story about a single mother he met while researching his book, The Working Poor. She had no savings and low earnings, so she had to live in a drafty wooden house. This exacerbated her son's asthma. That led to two ambulance rides to the hospital. Those trips led to ambulance charges she couldn't pay. Those charges damaged her credit report. And so then she was denied a loan to buy a mobile home. That meant she had to stay in that drafty house. And she had to buy a car from a sleazy dealership that charged her 15 percent interest.
This is just one vivid example of how a combination of forces act together to keep people stuck in a cycle of poverty -- despite their best efforts.
It is important not to overlook rural poverty, which is particularly prevalent in the South. Eighty-two percent of the poorest rural counties in America are in the South. We need to offer tailored solutions to meet the needs of America’s small towns and rural communities. We should invest in community colleges, which are particularly important in rural areas and open rural small business centers to provide investment capital and advice to help entrepreneurs get off the ground.
Facing South: What role does education, or a lack thereof, play in poverty? And why do Southern states consistently rank near the bottom in education spending? Do people in the South not value education as much as they do in other parts of the country, or is there some other explanation?
Sen. Edwards: I believe people in the South value education just as much as other Americans and we will never end poverty in the South, or anywhere else, unless we improve our schools. Today, almost one in three students don’t graduate. On average, minority students enter high school four years behind their peers.
We should start by expanding preschool for three- and four-year-olds, getting good teachers into the places we need them most, and overhauling our outdated high schools.
We can never overcome poverty until we address the dropout crisis in our nation -- not by lowering standards, but by making sure everyone can meet them. We should have "second-chance schools" to lift up former dropouts, offering them one-on-one attention and a chance to earn a diploma at night or at a local community college.
Finally, the skyrocketing cost of college can be an insurmountable barrier for many students. Higher education should be accessible to every American child. I am involved with a pilot program in Greene County, North Carolina, which allows students to go to the first year of college for free if they are willing to stay out of trouble and take a part-time job. This year, we were able to provide students there over $300,000 in aid. That means kids who never before would have dreamed of going to college are not only leaving for school this fall -- but paying for their first year without going into debt.
Facing South: In your view, what are the most important strategic policy initiatives that we should be pursuing at the state and federal levels to fight poverty?
Sen. Edwards: We need to restore the American dream by finding ways to help everyone who works hard and makes smart choices get ahead. First, we need to raise the minimum wage substantially. No one should work full-time and live in poverty. Since the Republicans in Washington won’t raise the minimum wage, we are taking this fight to the states.
It's time to finish the job of welfare reform by giving low-income men the opportunity to work and challenging them to take responsibility for doing so. Welfare reform asked young mothers to join the workforce and gave them help to get there. Millions of poor women benefited, but poor men lost ground during the best economy we've ever had. In America today, there are communities where half the young men are out of work.
I believe that we should create one million "stepping stone" jobs over five years. A good job that will let people work their way out of poverty in the short term, and help them get experience so they can get better jobs in the future.
We also need to give America’s workers a real right to organize. Unions helped move manufacturing jobs into the foundation of our middle class, and they can do the same for our service economy.
There’s a saying -- "income is what you use to get by, but assets are what you use to get ahead." It’s true, and it’s why we should help every working American build their own assets with homeownership tax credits and "Work Bonds," which would match low-income workers’ wages with a tax credit to help jumpstart their savings accounts. And if we are going to help families save, we also need to protect the assets they have by stopping predatory lenders.
Finally, we need a new approach to housing. We need to integrate our neighborhoods economically. The federal government has built public housing in the worst neighborhoods and overlooked the need for affordable housing in the suburbs. These policies cut willing workers off from entry-level jobs, which are often created in the suburbs, far from public transportation. And they keep low-income children far from good schools.
Facing South: What can people do in their own communities to fight poverty?
Sen. Edwards Fighting poverty is a job for government, but it is also a job for all of us in our own communities. I believe our nation is up to this challenge. Hurricane Katrina exposed us to heartbreaking images of extreme poverty but it also reminded us of the extraordinary compassion of the American people -- millions opened their hearts, homes and wallets after the storm.
We need to speak up when we know something is wrong. Let's put poverty on top of the national agenda and pledge to hold our government accountable for ignoring the suffering of so many for far too long. I’ve traveled the country for more than a year, meeting with people who are struggling to get out of poverty. One thing I’ve noticed in these conversations is that they have never had a champion. They have no idea what it’s like to have somebody to speak up for them. All of us must champion their cause.
We must act both locally and nationally to fight for a higher minimum wage and other measures that will improve the lives of low-income families. And we need to get involved when our neighbors are in need. This can be as simple as volunteering your time to be a mentor to a young person or to help build a house for a homeless family. Each of us can make a huge difference.
Facing South would like to thank Senator Edwards for taking the time to share his thoughts on how we can solve the problem of poverty in America. To learn more, and to find out how you can get involved in the fight against poverty, visit One America.
22 Comments:
Congratulations on your exclusive interview! And thanks to Senator Edwards for working to combat the problem of poverty in America.
Great interview!
I agree heartily with the growing need for community colleges. Generally, they are half the price and the teachers are focused on teaching, not publish or perish. A two-year can be obtained and it can be a great stepping stone to four-year universities.
Excellent, enlightening Q & A!
Senator Edwards delivered specific strategies to stymie that which perpetuates poverty.
This interview is a keeper!
Why does everyone keep calling him "Senator" Edwards? He isn't a Senator, and hasn't been for quite a while.
It's done for presidents, senators, and governors as a matter of courtesy.
Great interview, thanks!
It is common etiquette and respectful. Gerald Ford is still President Ford, Bill Clinton is still President Clinton, George H.W. Bush is still President Bush.
Great interview.
These things are what the Democrats need to be talking about for 2008.
Excellent interview. I like how Edwards addressed the issues without engaging in partisan politics. We need more of that. He also addressed the plight of men as well as women.
The point of the cost of prisons reflects that fact that we have far too many people in prison. We need crime prevention that helps people go into "careers" other than crime.
JE says: "First, we need to raise the minimum wage substantially. No one should work full-time and live in poverty."
Aside from economic impact of raising the cost of doing business, does JE include teenagers holding summer jobs in this claim? Also, by "poverty" does he mean poverty as defined by the government or statisticians or as defined by not having a nice house, new car, cable tv, video game hardware, etc.?
I know plenty of poor people who would be greatly helped by higher wages (some of whom would find it very difficult to fix their early mistakes of teenage pregnancy, failed marriages, lack of education, etc.). I also know some that are just plain lazy or are addicted of government/public/church support.
Excellent interview.
Edwards seems to be the prospective presidential candidate who is out there really fighting for the heart and soul of the Democratic party.
In a recent speech to the National Press Club, Edwards talked about ending poverty in 30 years.
Transcript and audio of speech:
http://oneamericacommittee.com/news/speeches/20060622/
An excellent interview... Edwards is the one (potential) candidate who seems to be fighting FOR the American People, who has taken on their needs that have been so long abused by "our current president" (whats-ziz-name). At a time when the idea of a good education is becoming an unattainable dream, Edwards is there seeing that students get scholarships. Where the minimum wage has sagnated at $5.15 an hour for 9 years losing buying power in the process, Edwards is there fighting for an increase of $2.00 an hour. It is Edwards who is showing the way out from the darkness.
Fantastic. Brillant.
I am overwhelmed on Edwards detailed analysis of LBJ's "Great Society" and why it failed and where it succeeded.
His insights to the causes of poverty and ways to address it specfically in each section of the country was spell binding.
If anyone can pick out the flaws in his detailed plan for ending poverty, please take your time and think it over and over again, because I don't see any.
What a visionary.
Seriously, is this a joke? No, really, it is, isn't it!(?)
Why does Edwards think everyone is so stupid that he will win the presidency spouting this utter nonsense?
Why does Edwards think NO ONE will bring up or remember LBJ's war on poverty?
Edwards needs to get his head checked then move on to a new career.
I can't believe this hype for Edwards. I watched this guy closely through the 04 campaign, and all he's got is the phony, populist "two Americas" crap!. Reynolds even postulated that the Dems may have won in 04 if Edwards had headed the ticket. Sure!! The guy couldn't even carry his home district for Kerry.
People vote for president, not vice president, and Kerry was a non-starter in North Carolina and the rest of the South. Edwards was beating Bush in head-to-head polls in North Carolina, but Bush was beating Kerry.
I like John Edward's emphasis on economic populism. Concern for the poor and working families used to be the main focus of the Democratic Party. With more leaders like Edwards, Democrats might be a majority party again. The poor are not only suffering but the middle class is being destroyed by corporate greed. If Edwards had been nominated in 2004, the Democrats would have won.
I'm appalled at Senator Edward's lack of knowledge of the real consequences of welfare reform. Those young women aren't "encouraged" to join the work force were not asked--they are forced. Forced to take any job, anywhere, at any wage, and if they can't find or keep a job they are punished severely by having their small welfare checks sanctioned. Only the most deluded head-in-the-sand politician is going to spout the welfare reform "success" line.
In Wisconsin, which has a welfare reform plan (Wisconsin Works, or W2), 81% of women leaving welfare are earning below-poverty wages. 42% of the jobs secured by moms under W2 are temporary jobs, which translates to no job security, no benefits, and low wages.
For a run-down on the human and financial cost of welfare reform in Wisconsin, check out this article:
http://tinyurl.com/joyyo
It takes an in-depth look at the recent Wisconsin Legislative Bureau audit of the W2 program and what an enormous failure it has been.
Edwards is brilliant plus we could use a little integrity in the White House for a change. He is smart enough to make a 'plan' before jumping in to something. He also has honor, compassion and character. Oh, how we could use those assets in this country today. God Bless America and then bless us again by giving us John Edwards as our next President.
Basically now land of PellMellMishMashWoolyFreakonomicsUnderTheTable Wurld w/guyz hiding out in trailers, folks place,etc.while occasionally goin out havin good time, messes up broad w/a little one, sorta visits BUT NEVER stays which is just peachy w/whuz her name AND HER FAMILY cuz get to raise own way OR Yuppie family gets said....Gets sooo ($(@!(~&~&out there that finally EVEN MAIN St.clamors for SOME kind of relief......THEY have to deal w/($(@ workers AND would be customers. THINK of all the personal experiences let alone stuff read, hear bout............GALS take attitude of 'cash, creditcard, condo, condoms, car'.....OWN place babbbbyy. So long as got some kind of security, alarm, etc.etc. Should be thankful for Thelma N Louise.........Gals create mini biz while guyz whutever....3/couch or 5/apt or 8/house......Almost have to. Runnin out of RentAWrecks......Demolition companies peeved cuz NOT much left TO tear down, charge for....Same w/fire depts.....Watch folks sneak into wrecked trailers...Get pump goin....Fix up insides. Forget outside......Almost hate to say that....Meantime biz has to deal w/*$*@. ALMOST beg for min.wage hike, mandated health care. EVENTUALLY rest of states become like Right to WOrk statee and advantage gooooneeee. EVEN WalMart wunders why sales offf......
Education. Game. Luck, pluck, right place, person, time,etc. BIZ. Create own little whutever...
Min. wage. Least some kind of cover. Cops, etc.can NOT chase everyone....Few hours of whutever is ENOUGH anyways....ALMOST feel SORRY for some small biz owners. GOTTA be ($(@!. IF nothin else sellin to other small biz who may ($(*!@! THEM.......Life is good....Scarf trashday tree lawns, thrift stores, etc.etc. More folks leave REALLLY small towns cuz tooo much ($((!. Hobble into $ homes, etc. X%of folks only able to go X far......
To tell truth problem w/' prosperity'. Runnin round like fools paintin stuff, cuttin grass, worryin bout Yup &/or fussy grandma neighbors, taxes,etc.etc. Cardboard box aint fun BUT YUPS are WORSE...........
Dear Senator, my name is ray johnson. my wife and I are elderly(i'm 76, Helen is 72....we are having a problem finding legal representation concerning an inheritance. Could you please have your office call Helen at 818 7109224, or me at 8182988728...I voted for you and will vote again if you run,..Please run!!!we are on medicare and in need of legal help to fight for Helen's inheratance...Please let us hear from you
PMM/Seneca SC
For the sake of our country and the Integrity of this nation; I implore you to run for 2008 Presidency. May God bless your wife in her daily needs and your children.
I think the high price of fuel needs to be looked into. Oil companys are ripping American people off.
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