George Bush is all for capitalism. Nothing will get in the way of the free market society if he can help it. He may even hope that a bit of money trickles down to the working class but his central desire seems to be keeping big business and their executives flush with cash.
John Edwards spoke of two americas. He was dead-on, in my opinion. There is a huge division between the haves and the have-nots. A contributing factor to the income gap is the growing divide between executive and worker pay. In 1970, the average CEO made 41 times what the average manufacturing worker made. In 2001, according to Business Week magazine, this ratio was 411 to one. This ratio should not be so out of line. For over a generation following World War II, economic good times helped all segments of our society. Since the late 1970s, this has no longer been the case, and our society has become far less equal. Many people struggle to live off their paychecks and scrimp and save just to provide for their families.
Americans have always believed that people should be encouraged to work, and that work should be rewarded. Millions of Americans get up in the morning and head to their jobs believing that their hard work is the ticket to a better life for them and their families. However, when workers start believing the economy serves only the wealthy, our democratic values of merit and equal opportunity are undermined, and the institutions we have founded on those values are threatened.
This is not an attack on CEOs, or an attempt to punish those who have become successful at the top. Skilled executives make vital contributions to their companies and deserve to be paid accordingly. However, companies should also acknowledge that success comes from a united effort, and all workers deserve to be rewarded for their part in a firm's accomplishments.
Recalling the words of John Kennedy, "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
The Fair Wage, Competition, and Investment Act of 2005 proposes to provide fair wages for America's workers, to create new jobs through investment in America, to provide for fair trade and competitiveness, and for other purposes.
Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. REID, Mr. CORZINE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. INOUYE, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. DAYTON) have sponsored this bill.
Minimum wage will increase if this bill is passed. This is clearly needed. The executives are only raising their wages when a company is successful. Everyone needs to be included.
We need to show our support for this bill.