John Edwards paints himself as the populist among the Democratic candidates vying for the 2008 presidential nomination.
Edwards champions working Americans, campaigning on a platform of universal health care and a national goal to end poverty in 30 years, but this former trial lawyer has his work cut out for him.
Edwards participated in a town hall meeting on "Good Morning America" today live from New Orleans. Edwards sees the traumatized city as a test of America's willingness to help the least fortunate.
During the meeting, Edwards was asked to share one solution to eliminating poverty.
"If I had to pick just one, it would be to make work pay," Edwards said.
Three ways to do that, Edwards said, is to raise the national minimum wage, increase the earned income tax credit and allow workers to organize unions and collectively bargain for better wages.
The former North Carolina senator was asked about improving education in the country.
Edwards said that the government needed to make a bigger investment in early childhood education and give incentive pay to the best teachers, especially ones who work in low-income rural and inner city areas.
All though I am not a on Edwards fan. He did say something this morning that I totally agree with.
Make a bigger investment in early child hood. I believe all public schools should start offering programs to younger children. My child went to a pilot PreK program at the local school. It was great. He got exposure to the art class, music class, PE, the entire educational structure. I wish that the program was set up to handle children beginning at age 3 when they are little sponges walking around soaking up every tidbit of information avaiable to them. I think it would promote more educational success overall! I am no expert. Just a mother and a grandmother that works in a school setting. But this is my thoughts on EDUCATION not really about John Edwards.
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He also says "COLLEGE FOR EVERYONE" I agree!
We will not make real changes in this nation without getting rid of ignorance! We have got to find a way to help our children succeed in a class room setting earlier on. Then the hope would be that there would be less frustration for our children and they would stay in school reducing the number of drop outs. Education is the key here. I do not agree with a penalty for being ambitious enough to have a sucessful life by taxing me to give people with no ambition a financial break. The comflict is between the group of hardworking people who are not being paid for the work they are doing. I am not a single parent family but if I was I would never be able to do the job I do. It pays under $20,000.00 a year and I work I work in education. I have a college degree, and I am fortunate enough to have the choice to leave customer service making 2 1/2 times the money to pursue my dream job! If my marriage was to fall apart I would have no choice but to find other work. I do believe that everyone should be able to go to college. I also believe that these government programs need to regulate the money to low income based on ability and not the lack of desire. If you are able to work and get a skill it should be madatory. There should be a limited amount of time to which these groups of people should recieve aid. Free up that funding for the truely needy- our handicapped, develomentally delayed, our elderly, our citzens that have a valid need. Until we push it- Ignorance will continue to breed ignorance. One man can not break that cycle. I am glad John Edwards ackowledges the need. I hope that this perspective spills out unto the nations people and we all take action to make it happen.