junk politics

Dear Friend,




Elizabeth and I believe strongly in the power and dignity of
hard work. I remember mornings before school when my dad would
sit at the kitchen table worrying over paper work and jotting
down notes. It wasn't the family bills; he was trying to improve
his math skills by watching public TV programs about probability
and statistics. He believed, as we do, that hard work should be
the means to a better life in America.




But 36 million Americans are impoverished today - that's 13
million more than there were thirty years ago - and many are
hard working men and women who simply cannot work their way out
of poverty. No one has all the answers, but one solution is
clear: we need to raise the minimum wage in America.




You can tell a lot about a nation's character by how its
leadership treats those who are struggling. It's a national
disgrace that our minimum wage is so low, and yet President Bush
and Republicans in Congress refuse to raise it. I've met single
mothers who work full time, some even hold down two jobs - but
each month they struggle to pay the bills, and they certainly
can't build assets or save up for a family crisis.




One stroke of bad luck could send them and their families over
the cliff.




That's why I've been working with grassroots organizations,
labor unions, elected officials, and other progressive allies to
fight for a higher minimum wage, and that's why I'm asking for
your support as we take this issue to the states. Next week we
will rally in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Lansing, Cleveland, and
Columbus to call for increases in the minimum wage. Please
ask your friends to
join us at these upcoming
events as we push for a ballot measure on this
all-important issue.




The Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress have blocked
efforts to raise the federal minimum wage. By taking the issue
directly to state ballots, we can go around the Republican
stonewall and give greater financial opportunity to millions of
working Americans. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia
have already enacted higher minimum wage rates over the last few
years, and Nevadans will vote on a statewide measure in 2006.
With your help, we can bring more states along.




Legislators take notice when grassroots organizations and
thousands of voters unite behind an issue. Let's make our voices
heard: encourage your
friends to join us as we restore dignity and hope to
hard working Americans.




Please also visit our
Web site to learn more about the fight for a fair minimum
wage, and check back next week to see footage from the events
mentioned above.




Your friend,




John