Raise the Floor: Wages and Policies That Work for All of Us

Though published in 2001, Raise the Floor addresses an issue that still affects millions of Americans. And it makes the case for anyone who believes that the government should play a role in reducing poverty. The authors show the need for new policies, and they outline the required steps. They show how good wages are good business, and in spite of fear mongering, that states that are good for small business also offer better wages. If you believe that work should help raise people from poverty, not keep them in it, this book will inform, anger, and inspire you.

For the past 5 years, even with all the corporate scandals and a worse than Vietnam war killing America, never before in U.S. history has our government recklessly hit the gas pedal on giving more "tax cut" handouts for the wealthy elite and big business scoundrels. I'd rather socialize wealth than socialize poverty and terrorism any day. Anyone who thinks otherwise is only looking forward to turning America into a business concentration camp.

As Congress prepares to debate the national minimum wage this Fall, there couldn't be a more timely or compelling book. At first I was a bit surprised to see this coming from the Ms. Foundation for Women, and while it may be an expansion of their advocacy work, they seem to have assembled an experienced, knowledgable group of researchers and writers to put this study together. It is clear, readable, convincing. Even the manner in which tables and data are presented is easy on the eye (and the head). But as I was drawn into the book, I began to see that looking at an issue like the minimum wage, one needs to do so understanding its history (and the authors do this compactly but thoroughly) and its relevance today (and the tie-in to the Living Wage movement is vivid and convincing). This is a book not only about female or male workers, but families, and beyond that, to the values this nation is supposed to stand for...and it made me so fired up that this country still keeps hard working people poor that I wrote both my senators about it. I hope they read it, and I hope you do too...