Posted September 8, 2006

1. Are working Americans' wages keeping up with the cost of living?

For Americans in certain areas, making a living can definitely be a struggle. Where I live, there are people doing the same type of work but earning different wages based on the location of their plant. My wife and I know people who go to Mexico to get prescription drugs because they have minimum wage jobs and can't afford medical benefits.

2. Can you recall a situation where you struggled to pay the bills? How did you overcome it?

For the most part, my wife and I have been good about saving for a rainy day. There was one situation where my wife was laid off (without cause) after 23 years with her company. To pay the bills, we had to take some money out of her 401K. We also had to take money out of our savings.

3. What is your message to working families struggling to make ends meet?

I'd suggest that you do everything you can to educate yourself to get a better paying job. Tell your kids to get their grades up, earn a scholarship, and go to college. Without a good education, you aren't going to get very far in today's world. I'd also encourage people to join a union and speak out for workers rights.

4. What are you hearing from your colleagues about the challenges facing working Americans?

One of the concerns I commonly hear is the lack of access to good health care. Put simply, the cost of monthly health care benefits is too high. We frequently need to pay more for prescriptions we need. This just isn't right. As a result of this online dialogue, my colleagues are starting to voice the message that hard-working American families deserve better.

5. What can government do to help lift people out of poverty?

Government can provide more services and opportunities for education. My daughter, for example, wasn't able to finish school but still has to provide for her child. She doesn't want welfare, but is looking for the government to help her pay for child care so she can go back to school and realize the American Dream.

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