Senator John Edwards said, "there are two different americas..."?

Question

"we still live in a country where there are two different Americas -- one for all of those people who have lived the American dream and don't have to worry, and another for most Americans, everybody else who struggle to make ends meet every single day." John Edwards

Do you think that is so? I do not think so. People think working is all about how much money you make. I have been living off of a $789 biweekly paycheck for two years. Do I want more money? Not really. I do not like my job and I want a different job. I am not proud of what I do and I dislike my job duties. I want to be an actuary. I passed the first exam and I am preparing for the second exam. Am I doing it for the money? No. You could not pay me enough to be a security officer.
If you dislike your day job then you will get a different job.

Answer 1

Edwards is a devisive tard

Answer 2

There are many who will do a job they dislike for the money also. Money does make the world go 'round. it's a fact of life. Money makes life easier. From a material standpoint. It can buy temporary happiness. That's what ppl are after. You need food to live, money will buy you this, same goes for shelter, clothing, and maybe even friends or lovers. But if your dirt poor, you can afford none of this. This is what john edwards was talking about. IF you don't want more money ,but a different career, that's great. That means happiness doesn't lie in the dollar for you, and your making enough money for all your ends to meet. Not everyone has this luxury, so they have to think about the money aspect. I'm happy for you. Let's hope others have the same luck where they can support their lifestyle but swithch carriers because they want to.

Answer 3

Many people here don't seem to realize that John Edwards was raised under some very impoverished conditions. He has earned the money he has earned through hard work and I find it amazing when someone who earned and is living the American Dream is criticized while we trust the running of our country to dilettantes like Bush or Romney.

At least Rudy started from the bottom. True he made his fortunes from being a lobbyist who cozies up to organized crime but he does have humble beginnings. Edwards doesn't wrap up his speech with Christian homilies as he enriched himself with a wish list while serving as a governor or a PR man for a televangelist. He is what he is and those of you who are complaining about his haircut would be the first to run down and have one if you had the chance.

I am sorry that you are happy to live on the bottom rung. No one is forcing you to better yourself but please do not complain when others want to improve themself.

You may not like it but people do have the right to be taken care of when they are ill (especially when they have insurance).
Teen dies after insurance nixes transplant funds
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Teen_dies_after_insurance_nixes_transplant_1221.html

There are two America's in this country. The haves and have nots. How many stories do you read like the following. The only difference is that it is happening at Christmas.
A Claremont manufacturer of modular homes yesterday told 122 workers it was closing and would pay them up until Christmas Day
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Christmas+layoffs+to+affect+122+in+Claremont&articleId=67898d3d-d965-4f4b-ae2d-d9154213a716

Answer 4

John Edwards doesn't know squat about what is like to be poor....he didn't come from poverty....he wasn't rich by the standard he is today,,but he certainly can't understand what it is like to be poor and worried about bills all the time either.... ...do you have any idea how wealthy this man is? Edwards says he can understand the problems of some of the poorest people in America, BUT can he? "He is worth reportedly over $30 million, and while addressing the people struggling to get by, he is also putting finishing touches on his multi-million dollar mansion. Talk about a carbon footprint...

He has an estate "that would make the Kennedy compound look like a cottage", he gets 400 dollar haircuts. If he is so worried about the poor,,,maybe he should share the wealth he made by being a trail laywer off the backs of his clients..

There is only one America but there are a lot of greedy people out there making money off the sweat and tears of the rest of us. If by a miracle, John Edwards made it and became President,,he would not do a thing to help the poor...if he was worried about it,,he would do it now...of course,,, he would, if he could get photo op out of it...what a primper he is....eew! Sorry didn't mean to go on so,,but I hate phonies.

Answer 5

I am only in High School but currently I am taking a Contemporary Issues class that mainly is discussing the Presidential Candidate's of '08, while Edwards is not my favorite candidate I do not think he is completely wrong. A lot of Americans struggle, my mom for example is one of those people, she enjoys her job but being a single mother of 2, it gets difficult and stressful for her to pay bills sometimes and keep up to date. She hardly makes enough money to support a family, but she's a good mother and she's doing fine with what she has.

Not to be rude, but just because you may hate your job but you find you have enough money to be happy with, it doesn't mean everyone else is the same way. A lot of American's struggle for many reasons. Working isn't all about the money, you're right, but people need money to survive and support themselves and others. They may have to take jobs they dislike and keep them just to keep a good income or atleast feed themselves and do exactly as Edwards says, to make ends meet.

Answer 6

I guess I am baffled. If working isn't about how much money you can make, what is it all about. Most people living on what you make would want more money. That is your right to be content to be poor and not care.
I disagree with the ones who say that if you work hard you can get ahead. Some of the hardest workers are poor who are making minimum wages.
That being said, I agree, there are two Americas the one for people who take and the other one for people who get taken.

Answer 7

No, I don't agree with Mr. Edwards. I also find his position divisive and lightly pandering toward those who resent what they see as the "haves" among us.

I'm not rich either but am blessed with a decent and steady living. I realize I am financially better off than many others, less so than many as well - but feel reasonably rewarded for the responsibilities I have and talents I can bring to bear. That's my place on the American financial spectrum. I don't ignore those in need where I can do something helpful, nor do I need Mr. Edwards deciding how to "justly" redistribute the paycheck I make for my family - especially when I know he's trying to buy votes with my money that way.

Answer 8

No, that's why that phrase that he constantly uses will not get him the nomination. He claims that America is divide into the rich and the poor. BUt last time I checked, I think the middle class is still the most dominant social class, despite of the growing gap between the rich and the poor. So, not only is he trying to convince voters with false observation of the country, but for him to constantly make this point that poor deserves to take everything away from the rich makes him look even more as a divise figure.

Answer 9

Your experience does not discredit the idea of his talking point.. I agree with him, there are in fact.. Two differant Americas.. Though, I just plain out don't think he'll be able to uphold his promises..

Nichole Richie once said... "I didn't even know there were poor people living in this country because in my community you didn't see such a thing"..

The quote may not be 100% accurate... But it's very very similiar.. But I think it's quite on topic.. She thought everybody lived the same worry free lifestyle that she did... Without a clue of what's really going on.. There is real distinction of what is going on than what many realize.... And many,, either just don't know.. Or just don't care... Take your pick...

Answer 10

He is right. There are two different Americas. Unfortunately there are those who were born into poverty and are not able to figure out that very hard work is what pulls you out of poverty to give you a better life. Instead they sit back and complain and expect the ones who do work hard to provide for not only the person who works, and their families, but the ones who do not and will not work, and their families. It stinks as I pay 1/3 of my income in taxes. I could have health care paid for by me if I did not have to pay so much in taxes to take care of those who will not take care of themselves. We are well on our way to living in a socialistic society. I have worked as many as 3 jobs at one time to keep from being on welfare, and I have a disability and have never been on any type of government assistance.

We are on the fast track to becoming a 3rd world country if the trend does not turn around.

I fully support what GT wrote.

Answer 11

Most naturally born citizens may consider the American Dream to be some sort of economic satisfaction while an immigrant who was born on a dirt floor may just consider being able to "struggle to make it daily", living the American Dream.