bashoGWSS1

TO: President Barack Obama:

FROM: Carole MacLean

RE: Suggestions for economic strategies and policies

DATE: November 16, 2008

Thank you for the recent request to aid you in your persistent effort to support policies for economic change that will impact the working people of this nation, in particular, working poor women. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to assist in this timely and all-important work.

As you are aware, generally women make 69 to 80 percent of men’s salaries in the United States. I believe this indicates that we live in a society that values women less than it does men. It is largely the result of pay discrimination by gender on the part of employers, but it is also caused by a societal bias that is out of place in today’s society. Historically, even poor mothers who have entered the workforce after years of being mired in the welfare system are unable to find jobs that pay enough to take care of their families and even while working live below the poverty line. From an article entitled “What We Can Do For The Working Poor,� these women want what is best for their families and children and are not offered the opportunities to improve the living situations for themselves and their children. Children and mothers suffer because of the lack of health insurance for their families.

I believe the keys for equality and equity of all types can be derived from more and better opportunities to education and good paying jobs. Programs within New York City and Chicago, that linked school and work directly we found to be quite successful. In Chicago’s worst middle schools, ground-breaking strides were made to where students were guaranteed summer job placements if they were devoted to a new curriculum including an extra period every day of a foreign language. Students admitted to this program were separated from the rest of the school in special classes that stayed together throughout the day. “As a result, close bonds developed between kids who had the job guarantees and the expectations for solid performance in common.� Classroom attendance, matriculation to the next grade improved as well as better scores in math, English, and social studies. I believe opportunities that are offered like for young people promoting education and job experience are the first steps to empowering the working poor to be successful and to see ways that their lives can change.

I look forward to working you to make this a better nation for all.