On the recordNovember 17, 2010
The strengthening of the middle class, enabling them to have more purchasing power, has got to be the guiding force as we continue to do work in the closing stages of the 111th Congress and move into the next session of Congress. It is absolutely essential. I think it is what everyone heard out on the campaign field this past fall and summer. People were concerned about the economy. Again, we have surpassed that 1 million count for new jobs in the private-sector realm, but after 8.2 million jobs lost, it simply isn't getting us there quickly enough. I understand the impatience. I understand the fear. Obviously, people need to have a job. The dignity of work enables them to dream the American Dream of house ownership and allowing them to encourage their children and help their children pursue their careers through perhaps higher education. So it's important that we respond to that dynamic of empowering the middle class. I think there's some telling statistics that are really highlighting the concern that people are expressing these days. Some 83 percent of all United States stocks are in the hands of 1 percent of the public. Now that is a very lopsided statistic. We're also told that some 61 percent of Americans always or usually live paycheck to paycheck.
