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Most of the working poor tend to be single mothers and lack of education and job skills limit their opportunities to get ahead. That's one part of the equation. A second factor the working poor are where they are is due to jobs that don't secure a middle class existence like the old era manufacturing jobs used to do. And then there's the lack of affordable housing. The keys to escaping poverty is don't have a kid before you're married, keep learning new life and job skills throughout your lifetime and find a safe place to live. The first two are within every one's power. Housing prices are not and we really have to address that issue. The market more than government will have to play a role here and compassion for the working poor should be demonstrated through offering them chances to make their lives better so they won't have to be dependent upon public aid to eke out a meager existence. That's neither compassionate to the individuals we want to help or to the taxpayers.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

A second factor the working poor are where they are is due to jobs that don't secure a middle class existence like the old era manufacturing jobs used to do. And then there's the lack of affordable housing.

Just out of curiousity, can you point me to which 10 year period between 1900 and 2000 that was characterized by full employment, affordable housing and no working poor?

Okay, which 5-year period, then?

Another part of the equation is the "working poor" do not have to remain "the working poor", they just don't know how to invest. No matter how "poor" one is, investing money and getting it to work for you is possible.

Even those who make a decent wage don't know how to invest. Investment and money management should be taught in schools from grade one up, but for some reason it isn't.

There is no reason why people need to be perpetualy poor in this country. Unfortunately too many think that $20 is too small an amont to start investing into somewthing with.