There is a persistent and terribly damaging myth about our economy, namely, that American economy poverty can, in principle, be eliminated -- if only there is better education, more jobs, more opportunity, and if people will just work hard, save, invest, and pull themselves up by their boot-straps. This is simply false. Our economy as it is presently structured requires substantial poverty.

The present American economy requires that certain jobs have low wages: cleaning houses, caring for children, preparing fast food, picking vegetables, waiting on tables, doing heavy labor, washing dishes, washing cars, gardening, checking groceries, and so on. In order to support the lifestyles of three-quarters of our population, one quarter of our work force must be paid low wages. These are the people who make two-income families possible, because they take care of the house and the children, allow fast food outlets, restaurants, and hotels to exist, and perform other tedious unpleasant, unsafe, and physically difficult jobs that support middle', upper-middle, and upper-class life. ~ Page 421