The mid-term elections are drawing closer and nearly every paper you read now has multiple stories almost daily about the 2008 presidential elections.  Few of the perspective presidential candidates are latching on yet to issues of substance ("we're better than George W. Bush" won't cut it).  Poverty - the great moral issue that has been largely ignored in America for a generation or more - is rarely on anyone's radar screen.  Yet poverty and hunger have risen in the United States for the last several years as the Bush economic plans have taken hold.  Poverty should not be a partisan political issue but there seems to be a bi-partisan consensus to ignore the issue and that isn't what America needs either.  We need leadership to address issues related to poverty in a systematic way - in a way that inspires Americans to take on a great social problem.

Enter John Edwards.The former United States Senator from North Carolina and the 2004 democratic nominee for president spoke often about poverty during the last presidential campaign and left office determined to do more.  He set up shop in Chapel Hill and has traveled the country talking about poverty and working to help state campaigns to raise the minimum wage.  Edwards has also taken an active role in supporting efforts to organize union workers.  Will there be a political pay off for his efforts if Edwards wants to seek the presidency again?  Poverty does not have the "sex appeal" that other issues do but Edwards seems sincere when he talks about being drawn to the cause out of his Christian faith as much as anything else.

Substance is golden in an era where politicians only talk in sound bites.  So I invite you to click here and either read or watch the speech Senator Edwards gave on poverty in America right after Katrina hit.  The event was sponsored by the Center for American Progress. 

Restoring the American Dream: Combating Poverty and Building One America

Then check out the rest of his OneAmerica website.   

My background is in dealing with issues of homelessness and poverty.  For most of the last 20 years I have been with churches and non-profits begging for help from government and the general public.  I met Senator Edwards in Cleveland during a meeting held during the 2004 campaign.  The event was an opportunity to have Edwards meet and interact with religious leaders working to alleviate poverty.  I hope that Senator Edwards will continue to reach out to religious leaders who are working to fight poverty.  His effort so far gives me great hope that something can be done.