I'm one the working poor, I use to be one of those in the middle class, but my raises do not even cover the increase in my Health Insurance payment. Plus my cost to drive to work has gone from $5.00 a week to $20.00 a week. My heating costs went from $76.00 for 150 gallons of fuel oil to $356.00 (Update: $396.00 8-2007) for 150 gallons. My electric has increased, cable has increased, garbage service has increased, water/sewer has increased, it is just plain scary to go food shopping. We have cut back on all our spending and still with the higher Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Prescription costs, out of pocket Health Insurance costs, we still need to cut back. The American Worker use to be one of the countries biggest assets by using their extra income to purchase products. Now we struggle to survive, there is no extra money left over after paying bills to purchase anything but the bare essentials. Savings, NO, send our children to college, NO, buy cloths, NO, buy new furniture, NO, we can only afford the bare essentials. Those working poor Americans that do buy are using Plastic and will be unable to afford the payments. Others are borrowing from the equity in their home, not a good idea.