1 TONIGHT ` IN AN AMERICA WHERE SOME ARE MORE PROSPEROUS THAN EVER BEFORE, ASTONISHING STORIES OF DETERMINATION, STRUGGLE AND RESILIENCE FROM PEOPLE DESPERATELY CLINGING TO THEIR AMERICAN DREAMS. MY REALITY ` A HIDDEN AMERICA, A SPECIAL REPORT ON TONIGHT'S 20/20. Copyright Able 2017. KIA ORA. I'M CAROLYN ROBINSON. TONIGHT, 20/20 TAKES A RARE LOOK BEHIND THE AMERICAN DREAM, INTO WHAT'S BEING CALLED THE HIDDEN CLASS OF AMERICANS. IF YOU WERE ASTONISHED BY THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP, WELL, THIS SHOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME CONTEXT AND AN INSIGHT INTO A DISILLUSIONED AMERICA, AN AMERICA THAT'S BEING LEFT BEHIND, AN AMERICA THAT NEEDS HELP AND CHANGE. 20/20'S DIANE SAWYER SPENT 18 MONTHS PUTTING THIS INVESTIGATION TOGETHER. HERE'S HER STORY. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE POSTED SOME QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH THIS ONE ` SO, MANY OF YOU REMEMBERED IT AS A PARENT WITH A JOB, A MODEST HOUSE, MAYBE A FAMILY VACATION, AND THE KIND OF EDUCATION THAT WOULD GIVE THE CHILDREN EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE. I REMEMBER THAT DREAM TOO. MY PARENTS GREW UP ON FARMS IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY. THIS WAS THE HOUSE WHERE WE LIVED UNTIL I WAS 4. THEY RENTED IT WHEN MY MOM WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER, MY DAD IN THE NAVY. SO, THANKS TO THE GI BILL, THEY GOT A HOUSE IN A SUBDIVISION, A FAMILY STREET WITH PICNICS AND 4TH OF JULY PARADES. BUT SO MANY OF YOU ALSO WROTE US ABOUT THE STRESS AND THE STRUGGLE OF TRYING TO REACH THAT DREAM TODAY. I'M ACTUALLY HAVING TO WORK THREE JOBS, AND MY HUSBAND WORKS THREE JOBS AS WELL. AND WE'RE STILL NOT ABLE TO GET AHEAD. BACK WHEN I WAS A KID, MY FATHER WORKED, MY MOTHER STAYED HOME. MY FATHER'S INCOME WAS ENOUGH FOR US TO SURVIVE. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT WAS ACHIEVABLE, THE WHITE PICKET FENCE, BEING ABLE TO OWN YOUR OWN HOME. I FEEL LIKE WE CAN NEVER CATCH UP. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE STUCK. YOU GOTTA GET THE MILLIONAIRES AND THE BILLIONAIRES IN WASHINGTON TO START WORRYING ABOUT THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. BECAUSE THEY WANNA` YOU THINK THEY DON'T KNOW, DON'T CARE? I THINK THEY FORGOT. TWO FACTS ` OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, THE U.S. ECONOMY HAS BEEN GROWING, BUT THOSE AT THE TOP ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE OF THE MONEY. THE TOP 20% HAVE 14 TIMES THE WEALTH OF THE REST, THE 80% ` THE LARGEST INEQUALITY ON RECORD. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HALF A CENTURY, THE MAJORITY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE CLASS ARE NOT EARNING AS MUCH AS THEIR PARENTS DID. WHICH IS WHY LONG AGO WE STARTED DRIVING AROUND THE COUNTRY. THIS IS A STOP AT WILKES-BARRE PENNSYLVANIA, THIS FIRE STATION PENNSYLVANIA'S BRAVEST. I LEARNED THAT 40 OUT OF 68 FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTERS HERE HAVE TO WORK AT LEAST A SECOND JOB, THOUGH THEY SAY A GENERATION AGO A FIREFIGHTING INCOME COULD SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY. BUT FIREFIGHTER CHRIS SMITH SIMPLY WILL NOT GIVE UP ON THAT DREAM FOR HIS CHILDREN. CHRIS SMITH HAS THREE JOBS HE WORKS ON ROTATION. HIS SCHEDULE IS A RUBIK'S CUBE. THREE NIGHTS OF FEBRUARY, I'LL GET TO SLEEP IN MY OWN BED. EVERY OTHER NIGHT, I'M WORKING SOMEWHERE OVERNIGHT. WE'RE THERE AS HE GETS READY TO GO TO WORK AT HIS FIRST JOB ` FIREFIGHTER ON THE NIGHT SHIFT. I HAVE TO BE CLEAN SHAVEN FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO OUR MASKS WILL FORM A GOOD SEAL ON OUR FACE. SPARE UNIFORMS FOR EVERY JOB THAT I'M GOING TO OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS. JOB NUMBER ONE AT THE FIREHOUSE ` 15 STRAIGHT HOURS. CHRIS MAKES US A VIDEO DIARY AS SEVEN EMERGENCY CALLS COME INTO THE FIREHOUSE ONE AFTER THE OTHER. WE ARE HEADING OUT ON A CALL. POSSIBLE STRUCTURE FIRE. REPORTED SMOKE. JOB NUMBER TWO IS AS A TRAINED PARAMEDIC. SOME DAYS, CHRIS GOES DIRECTLY THERE TO WORK EIGHT HOURS. JOB NUMBER THREE ` FIVE HOURS AS A PARAMEDIC IN A DIFFERENT TOWN. HE RACES OFF TO HELP A TRUCK WORKER WHO WAS UNLOADING GRAVEL. RT: VEHICLE ROLL OVER WITH INJURIES. I KNOW YOU'RE A TOUGH GUY, BUT YOU'D TELL ME IF SOMETHING WAS HURTING, RIGHT? I WOULD. THANK YOU. NOT A PROBLEM, BUDDY. AS HE HEADS HOME TO SLEEP, BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS OF HIS HOUSE, CHRIS FACES A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRESS AND A LOT OF LOVE. HELLO! DADDY! HI, BUDDY! HOW WAS YOUR DAY? LET'S GO MAKE MACARONI. HIS WIFE, LAUREN, BABY ELLA, AND TODDLER LITTLE CHRISTOPHER. SO, HOW MANY CALLS YOU HAD? HOW MANY CALLS? YEAH. TWO CALLS. JUST TWO? YEAH. DAD, YOU ALWAYS SAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURT. I SAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURT. DID YOU SEE THE GAS BILL? THEY BOUGHT A HOUSE IN A NEIGHBOURHOOD WHERE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GOOD. READY? OPEN UP. A 30-YEAR MORTGAGE. THEY'RE ALSO PAYING DOWN BIG STUDENT LOANS. I'M GONNA GET READY FOR WORK. I LOVE YOU. TO SAVE MONEY, THEY TELL US, THEY BOUGHT USED FURNITURE ONLINE. THEY ONLY EAT OUT ONCE A YEAR, ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY. THEY BUY TOOTHPASTE AND RAZORS WITH COUPONS. AND CHRIS SHOWS US THE ONE PAIR OF SHOES HE USES FOR GOING OUT, LIKE TO CHURCH. THEY ARE 10 YEARS OLD. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE LAST TIME MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT ANYTHING FOR OURSELVES. AND THEN JUST WHEN THE SMITHS THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME IN ON BUDGET, TWO SURPRISES ` HIS HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS WERE JACKED UP NEARLY 30% IN THE PAST TWO YEARS; AND A STORM FLOODED THEIR BACK YARD, COSTING THOUSANDS. AT THE END OF EACH MONTH, HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE LEFT? REALLY NOTHING. AND HE'S SUCH A GOOD GUY, AND HE WORKS SO HARD. AND THE JOB THAT HE DOES DO IS SO INCREDIBLY HARD AND SO INCREDIBLY SCARY. CHRIS LOOKS LONGINGLY AT THE LIVES OF THE 20% OF AMERICANS WHO TAKE UP SO MUCH MORE OF AMERICA'S WEALTH. I WANT MORE TIME WITH MY CHILDREN, WITH MY FAMILY. YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET THAT BACK. THE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD VACATIONS AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE. THEY SPEND MORE IN ONE DAY THAT WE PROBABLY SPEND IN A MONTH. THEIR BONUSES ARE MORE THAN WE MAKE IN YEARS. IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD THAT THEY LIVE IN. AND SO MANY OF YOU WROTE US THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM MOST AMERICANS KNOW ABOUT THE REALITY OF A MIDDLE CLASS LIFE. WE WENT OUT ON THE STREET TO ASK SOME RANDOM QUESTIONS ` WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS TODAY ARE IN THE MIDDLE CLASS? THE TRUTH ` JUST 50%. AND WHAT IS THE INCOME FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE JUST MAKING IT THROUGH THE MIDDLE CLASS DOOR? THIS IS MY ANSWER. THAT INCOME ACTUALLY STARTS AT $54,000. SO WE HEAD TO MARYLAND, WHERE WE MEET AN INCREDIBLY SPUNKY WOMAN NAMED TRACEY COLEMAN. SHE'S SHAVING BIG BARS OF SOAP TO MAKE HER OWN LAUNDRY DETERGENT, BECAUSE IT SAVES HER $10 A MONTH. TRACEY'S HUSBAND ONCE HAD A UNION JOB IN MANUFACTURING, BUT IT WENT AWAY, SO HE SPENDS LONG DAYS INSTALLING AIR CONDITIONERS. SHE WORKS AS AN AIDE AT THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE WORRIES THAT PEOPLE BLAME WORKING FAMILIES FOR THEIR SITUATION. 'SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH YOU. YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.' WE'RE WORKING ` IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT WORKING ` IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT YA. HER BIG SPLURGE, SHE SAYS, MCDONALD'S, MAYBE ONCE A MONTH. I'M NOT GONNA LIE. I'VE SAID TO MYSELF,... (SIGHS) 'I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPENT THAT $18 AT MCDONALD'S. I COULD HAVE PUT IT IN THE GAS TANK,' BUT I WANT MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY LIFE. SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN ` A DAUGHTER NAMED ABBY AND A SON, COLTON, WHO'S JUST 7 YEARS OLD, BUT ALREADY READS AT A SIXTH-GRADE LEVEL. HE AND HIS BEST FRIEND, CALEB, HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HER BUDGET. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU GET? WHAT I'M GONNA BRING HOME IS GONNA BE $470, ABOUT. WHAT? WHAT? BUT LISTEN TO THIS ` OUR HOUSE COSTS $800 A MONTH. SO I'VE GOTTA WORK TWO WEEKS AT LEAST JUST TO PAY OFF THE MORTGAGE. GAS AND ELECTRIC'S ANOTHER $200 A MONTH, SO THAT'S ANOTHER HALF A WEEK. I HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR CAR ` THAT'S $200. SO NOW I HAVE TO BUY FOOD, SOUP, SHAMPOO. SODA. TOOTHPASTE. SO WE'RE LEFT WITH MAYBE $50 EXTRA. WELL, GUESS WHAT? WHAT IF WE WANNA GO TO MCDONALD'S ONCE? THAT'S, LIKE, $0. YEAH, THAT'S, LIKE, $0 THAT WE CAN SAVE. SO HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SAVE? BY... I DON'T KNOW. TRACEY HEARS ALL THOSE PUNDITS ON TV SAYING THAT PEOPLE JUST NEED TO GET A COLLEGE DEGREE. A COLLEGE EDUCATION. INCREASES YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL BY 20%. YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE IS YOUR TICKET IN THE DOOR TO GET THESE JOBS. SO EVERY DAY, TRACEY TRIES TO POWER UP HER FAILING COMPUTER, TO DO HOMEWORK FOR AN ONLINE COLLEGE COURSE, FIGHTING AGAINST THE EXHAUSTION AND THE STRESS IN HER LIFE. AND IF YOU DOUBT WHAT IT MEANS FOR SOMEONE LIKE TRACEY TO GET A LITTLE BREAK, A DIFFERENT JOB OPENS UP AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT'S STILL ENTRY LEVEL ` A PARENT TEACHER COORDINATOR, BUT WITH EXTRA PAY. I GOT THIS JOB. I GOT THIS JOB! (LAUGHS) ONE MOMENT TO SAVOUR ON HER FAMILY'S DIFFICULT CLIMB INTO THE AMERICAN DREAM. # BOY, THE WAY GLENN MILLER PLAYED... WE SET OUR TO ASK WHY THE COST OF HOUSING HAS SOARED SO HIGH IN AMERICA. ARE YOU LIVING IN A TRULY MIDDLE CLASS HOME? # THOSE WERE THE DAYS. # AND YOU'LL MEET A MAN WHO HAS SPENT THE PAST 10 YEARS COMMUTING FOUR HOURS TO WORK, FOUR HOURS BACK EVERY DAY. SOMETHING PRETTY AMAZING HAPPENS. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL MEET THAT SUPER-COMMUTER AND OTHERS LIKE HIM. PLUS ` WE'LL ASK, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO AMERICA'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THAT'S WHEN 20/20 CONTINUES. For a small country with a little population, we have some big ideas on how to keep NZ clean and green. For example, deciding to drive more electric vehicles, because they can be fuelled by electricity that our country generates from renewable sources every day. The benefit to us now and to future generations could be enormous. And with hardly any carbon emissions, the impact these electric cars have on the environment, you could say, is tiny. 1 THINKS: 'I blame the ocean. That's what divides us as people. 'I mean, if we drained all the sea from the planet, then we'd be connected. RADIO PLAYS IN CAR 'I have two PhDs. Should I go for a third? 'I don't wanna throw the sea away. 'I mean, you've gotta keep it; it's of some use.' CAR HONKS 'Maybe up in space, in a bowl. 'Of course, we'd have to house all the animals. 'Meanwhile, down on Earth, all those shipwrecks could become playgrounds for kids; kids of all nations!' TYRES SCREECH, CRASH! RADIO CONTINUES PLAYING BREATHES LOUDLY 1 WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND A SPECIAL REPORT ON A HIDDEN AMERICA. AS DIANA SAWYER CONTINUES HER STORY, SHE MEETS PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS MIDDLE CLASS, BUT CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN MIDDLE CLASS SUBURBS. PLUS ` SHE MEETS A MAN WHO SPENDS HIS LONG COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK AS HE DOES AT HOME. # BOY, THE WAY GLENN MILLER PLAYED. # SONG THAT MADE THE HIT PARADE... # RETURN WITH US TO THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF ARCHIE BUNKER'S NEIGHBOURHOOD, 30 YEARS AGO THE TELEVISION SYMBOL OF LIVING IN THE AMERICAN WORKING CLASS. CALL RUDY IN CALIFORNIA. ON THE PHONE? NO, EDITH. OPEN UP THE WINDOW AND HOLLER (!) HERE'S ARCHIE'S HOUSE TODAY, THE BLUE ONE ON THE RIGHT. WE TOOK A WALK THERE WITH RALPH MCLAUGHLIN, CHIEF ECONOMIST FOR TRULIA, A REAL ESTATE WEBSITE. THOSE HOMES WERE BUILT FOR MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS. THEY WERE BUILT FOR TEACHERS, THEY WERE BUILT FOR FIREFIGHTERS, THEY WERE BUILT FOR NURSES, AND THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THOSE HOMES ANY MORE. I SEE A MIDDLE CLASS NEIGHBOURHOOD THAT IS NO LONGER AFFORDABLE TO THE MIDDLE CLASS. KATHY MASI MOVED INTO ARCHIE'S NEIGHBOURHOOD 40 YEARS AGO. HER HUSBAND WAS A TRUCK DRIVER. SHE SHOWED US WHO'S BUYING THESE HOUSES NOW. UM, HE'S A BANKER. HE'S A CEO. SHE SAYS IN 1978, HER HOUSE COST ALMOST $60,000. TODAY IT'S VALUED AT $800,000. AND THESE SOARING HOUSE PRICES ARE NOT JUST IN NEW YORK ` IT'S HAPPENING IN JOB MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO WE WONDERED ABOUT THAT OTHER TV HOME ` ROSEANNE'S HOUSE IN EVANSVILLE, INDIANA. BYE! BYE! BYE! QUICK, THEY'RE GONE ` CHANGE THE LOCKS. HER HOUSE WOULD COST $129,000, BUT ROSEANNE'S FICTIONAL JOB ON TV WAS IN MANUFACTURING. BUT IN EVANSVILLE, THE NUMBER OF MANUFACTURING JOBS IS SHRINKING. SO, HOME OWNERSHIP IN AMERICA IS ` WHERE IS IT NOW? HOME OWNERSHIP IN AMERICA IS AT A 50-YEAR LOW. THINK ABOUT THAT, DIANE. HOW MANY THINGS CAN YOU THINK OF TODAY ARE AT 50-YEAR LOWS? SO AMERICANS ARE RIGHT THAT SOMETHING PROFOUND HAS CHANGED. IN THE 1970S, A FATHER ON ONE SALARY COULD AFFORD THE AVERAGE NEW HOME BEING BUILT THEN. IT WAS 1700 SQUARE FEET. TWO-THIRDS HAD FEWER THAN THREE BEDROOMS, MORE THAN ONE BATHROOM A LUXURY, AND THE COST $191,000. BUT TODAY, THE AVERAGE NEW HOUSE IS $360,000. AND THE HOME HAS GROWN BY 60% ` 2600 SQUARE FEET. FOUR BEDROOMS, NOT TO MENTION MULTIPLE BATHROOMS, AS BUILDERS KEEP CATERING MORE AND MORE TO UPSCALE INCOMES. I LOVE THIS TOWN. I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. THIS IS MAURITIA SAVILLA. I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET EMOTIONAL. I CAN'T TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST. SHE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE VICIOUS CHOICE BETWEEN AFFORDING WHERE YOU LIVE AND AFFORDING YOUR LIFE. I THINK I GREW UP MIDDLE CLASS. MY PARENTS HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, THEY OWN THEIR HOME. I DIDN'T IMAGINE I WOULD STILL BE WITHOUT ANY IDEA OF HOW I WOULD GET INTO A HOUSE AT THIS POINT. HER HUSBAND IS A MICROBIOLOGIST IN A LAB. THEY RENT A SMALL TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN CALIFORNIA. WHEN WE MEET HER, SHE'S TAKEN ON FOUR PART-TIME JOBS. NOW I DO DOG WALKING AND HOUSE SITTING. COLLEGE SAVINGS FOR THE GIRLS? NOTHING. ADD TO IT THE 25% HIKE IN RENT IN HER TOWN OF BURLINGAME CALIFORNIA. WE DROP IN FOR TEA WITH NEIGHBOURS. TEACHERS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS TOWN THAT WE DEPEND ON, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE. I'VE WORKED IN BIOTECH FOR 20 YEARS. I MAKE SIX FIGURES, AND I CAN'T GIVE MY KIDS WHAT I GREW UP WITH. WITH TWO INCOMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT. WE CAN LIVE HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE THRIVE HERE? SO YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN A PLACE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE TO KEEP THE JOB THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP. I MEAN, IT'S A TRAP. RIGHT. IT SAYS A LOT THAT ALMOST EVERYONE WITH ME AT THIS TABLE WITH ME A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IS GONE. THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOME. WE GATHERED A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO HELP GUIDE US TONIGHT. ALL OF THEM SAY THEY GOT TO LIVE THEIR OWN AMERICAN DREAM. TAMARA DRAUT, THE DAUGHTER OF A STEELWORKER. BEING MIDDLE CLASS, MIDDLE CLASS SECURITY, BEING ABLE TO PUT AWAY SOME SAVINGS, BEING ABLE TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT ` ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH HARDER TO ACHIEVE. DARREN WALKER, WHO GIVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR HIS SUCCESS TO HEAD START. ARTHUR BROOKS GREW UP IN A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBOURHOOD IN SEATTLE. DAN GILBERT, NOW AT HARVARD, BUT STARTED HIS ACADEMIC CAREER AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE. ONCE UPON A TIME, THE GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR WAS NOT A LARGE ONE, AND EVERYBODY ON ONE SIDE OF IT HAD HOPES OF GETTING TO THE OTHER. TWO THINGS HAVE HAPPENED ` ONE, THAT GAP HAS BECOME EXTRAORDINARILY LARGE, AND TWO, THE ABILITY TO CROSS IT HAS BECOME EXTRAORDINARILY RARE. YOU KNOW, IT'S A GAME OF CHUTES AND LADDERS THAT HAS BECOME ALL CHUTES AND VERY FEW LADDERS. AS FOR THE COST OF HOUSING, THE EXPERTS SAY ITS A LOT ABOUT POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, LIKE CHANGES IN THE ZONING LAWS. PEOPLE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED, PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTRENCHED INTERESTS HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD LOW-INCOME HOUSING, ANY HOUSING. THE SOLUTIONS ARE WITHIN OUR REACH. THE QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE THE WILL TO IMPLEMENT? IN THE MEANTIME, THE OUTWARD MIGRATION IS CREATING A GROUP OF AMERICANS CALLED SUPER-COMMUTERS. THERE'S ONE LIGHT ON UP THERE. I WONDER IF THAT'S HIS LIGHT. IT'D BE ABOUT... IS IT TIME YET? (DOG BARKS) WE TRAVEL TO MEET RONNIE THOMAS, WHO IS JUST GETTING UP. HE'S 55 YEARS OLD, HE HAS A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, AND BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE NEAR HIS WORK, EVERY DAY, HE MAKES AN 80-MILE COMMUTE. HE ALSO CAN'T AFFORD A CAR, WHICH MEANS HE COMMUTES FOUR HOURS TO WORK, FOUR HOURS BACK. AND HE'S DONE IT FOR 10 YEARS. DO YOU EVER GET UP IN THE MORNING AND THINK, 'I JUST CAN'T GO OUT IN THE COLD AND THE RAIN AND RIDE THIS BIKE AND TAKE THIS TRAIN AND TAKE THIS BUS'? REALLY THIS IS EVERY MORNING I FEEL THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, BUT I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A WIFE, I HAVE KIDS. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE MY DRIVING FORCE. WE GO WITH HIM ` FIRST BY BIKE, 5 MILES TO THE TRAIN. THEN 66 MILES BY TRAIN TO THE BUS. THEN IT TAKES ANOTHER 30 MINUTES BY BUS UNTIL HE'S DROPPED AT HIS WORKPLACE. RONNIE WORKS AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY, UNLOADING THE BOXES OF FOOD THEY SERVE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. TUITION AT STANFORD IS $45,000. AND RONNIE, WHO GREW UP IN A ROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD, SAYS ONCE HIS DREAM WAS TO TAKE COMPUTER CLASSES, BUT HIS LONG COMMUTE MAKES HIS DREAM IMPOSSIBLE. SO THERE HE IS EVERY MORNING, WALKING HIS BIKE PAST THE STANFORD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, WHO ARE JUST WAKING UP. SO, WHEN YOU SEE ALL THOSE KIDS AT THE UNIVERSITY, SO MANY ADVANTAGES? DOESN'T BOTHER ME IN THE LEAST. I'M GONNA DO WHAT RONNIE NEEDS TO DO. THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORMS. HOPING THE BIKE, BUS, THE TRAIN AND THOSE EIGHT HOURS A DAY WILL SOMEHOW CARRY HIM TO A DIFFERENT LIFE FOR HIS CHILDREN. I'M GONNA TO COME TO THAT SINK, LIKE I DO EVERY MORNING, LOOK IN THE MIRROR, REMIND MYSELF WHAT YOUR FOCUS IS, AND KEEP ON TRYING. AND RONNIE THOMAS ISN'T THE ONLY ONE LIVING THAT WAY ` AFTER THE BREAK, WE'LL MEET OTHER AMERICANS HOLDING DOWN MULTIPLE JOBS AND MAKING LONG COMMUTES. 1 WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND TONIGHT'S LOOK AT A HIDDEN AMERICA. AS DIANE SAWYER CONTINUES HER INVESTIGATION, SHE FINDS A NEW CLASS OF WORKING POOR, WHO HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS, BUT STILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. PLUS ` THE NEW PHENOMENON OF OVERNIGHT CHILDCARE AND THE PEOPLE FIGHTING TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE. WE HEAD OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY, TO KANSAS CITY, WHERE WE MEET TERRENCE WISE. HE'S ANOTHER AMERICAN WHO BELIEVES YOU BUILD A LIFE ON HARD WORK. HE LEAVES HOME AT 5.30 AND RETURNS 16 HOURS LATER. HE RECORDS THE BEGINNING OF HIS DAY. JUST LIKE EVERYBODY IN AMERICA, HEADING TO WORK, TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY. MORNING. HI. HOW YOU DOING? WHEN WE MEET HIM, HE HAS TWO JOBS AT FAST FOOD FRANCHISES ` ONE AT BURGER KING, A SECOND AT MCDONALD'S. IT TAKES HIM EIGHT BUSES TO COMMUTE TO AND FROM HIS WORK. THERE'S THREE MORE BUSES TO GO. THANK YOU. AND THERE'S A BIG CHANGE IN THE FAST-FOOD WORKER. BACK IN 1980, THE MAJORITY OF FAST-FOOD WORKERS WERE TEENAGERS, BUT TODAY, 75% OF THESE WORKERS ARE IN THEIR 20S OR OLDER, A THIRD OF THEM WITH CHILDREN. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, SOME MAY LOOK AND SAY, 'IT'S SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T DO RIGHT.' AND THEY THINK, 'OK, WELL, YOU SHOULD'VE STAYED IN SCHOOL OR YOU SHOULD'VE DID THIS.' WELL, LOOK, I'M WORKING. I HAVE A FAMILY. WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS LIFE RIGHT NOW. THIS WASN'T THE LIFE THAT TERRENCE HAD PLANNED. HE SAYS HE WAS ONCE A SMART KID IN HIGH SCHOOL DREAMING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT HE HAD TO HELP WITH FAMILY BILLS. I'VE BEEN AT BURGER KING, WHAT, 11 YEARS NOW. $8 AN HOUR AFTER 11 YEARS OF SERVICE. AND YET AFTER ALL THOSE BUSES, ALL THOSE HOURS, HE SAYS NO VACATION TIME, NO BENEFITS. YOU GO INTO THESE MCDONALD'S OR ANY RESTAURANT, AND YOU NOTICE THE SMILING FACES. BUT WHEN HE LEAVES, HE GOES HOME TO LITTLE FOOD OF HIS OWN OR NO LIGHTS, NO WATER. TERRENCE POINTS OUT HIS HOURS CAN BE REDUCED, SO HIS INCOME ISN'T GUARANTEED; ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS ` WATCHING THE LEFTOVER FOOD AT THE END OF THE SHIFT. WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THE FOOD THAT IS LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE DAY? WHERE I WORK, THE FOOD IS THROWN AWAY. TWO YEARS AGO, A WORKER AT ANOTHER STORE POSTED THIS ON YOUTUBE. YOU SEE, THIS IS ALL THE FOOD WE HAVE LEFT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT THAT WE HAVE TO THROW AWAY. WHEN WE MEET TERRENCE, HE HAS ALREADY BECOME A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE AT THE CENTRE OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT CALLED FIGHT FOR 15, ARGUING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE FROM $7.25. I KNOW WITH $15 AN HOUR, IF IT STARTED TOMORROW, I WOULD ONLY HAVE TO WORK ONE JOB. THEN I WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO WORK, AND THEN GO TO SCHOOL. WHEN YOU'RE PAYING PEOPLE $7.25, YOU ARE FUNDAMENTALLY SAYING TO THEM, 'YOUR LABOUR DOESN'T REALLY MATTER HERE.' OUR EXPERTS ALL AGREE THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE FOR LOW-WAGE AMERICANS, BUT THEY DISAGREE WHAT'S BEST. ARTHUR BROOKS OF THE CONSERVATIVE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE SAYS SOME KIND OF EXTRA TAX CREDIT WOULD BE BEST. WE HAVE WAGE SUBSIDIES, A REALLY WONKY THING CALLED THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. HE WORRIES WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DICTATES WAGES, COMPANIES CUT JOBS. BUT NOT EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE AGREES THAT WILL HAPPEN. WE SHOULDN'T REQUIRE THEIR EMPLOYER TO DO THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL LEAD TO THE LAYOFFS, AND THAT'S A REALLY DANGEROUS THING TO DO. THIS IS THE BOGEYMAN WE'VE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT. AND ALL WE DO IS PROTECT PEOPLE LIKE US, SITTING AROUND A TABLE. THAT'S WHO GETS PROTECTED. BUT YOU KNOW THE ARGUMENT THEY MAKE, THAT THEY'LL JUST HAVE FEWER JOBS. THAT'S AN ARGUMENT THEY'LL MAKE, AND THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY WORKERS A LIVING WAGE. IF YOU PAY YOUR WORKERS, WE'RE NOT GONNA SIT ON OUR MONEY ` WE'LL PUT IT BACK INTO THE ECONOMY. THE TOP COMPANIES IN THE FAST-FOOD INDUSTRY MADE COMBINED PROFITS OF $6.6 BILLION IN 2015, WHILE ONE STUDY SHOWS 52% OF ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING SOME FORM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. IS THIS A WAY TAXPAYERS ARE SUBSIDISING THE INDUSTRY? NOBODY WANTS TO GET FOOD STAMPS. I WANNA GO IN AND PULL OUT MY CASH AND BUY MY FOOD AND... AND HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH MY JOB. AND AGAIN, HE SAYS, A LITTLE MORE MAKES SO MUCH DIFFERENCE. TO GO SEE A MOVIE. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE MOVIES SINCE 'THE MATRIX', AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW HOW OLD THAT MOVIE IS. YUP, THIS IS OUR STOP. AND THERE'S ANOTHER CHANGING FACE OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS IN AMERICA. 60% OF THOSE WHO MAKE LESS THAN $10 AN HOUR ARE NOW WOMEN, LIKE KIM THOMAS, WHO WORKS UP TO 120 HOURS A WEEK IN HOME HEALTH CARE. AND BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE WOMEN AND OTHER LOW-WAGE WORKERS HAVE FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN TO SUPPORT, WE FOUND A NEW GROWTH INDUSTRY IN AMERICA,... MAMA. MAMA! ...OVERNIGHT CHILDCARE. WE HAVE, LIKE, ABOUT 50 CHILDREN SOMETIMES AT NIGHT. MOST OF OUR PARENTS WORK AT WALMART. THEY WORK AT FAST FOODS. THEY WORK AT THE WAREHOUSES. THEY WORK AT HOSPITALS, AND THEY ALSO WORK, UH, CLEANING BUILDINGS AT NIGHT. THIS SINGLE MOTHER WORKS AN OVERNIGHT SHIFT AT TACO BELL. MOMMY, I'M SLEEPY. YOU GOTTA LIE DOWN, BABE. I'M SORRY. (WAILS) WE ASKED MCDONALD'S FOR A COMMENT TONIGHT, AND THEY EMAILED US, SAYING THEIR INDEPENDENT FRANCHISES MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WAGES AND THROWING AWAY FOOD. THEY ALSO WROTE US THAT THEY OFFER THEIR WORKERS WORLD-CLASS TRAINING TO HELP THEM LEARN, GROW AND SUCCEED EVERY DAY. AS OF TONIGHT, WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM BURGER KING. BUT BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SUBJECT, WE WANNA SHOW YOU SOMETHING SURPRISING WE LEARNED ON ANOTHER STOP IN THE MIDWEST. WE FOUND SOME LOW-WAGE WORKERS IN SOME VERY SURPRISING PLACES, COLLEGE PROFESSORS. WE STOPPED BY THE CAMPUS OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, TUITIONS NEARLY $49,000 A YEAR. ERIK AND DUSTIN ARE ADJUNCT PROFESSORS TEACHING A HEAVY LOAD AND PAID, THEY SAY, AT RATES THAT DON'T ADD UP TO A LIVING INCOME. AND IS THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO BUILD A FUTURE ON HERE? NO. I MEAN, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BUILD A PRESENT ON. ONE STUDY SHOWS A QUARTER OF PART-TIME COLLEGE PROFESSORS ARE PAID SO LITTLE, THEY'RE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. OH, WE HAVE FRIENDS ON FOOD STAMPS; WE HAVE FRIENDS` TEACHING HERE? YEAH. TEACHING MULTIPLE CLASSES. THE TAXPAYERS SUBSIDISE WHAT OUR EMPLOYER WON'T. WE ASK WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FOR A COMMENT. THEY TOLD US AFTER OUR VISIT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THEY REACHED A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE UNION REPRESENTING THE ADJUNCTS. THEY SAY THEY PAY PART-TIME PROFESSORS MORE THAN MOST UNIVERSITIES AND MANY OF THE PROFESSORS HAVE OTHER JOBS. I LOVE MY JOB, BUT THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO TEACH ANY MORE. AND WHILE THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN INCOME INEQUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S NOW AT EXTREME LEVELS. AND WE'LL SEE JUST HOW EXTREME WHEN 20/20 RETURNS. 1 WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND OUR SPECIAL LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. AS OUR STORY CONTINUES, WE TAKE A LOOK AT SILICON VALLEY AND AMERICA'S THRIVING TECH INDUSTRY. AS DIANE SAWYER DELVES BEHIND THE SHINY BUILDINGS AND BIG SALARIES, SHE UNCOVERS AN INVISIBLE GROUP OF WORKERS. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN INCOME INEQUALITY IN AMERICA, BUT AS WE SAID, TODAY IT'S MORE EXTREME. TAKE SILICON VALLEY, THE HIGH-TECH COMPANIES WITH THE GOLDEN NAMES, WHERE EMPLOYEES GET FREE FOOD, ANY KIND, AS MUCH AS THEY WANT, FREE DRY CLEANING, GYMS ON SITE; AND RIGHT THERE ALL AROUND THEM, THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ALSO WORKING VERY HARD IN THE SHADOWS. THERE AMID ALL THE WEALTH, WE HEARD ABOUT THE DRIVERS OF EMPLOYEE SHUTTLE BUSES. WHEN WE BEGAN OUR REPORT, WE FOUND DRIVERS SLEEPING IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY GO TO WORK AT 6 IN THE MORNING. THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR HOURS WITHOUT PAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY UNTIL THEY TAKE EMPLOYEES HOME, NAPPING IN THEIR CARS AT A DEPOT WITH PORTABLE TOILETS. THREE OUTHOUSES OUT THERE, WHICH IS NOT EVEN SUITABLE FOR A WOMAN. IF I WAS A WOMAN, I WOULD NEVER USE IT. BUT A MAN, IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION IF YOU'RE JUST DOING NUMBER ONE. 35 TO 40 BUS DRIVERS ARE HERE. PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING ALL OVER HERE IN THEIR CARS. IT IS JUST AWFUL WHEN YOU PARK INSIDE AND YOU HAVE DRIVERS COVERING THEIR CARS WITH BLANKETS AND TOWELS. IT'S TWO BEDS FOR WOMEN, TWO BEDS FOR MEN. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. YOU'VE SEEN HOW MANY BUSES JUST CAME THROUGH HERE. THESE DRIVERS ARE WHAT'S CALLED CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, WORKING FOR COMPANIES WHO PROVIDE THEM TO THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY. WHEN WE MET THEM, THEY HAD FEW BENEFITS, LITTLE VACATION, NO PAID HOLIDAYS. MY NAME IS TERRENCE ROLLINS. I'M A DRIVER. I LOVE MY JOB. MY AGE IS 51. I GET UP AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I MAKE IT HOME ABOUT, HMM... ABOUT 11, 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY. IF PEOPLE HAVE TO MIGRATE LIKE THE GRAPES OF WRATH, IF PEOPLE HAVE TO MIGRATE A GREAT DISTANCE TO FIND WORK AND COMFORT, THEN THERE'S AN ISSUE HERE. AT THAT TIME, ONE OF THE DRIVERS FERRYING APPLE EMPLOYEES TO THEIR CAMPUS WAS SCOTT PEEBLES. HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY FOR A RENTAL APARTMENT SOMEPLACE NEARBY, BUT AT THE TIME, WAS LIVING IN HIS CAR, USING AN INFLATABLE MATTRESS. I HAVE THE AIR PUMP RIGHT HERE. AND I JUST TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH ON TO ACCESSORY. AND THEN I WOULD PUMP UP THE... YEAH, IT ALWAYS NEEDS AIR. AND MY BLANKET HERE IN CASE IT GETS COLD. AND I PUT THE VISOR IN THE FRONT SO IT BLOCKS OUT SOME OF THE LIGHT. I MEAN, IF PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THIS, IF THE CORPORATIONS OR THE BUSINESSES THEY WORK FOR, THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE AGHAST THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE LIVING IN A CAR OR VAN. ANTONIO GARCIA-MARTINEZ, ON HIS 35FT SAILBOAT. HE USED TO BE ONE OF THOSE HIGH PAID TECH EMPLOYEES AND WROTE A KIND OF CONFESSION ABOUT THAT TIME, REMEMBERING HOW HE USED TO SEE THE SERVICE WORKERS. THE SILICON VALLEY ELITE BASICALLY DOESN'T SEE SERVICE WORKERS. THEY'RE JUST BASICALLY BLIND TO THEM AS A CLASS. I TAKE OFF MY GLASSES, CLOSE THAT, AND I... I JUST GET INTO BED AND COVER ON. AND THEN I JUST CLOSE THIS DOOR AND SAY GOODNIGHT. (CHUCKLES) AND IT'S NOT JUST DRIVERS; A LOT OF SERVICE WORKERS WORKED FOR CONTRACT COMPANIES, LIKE THE SECURITY GUARDS GREETING PEOPLE EVERY DAY AS PEOPLE COME IN TO THE HIGH-TECH OFFICES. WE'RE MORE LIKE THE COMPANY'S AMBASSADOR. SO WE'RE WELCOMING ALL THE CUSTOMERS, WE TREAT THE EMPLOYEES WELL. FOR YEARS MICHAEL JOHNSON WAS A SECURITY GUARD AT SEVERAL COMPANIES. HE SAYS IN THE BEGINNING, HIS JOB HAD VALUE. WHEN I FIRST STARTED, THERE WERE PAID VACATIONS, PAID HOLIDAYS. A LOT OF TIMES, YOU GOT BONUSES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE A REGULAR JOB, IT WAS JUST THAT YOU WERE A CONTRACT WORKER ` YOU WERE TREATED LIKE ONE OF THE GANG. BUT NOW? NO MORE VACATION; UH, AND THEN NO MORE PAID SICK TIME; UM, UH, THE HOURLY RATE WAS DROPPING. AND BECAUSE THESE ARE CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, DO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE HIGH-TECH BUILDINGS KNOW? I'M SURE THEY DON'T. I'M PRETTY SURE THEY DON'T. YOU THINK THEY CARE? I'M PRETTY SURE THEY DO. THE SERVICE WORKER IS JUST A COG IN THE MACHINE, A REPLACEABLE COG IN THE MACHINE, WHO KEEPS SOME SMALL ELEMENT OF THAT MACHINE GOING, BUT WHO REALLY ISN'T PART OF, SORT OF, THE CULT OR THE DREAM OR THE VISION OF THAT COMPANY. WE SAW THE PARALLEL LIVES ` NEAR-LUXURY HOUSES; TRAILERS PARKED IN THE STREETS, SERVICE EMPLOYEES LIVING SO DIFFERENTLY FROM THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. IRMA ALVARADO, A LEGAL RESIDENT WORKING IN THIS COUNTRY FOR DECADES. HI. HI. I'M DIANE. HI. IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU. ARE YOU IRMA? YES. OH, IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU. IRMA, 62, IS A CONTRACT EMPLOYEE WHO HAS SPENT 26 YEARS CLEANING RESTROOMS AND OFFICES AT VISA. SHE SAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SHE GOT A VISA CARD AT CHRISTMAS, FOR $25. $25? AFTER 26 YEARS? YES. YOU'RE SMILING. IS THAT HOW YOU FEEL? NO. IRMA'S GRANDSON, WHO HAS NO PLACE TO PUT HIS CLOTHES IN THEIR CROWDED HOUSE, TELLS US HIS AMERICAN DREAM. I WILL HAVE A BIG BED. AND I WILL HAVE A DRAWER TO PUT ALL MY CLOTHES. YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A DRAWER? JUST ONE DRAWER? HOW MANY DRAWERS? 10 DRAWERS. (LAUGHS) OUR EXPERTS SAY COMPANIES CAN CUT COST BY USING CONTRACT EMPLOYEES. IF ANYTHING, THE PRACTICE IS GROWING. THE CHALLENGE ` HOW TO GROW TOGETHER. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS IS IN EACH LINK DOWN THAT CHAIN, THE PRESSURES GROW TO LOWER LABOUR CLASSES. I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR ECONOMY WILL GROW. THE QUESTION IS, WILL IT YIELD AN AMERICA WITH SHARED PROSPERITY? AND A MOMENT FOR A FOOTNOTE FROM OUR TRAVELS. WE RAN INTO A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO CLEAN THE BATHROOMS OF THE DETROIT AIRPORT. THIS IS LINDA. I SEE PEOPLE LIVING. WHERE THEY GET THEIR MONEY FROM? THEY TOLD US THEY TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEND A MESSAGE. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY; IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING SIMPLE. WE GO INTO RESTROOMS, AND WE CLEAN THEM. WE HAVE TO CLEAN TOILETS. WE HAVE TO WIPE DOWN STAINLESS STEEL. AND NO ONE EVEN SAYS THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. THE TWO SIMPLE WORDS THAT CAN MAKE THINGS A LOT BETTER. WHEN WE RETURN ` THE PEOPLE SO DESPERATE FOR CASH, THEY'RE SELLING THEIR OWN BLOOD. BACK SOON. 1 HELLO AGAIN, AND WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND TONIGHT'S LOOK AT THE HIDDEN AMERICA. EACH YEAR, NEARLY 100,000 AMERICANS SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOMES BY SELLING THEIR BLOOD TO PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. AS DIANE SAWYER CONTINUES WITH HER STORY, SHE MEETS A DAD WHO DOES JUST THAT TO PAY FOR HIS DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY. PLUS ` THE CEO OF A MULTINATIONAL COMPANY WHO SAYS LEARNING ABOUT THE LIVES OF HIS WORKERS CHANGED EVERYTHING. AS WE TRAVELLED ACROSS AMERICA, WE WONDERED ABOUT SOME PEOPLE WE SAW IN THE SHADOWS OF THE MORNING. EVERY DAY, 97,000 PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO TAKE THEIR PLACE IN A LINE, WAITING TO HAVE A NEEDLE PUT IN THEIR ARMS FOR UP TO TWO HOURS. THIS IS A TRANSACTION FOR MONEY. THERE ARE 500 PLASMA CENTRES IN THE US, AND ALMOST ALL ARE FOREIGN OWNED. THEY EXTRACT PLASMA FROM THIS BLOOD TO MAKE DRUGS THAT HELP TREAT LEUKAEMIA, AND FOR TRANSPLANT PATIENTS. AND THESE COMPANIES HAVE TURNED THE UNITED STATES INTO WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE OPEC OF PLASMA, AMERICAN DONORS PROVIDING 94% OF THE PAID PLASMA USED AROUND THE WORLD. THEY ARE A KIND OF BRANDED ARMY, NOT OF ADDICTS, BUT PEOPLE INCLUDING FULL-TIME WORKERS WHO ARE JUST UNABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I DONATE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MONEY BECAUSE I WORK A MINIMUM-WAGE JOB AS A CASHIER AND A STOCKER. BASICALLY, IT'S FOR BILLS, MAKE ENDS MEET. THESE DONORS ARE PAID ABOUT $30 TO $40 EACH VISIT. IT IS A $19.7 BILLION INDUSTRY AND GROWING. DO YOU WORK PART TIME OR FULL TIME? FULL TIME. I'M MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS, SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA CASH. DONATING IS EASIER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. SIMPLY RELAX, WATCH TV, OR ENJOY OUR FREE WI-FI IN A CLEAN AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. OTHER I USE SUNDAY. I SWITCH UP EVERY TIME. AND IT'S A 21-GAUGE NEEDLE, SO IT'S PRETTY THICK. WHEN WE FIRST MEET A DONOR NAMED WILLIAM HARRIS, HE WORKS FULL TIME AT BURGER KING. SOME NIGHTS WHEN THE SHELTER IS FULL, HE SLEEPS IN A STORAGE CLOSET. HIS ROOM IS A CHAIR, SURROUNDED BY SPIDERS. BY HIS SIDE, A WELL-READ SELF-HELP BOOK ABOUT SUCCESS ` HOW YOU GET AHEAD IN AMERICA. I LOVE THAT BOOK. AND YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT HARD WORK IS GONNA GET YOU THERE? YES, NO OTHER WAY. SO, WHY IS IT THAT THESE FOREIGN COMPANIES RECRUIT THEIR DONORS IN THE UNITED STATES? WE LEARNED THAT MOST OF THEIR HOME COUNTRIES HAVE BANNED THE PRACTICE OF PAYING MONEY FOR PLASMA. THERE'S ONE MORE PERSON WE MET WALKING TO GIVE PLASMA TWICE A WEEK. HIS NAME IS GAYLORD CADE. YOU'RE ACTUALLY HELPING SOMEBODY ELSE OUT TOO HERE. WHEN WE MEET HIM, HE'S WORKING TWO JOBS ` ONE AT A GROCERY, ONE IN FAST FOOD ` BUT SAYS HE'S DONATING BECAUSE HIS DAUGHTER HAS A BIRTHDAY. HE NEEDS $7.50 TO BUY A BATHING SUIT AND MONEY FOR A CAKE. HE DOESN'T WANT HIS KIDS TO KNOW HOW HE'S GETTING IT. I TRY TO TAKE OFF MY BANDAGE BEFORE I GET HOME. WE WENT TO THE APARTMENT UNIT HE IS RENTING. WE MET HIS 6-YEAR-OLD SON, ERIC, WHO TELLS US HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE DAD WORKING SO HARD TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY. A GIANT, PROUD, WHERE, LIKE, THE GIANT'S HEAD IS ALL THE WAY TO OUTER SPACE AND IN HEAVEN AND PAST HEAVEN, AND GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT, GIANT. I'M TRYING TO SAY A LOT. (CHUCKLES) MY DADDY WORKING ON GETTING A CAR. GAYLORD, WHO HAS HAD A TOUGH LIFE GROWING UP, SAYS HE KNOWS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT MORE THAN HE DOES. YOU WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK, RIGHT? YOU PROBABLY WORK MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT? I WORK A LOT. I WORK A LOT. BUT YOU WORK HARD TOO. RIGHT. AND YOU'RE AMERICAN, I'M AMERICAN. WE BOTH WORK HARD. AND THE DIFFERENCE IS, I IMAGINE YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF PRETTY GOOD AND PROBABLY YOUR GRANDKIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SORT TOO. GAYLORD SAYS HE DOESN'T RESENT OTHER PEOPLE'S GOOD FORTUNE; HE JUST WONDERS IF ANYONE SEES THE STRUGGLE ALL AROUND HIM. I'M GRATEFUL FOR ANY AND EVERYTHING THAT GOD SENDS MY WAY. HOWEVER, PEOPLE WILL PASS YOU BY. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. THERE'S POVERTY. THERE'S A LOT OF POVERTY AROUND HERE. THE KIND THAT LEADS A DAD TO GIVE HIS BLOOD FOR HIS DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY SMILE. YOU LIKE IT, BABY? YEAH. YEAH. HOW OLD ARE YOU TODAY? 3. YEAH READY TO GO SWIMMING? YEAH. LAST NOVEMBER A GROUP CALLED JUST CAPITAL ANNOUNCED A BOLD IDEA ` THEY WERE GOING TO RANK COMPANIES NOT BY PROFITS, BUT OTHER QUALITIES. THEY POLLED AMERICANS ABOUT WHICH QUALITIES THEY ADMIRED THE MOST IN A BUSINESS, AND UP CAME LEADERSHIP, WORK SAFETY, BUT NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST ` PAYING A FAIR WAGE. BILLIONAIRE HEDGE FUND MANAGER PAUL JONES STARTED JUST CAPITAL, AND HE THINKS AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE READY TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON COMPANIES THEY MOST ADMIRE. THE PEOPLE WHO RUN CORPORATE AMERICA TODAY, THEY'RE GENERALLY GOOD PEOPLE. THEY'RE GOOD FAMILY PEOPLE. I THINK THEY'LL WELCOME A LITTLE BIT OF A SHIFTING OF WHAT PRIORITIES SHOULD BE BACK TO CORE AMERICAN VALUES THAT COME FROM MAIN STREET. AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE BUSINESS LEADERS SAYING IT'S TIME TO BRING NEW IDEAS TO AMERICAN WORKERS AND THEIR WAGES ` THE WELL-KNOWN BURGER JOINT THAT GIVES EMPLOYEES STOCK OPTIONS. SOME COMPANIES HELP PAY OFF COLLEGE LOANS. AND SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING IDEAS ARE RETHINKING EDUCATION AND GIVING WORKERS A PATH TO THE FUTURE, BMW IN SOUTH CAROLINA TRYING TO CREATE A SCHOOL-TO-JOB HIGHWAY. THE COMPANY CREATED A PROGRAMME TO TRAIN PEOPLE IN MECHANICS, ROBOTICS. AND SO FAR, EVERY GRADUATE GOT A JOB AT BMW WITH THE PROSPECT OF SALARIES UP TO $90,000. AND THIS IS A MAN NAMED MARK BERTOLINI, WHO HAS IDEAS OF HIS OWN. HE'S THE SON OF AN AUTO WORKER, SUCCESSFUL CEO OF A GOLIATH COMPANY, AETNA HEALTH CARE ` 49,000 EMPLOYEES. BERTOLINI SAYS IT ALL HAS TO BEGIN WITH CORPORATE LEADERS WHO WANT TO LEARN THE LIVES OF THEIR WORKERS. WHERE DO THEY LIVE? AND WHAT ARE THEIR LIVES LIKE? AND IT TOOK ME SIX MONTHS TO GET THAT DATA. BUT ONCE I GOT THE DATA, I WAS EMBARRASSED. HE SAYS WHEN HE BECAME CEO, HE WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT SOME OF HIS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WERE PAID SO LITTLE, THEY HAD TO GO ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. I SAID, 'HOW CAN WE LET THIS HAPPEN?' HERE WE ARE, A MAJOR FORTUNE 50 COMPANY, WITH EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SUFFERING EVERY DAY TO MAKE ENDS MEET. SO AETNA RAISED SALARIES TO AT LEAST $16 AN HOUR. THEY'RE HELPING WORKERS PAY DOWN COLLEGE DEBTS. BERTOLINI EVEN PAYS WORKERS TO SLEEP MORE AT NIGHT. AND HE VOWED NOT TO PASS ANY OF THESE COSTS ON TO THE AETNA CONSUMER. YOU KNOW, OUR STOCK PRICE IS UP. YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T LOST A STEP. BUT WE'VE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOING THIS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND ` IF IT'S OBVIOUSLY A GREAT INVESTMENT, IF IT'S` YOUR STOCK PRICE IS STILL GONNA GO UP, YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS THAT EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT, BUT THEY ARE NOT. WHY ARE THEY NOT? WE NEED TO CHANGE THE DIALOGUE. A DIALOGUE, HE SAYS, THAT CREATES A NEW MEASURE OF SUCCESS. 18% OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ACTUALLY BELIEVES CORPORATIONS ARE GOOD. 18%. SO, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH LOWER DO WE NEED TO GO BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT THIS DOESN'T WORK? AND SO, INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR IT TO GO AWAY, WHY DON'T WE STEP FORWARD WITH SOME COURAGE AND CONVICTION TO MAKE IT BETTER? A NEW CAPITALISM. YEAH, LET'S REINVENT IT. I MEAN, WE'RE THE CAPTAINS OF IT. WHY SHOULDN'T WE BE THE ONES THAT SAY, 'HERE'S THE NEW WAY'? LET'S US AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE STAND FOR SOMETHING AND SAY, 'WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.' AND BERTOLINI SAYS IF THERE ARE CEOS IN AMERICA WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, JUST GIVE HIM A CALL. AND 20/20 WILL BE FOLLOWING SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE'VE JUST MET FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO SEE HOW AND IF THINGS CHANGE UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. KIA ORA. NGA MIHI.