You All Catch The Working Poor Documentary on A&E Yesterday?

[ThomWV]

I found it when it was about half done, what I saw was impressive. So many people working so hard for so little and with pitifully small chance of their lives ever improving.

They reshow programs all the time but I haven't seen this one pop back up yet. When it does if you missed it I'd suggest giving it a try. I plan to see it from the beginning.

[lovuian]

1. this is slavery in all essense!!! People start figuring out

the only way out of this is to fight or cheat and steal!!!

[blondeatlast]

3. I, um, take it you didn't see it.

No one lied, no one cheated, no one stole.

[blondeatlast]

2. It was based on Barbara Ehrenreich's (who was prominenltly featured

in the doc) book, "Nickled and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America."

She actually "became" a low wage worker in several fields to write the book.

If you haven't read it, I recommend that you do.

[Just Me]

4. I live right in the middle of it. I don't need a documentary BUT,...

,...I do wish that "reality" was better reflected by the media. Of course, that "reality" would require a commitment to truth, to the best interests of this nation and her people rather than a commitment to profit.

The corporacrats are diseased, and they spread their disease to our country, to our people.

It's just shameful.

[HockeyMom]

5. Just got called for a job

Entry level HR for a bus company. They wanted a college degree and at least 2 years work experience (any). The job entailed contacting potential employees, interviewing prospective employees, entering new employees in database, giving presentations to new hires, etc. I was told the job paid $8/hour WITH NO BENEFITS. The woman said it would go up to $9/hour in a year. Our State minimum wage is going up to $7.15 an hour. So that would mean that this job would pay 85 cents an hour above MINIMUM WAGE.

Un-friggen-believable.

[Disturbed]

6. THE WAR AGAINST AMERICA

The RW agenda is to turn the majority of Amerikans into serfs.

The Right Wing Agenda

Abolish

Social Security
Medicare
Employer supplied health insurance
Unemployment Benefits
Welfare
Abortion Rights
Collective Bargaining
EPA
Public Education
Public Housing
IRS

[Just Me]

7. The sharks are circling.

The big corps are making it impossible for the little guys to even have a shot at success.

We need to focus on placing reigns on the sharks,...they're eating us alive.

[XanaDUer]

10. My story

I was looking for a job in my old area. I was offered (and did not take) a PT position from a millionaire lawyer. He told me that he had a hard time finding "educated people", especially educated women, to work for him as a legal secretary/paralegal. He would train.

Anyway, he kept telling me that he "was generous" in the pay, but would never tell me exactly what my pay would be. Ten an hour? Twelve? And no benefits, but maybe I would get benefits if he liked me and decided to keep me. (I have a Master's, and would have learned pretty much anything minus brain surgery).

I turned him down. There was something so gross and insulting to me about a millionaire not offering me benefits, I turned it down.

On the upside, I did get a full time position with great benefits, pension, etc, but I had to move to secure it. No problem, since I hated the RW hole I lived in.

Still...

[skygazer]

8. I read a book called The Working Poor last year

Mind you, I'm quite familiar with the situation because it's one I've lived. I'm about one tenuous step above it now.

Poor people pay more for things than most people do. That's something that most people don't realize.

Poor people often have limited or no transportation so they are forced to buy commodities at small neighborhood stores that charge more rather than large outlets.

They have to pay deposits on utilities and phone service because they've had problems paying their bills (because they're poor).

They often drive cheap used vehicles that break down so they pay a lot in repairs or towing.

They are often forced to use check cashing services or high interest loans or pawnshops to raise money to pay other bills, thereby increasing their bills.

They are usually one step away from disaster - if a person can only afford a crappy apartment, for example, there's a good chance the place is unhealthy. Mold, damp, rot, cold, etc. can cause health issues. These cost the uninsured more money which makes them less able to move and less able to work, which means they make less money which makes it even harder. Etc.

It's a crime that so many people who WANT to work and get ahead are not able to.

[Disturbed]

9. A few million people live in cheap motels because..

they can never save enough money for an Apt., 1st and last month, plus cleaning deposit.

Amerika has been a Plutocracy since the beginning and now is headed towards a Corporatocrisy merged with a Police State.

[HockeyMom]

11. Apartments buildings

I just went through this. They do a credit check and a criminal background check on each person over 18 living in the apartment. Charge you $100 PER PERSON for this. Two months rent in advance. They want to see one year's worth of W2 forms and/or your year end statement from a bank account. Your monthly salary has to equal at least 3 times the monthly rent. When studios are renting for about $1,000 a month, guess how many people are eliminated?

We just had something in the paper about absentee landlords were renting 3 bedroom houses to 20-30 illegals and charging $200-$300 a month PER PERSON. Then they wonder why this is happening?

[Disturbed]

13. I feel that this situation is more important than most others..

that are discussed on DU. Amerika is being gutted by the Multi-Corps and both major parties are allowing this to occur via their rewarding outsourcing, relocation of Mfg. and In-sourcing. Amerikans are being turned into serfs.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. A few other benefits of poverty

There's also a good chance that crappy apartment is in an area with more crime and less than stellar law enforcement. Your chance of being robbed or burglarized is much higher than out in the comfortable middle class areas.

The working poor are more likely to come from extended families in similar circumstances, so the chance that a family member can bail you out in a pinch is pretty low.

They are often unable to dress to the standards of white collar jobs because they can't afford the wardrobe and upkeep of same.

They have to spend more time on the daily chores and activities. There isn't a washer and dryer in their units. Getting to grocery stores often involve long distances on buses or in those unreliable cars. Basic medical care involves the same issues of access plus long waits at over-used clinics or emergency rooms.

They forgo dental care unless they are fortunate enough to live in an area with a dental clinic and sliding scale fees. Even then, routine cleaning is not something high on the list of expenditures with all those competing demands like rent and groceries.

*******
Oh, I could go on, but I'm step from a full bore rant so I'll stop now.