Post by dowellharmon on Aug 2, 2011 14:43:21 GMT -5
Nickel and Dimed, despite its extremely entertaining nature, is also very informative and telling about the hardships of the lives of low-wage workers. Like many others who have previously posted in the discussion board, I was thoroughly surprised at the truly difficult situation they are put under. I had always assumed minimum wage was set to guarantee the ability of that worker to successfully support his/her self, but obviously I was wrong. Many low-wage workers are not as fortunate as Barbara to use their earnings solely on themselves; many have to support a spouse, as well as children, only earning minimum wage. If Barbara couldn’t support herself working one minimum wage job, and a backup fund, as well as only a short time with little emergencies; emergencies that cost money. She also had no prior addictions which, stereotypes aside, many low-end workers have. If Barbara can barely sustain herself, there is no way a full family can be sustained with only low income, minimum wage jobs.
Another major observation I noticed was the skill involved in each low-end job she experienced. For example, the maid service required the ability to do tedious and repetitious jobs while maintaining healthy muscles and bones, which even a woman in shape couldn’t do without pills, and especially with how much food they received, the hydration given to the maids, and the restrictions put on their habits. The waitressing business requires standing and walking for long periods of time, as well as memory. The physical and mental strains put on low-wage workers is almost, if not more, draining than that of an upper-level job. Low-wage workers, even in the short stents done by Barbara, are put under tremendous tension, for very little pay in return. The Wal-Mart job, which was the best-paying, and still worst representative of its workers, keeping its workers under wraps while on duty, not only with their time taken on breaks, but their ability to unionize or to even speak freely about their opinions.
The government, although very helpful in aiding the lower class, still has leaps and bounds to go before they are fully capable of helping the impoverished. However, the cost in fully aiding the entire lower-class would be so outrageous the costs of the increased welfare would cause a skyrocket in the already huge national debt, as well as take funds from many other areas of spending as well, possibly ones such as education. It is a sad but apparent truth that as our country sees more and more forced to like 6 to a motel room, or a family of 3 sleeping in a car, we must begin to help them in ways other than just providing food stamps and the occasional welfare check. As Nate already mentioned, we must begin to let them unionize, to make their working conditions better, and to work themselves out of their predicament. The increase of the minimum wage would be an excellent way to begin, because an increase in salary would cause a world of change within the impoverished community.
Another major observation I noticed was the skill involved in each low-end job she experienced. For example, the maid service required the ability to do tedious and repetitious jobs while maintaining healthy muscles and bones, which even a woman in shape couldn’t do without pills, and especially with how much food they received, the hydration given to the maids, and the restrictions put on their habits. The waitressing business requires standing and walking for long periods of time, as well as memory. The physical and mental strains put on low-wage workers is almost, if not more, draining than that of an upper-level job. Low-wage workers, even in the short stents done by Barbara, are put under tremendous tension, for very little pay in return. The Wal-Mart job, which was the best-paying, and still worst representative of its workers, keeping its workers under wraps while on duty, not only with their time taken on breaks, but their ability to unionize or to even speak freely about their opinions.
The government, although very helpful in aiding the lower class, still has leaps and bounds to go before they are fully capable of helping the impoverished. However, the cost in fully aiding the entire lower-class would be so outrageous the costs of the increased welfare would cause a skyrocket in the already huge national debt, as well as take funds from many other areas of spending as well, possibly ones such as education. It is a sad but apparent truth that as our country sees more and more forced to like 6 to a motel room, or a family of 3 sleeping in a car, we must begin to help them in ways other than just providing food stamps and the occasional welfare check. As Nate already mentioned, we must begin to let them unionize, to make their working conditions better, and to work themselves out of their predicament. The increase of the minimum wage would be an excellent way to begin, because an increase in salary would cause a world of change within the impoverished community.