I didn't know what else to call this thread, and since it is a continuation of the first one, I decided to give it a Part 2.
Even though the unemployment rate may be going down in the U.S., and the economy is supposedly turning around, things are still tough for many people. HuffPo ran several profiles on the working poor - people who work full time but barely make ends meet.
More Than 1 In 10 Americans Who Work Full Time Are Still Poor
'I May Die Broke. I May Get More Poor. I May Turn Around And Get Money Again. I Just Don't Know.'
What is so irritating is that in the comments section, it is appalling to see the lack of empathy some people have. Some are like, "oh big deal, the average poor American is wealthier than someone in Bangladesh". Other are saying, "they shouldn't have worked in that field or made bad money decisions. That's what they get."
Yes, this is only the comments section, but it is also what many Americans believe. It is upsetting to see many think that just because someone made unwise professional and/or financial decisions, they deserve to struggle. Even if they worked in a field that did well before 2008, there are still so many chiding them. Why should making mistakes mean paying for it with your health and sanity? It's not like they committed crimes or did anything illegal. They made mistakes, and there are plenty who admit they caused their own problems. Why should they suffer like this? They'd love to get off food stamps and get a better salary, so they're obviously not "lazy welfare bums" many think everyone on welfare is.
Rant over. For now.
Even though the unemployment rate may be going down in the U.S., and the economy is supposedly turning around, things are still tough for many people. HuffPo ran several profiles on the working poor - people who work full time but barely make ends meet.
A good job may be hard to find in this tepid recovery, but low-wage work still abounds. Whether it's washing dishes, serving Big Macs or folding sweaters for a store display, low-paying jobs have been added to the American economy at a fairly brisk clip since the recession ended in 2009. Middle- and high-paying jobs, not so much.
By one estimate, one in four private-sector jobs in the U.S. now pays less than $10 per hour, well below a living wage in many areas of the country. Compared to better-paying positions, these jobs are also more likely to come without regular schedules or benefits, like health care coverage, paid vacation time or sick leave -- the basic trappings of middle-class work. In other words, employment doesn't guarantee a life above the poverty line; according to census data, more than one in 10 Americans who work full-time are still poor.
They eat what they can afford, rather than what they want. Some avoid going to the doctor, even when they're gravely ill. Others turn off the hot water in their homes and wear clothes given to them by friends.
More Than 1 In 10 Americans Who Work Full Time Are Still Poor
'I May Die Broke. I May Get More Poor. I May Turn Around And Get Money Again. I Just Don't Know.'
What is so irritating is that in the comments section, it is appalling to see the lack of empathy some people have. Some are like, "oh big deal, the average poor American is wealthier than someone in Bangladesh". Other are saying, "they shouldn't have worked in that field or made bad money decisions. That's what they get."
Yes, this is only the comments section, but it is also what many Americans believe. It is upsetting to see many think that just because someone made unwise professional and/or financial decisions, they deserve to struggle. Even if they worked in a field that did well before 2008, there are still so many chiding them. Why should making mistakes mean paying for it with your health and sanity? It's not like they committed crimes or did anything illegal. They made mistakes, and there are plenty who admit they caused their own problems. Why should they suffer like this? They'd love to get off food stamps and get a better salary, so they're obviously not "lazy welfare bums" many think everyone on welfare is.
Rant over. For now.