"Nickel and Dimed"

[blistermoth]

Just finished reading "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. In the book, she goes undercover to work a series of minimum-wage jobs to see what life is like for the working class.

After reading it i'm so grateful for everything I have.

A kitchen to store and cook my food
Doors that lock
Health insurance
Paid time off (lots of it actually)
Cable TV
Internet access at home
Great friends to go to for advice if I were to lose my job
More books than I could ever hope to read

and much, much more.

Comments

[misslynn.livejournal.com]

isn't that an excellent book? i've made like 10 people read it. :) and it definitely makes me grateful for what i have.

[melyndaf.livejournal.com]

That is SUCH a wonderful book! I always cite it when people start bringing up how horrible people are who collect welfare and how they should just "get a job." Yeah, right! I can go on for hours about this topic...but I won't bore you :-)

However, do NOT read her latest book, the name of which I'm forgetting, about job searching. It's incredibly depressing.

[celticsuncat.livejournal.com]

It was good, but I found the condescending attitude towards her co-workers mildly alarming. It was this...I don't know...parent-like thing, or like 'well in my normal life I'm awesome, but right now I'm just slummin' it down here with y'all."

Which is not to say the point of the book is invalid. Damned valid and growing moreso every day.

[chaptal.livejournal.com]

Five years ago, my library gave away copies of that book to every staff member. Look what's happened now.

Her new book is even more bleak.

[lunasparrow.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. Working for a Union has taught me how much good we take for granted in our working conditions.

In Tsar Nikolai's Russia, people were working 11 hour days, 6 days a week and 10 hours on Sunday. No wonder they revolted.

I'm pretty grateful for what we have too.

[buckeye-hoosier.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me of a song by one of my favorite artists, Mr. Glen Phillips (appearing at Schuba's May 20-21):

i've got gardens growing
got quiet days
clothes on my back and
food on my plate

got friends to help me
if i call for them
well i don't need anything that i don't have

i've got eyes to see this beautiful land
feet to take me where i want to stand
if there's work to be done
there's these two strong hands

well i don't need anything that i don't have
i don't need anything that i don't have

and some years the rains don't come
some years floods clear out the plains
but if those waters wash this town away
i would still have enough
if she was with me

i've got a roof overhead, stars if i choose
but i've no need to fly, i've got no itch to move
i've got almost nothing, but i understand
that i don't need anything that i don't have
i don't need anything that i don't have