Nickel and Dimed

This book has given us much insight to what we don't take the time to think about.  Many of us discussed after reading the first chapter, that we "couldn't believe" these types of wages existed for these types of jobs that Barbara Ehrenreich was taking on.  We "couldn't believe" that there is an everyday struggle to afford to live, not just for those who are homeless, but for those who actually have a job.  It doesn't seem right, that there are many people who fall in this category that Barbara put herself in.  The category of a working class of people who maintain a small living with not much left in their pocket.  

One thing that I would like to point out, that maybe some of you haven't realized, was that this truly was a courageous experiment.  It was something that Barbara took on that would be very hard for many of us to do.  We "couldn't believe" that she worked as a maid, housekeeper, waitress, and did many of those types of grimy jobs, where you work with your hands and it's as physical of a job as it gets.  Not to mention, the very low pay that you get.  But the point that I want to make is that even though we couldn't picture ourselves doing this type of experiment, when it's all said and done, it is an experiment.  She was able to go home.  The people that she met along the way are still living their lives in the same way and are struggling to get by.  The things that we "couldn't believe" are most peoples reality's that they can't just so easily get away from.  They fight to survive, to have a place and to have food to eat.  

The Wal-Mart chapter was eye-opening because I started to remember how many times I grew up going to Wal-Mart and putting things away in the wrong places, or leaving clothes unfolded. Someone's job was to clean after me, as well as many others.  I posted a link to the recent wal-mart results.  Most of these articles show Wal-Mart in the limelight, with talks about their recent sales.  I also posted a link for Wal-Marts law suits and how many people have had to fight to get what they were cheated, through a legal matter.     

Lizette Gomez