Poor Credit Invisible in America Paperback
Poor Credit Invisible in America Paperback
The Working Poor examines the "forgotten America" where "millions
live in the shadow of prosperity, in the twilight between poverty and
well-being." These are citizens for whom the American Dream is out of
reach despite their willingness to work hard. Struggling to simply
survive, they live so close to the edge of poverty that a minor
obstacle, such as a car breakdown or a temporary illness, can lead to a
downward financial spiral that can prove impossible to reverse. David
Shipler interviewed many such working people for this book and his
profiles offer an intimate look at what it is like to be trapped in a
cycle of dead-end jobs without benefits or opportunities for
advancement. He shows how some negotiate a broken welfare system that is
designed to help yet often does not, while others proudly refuse any
sort of government assistance, even to their detriment. Still others
have no idea that help is available at all.
"As a culture, the
United States is not quite sure about the causes of poverty, and is
therefore uncertain about the solutions," he writes. Though he details
many ways in which current assistance programs could be more effective
and rational, he does not believe that government alone, nor any other
single variable, can solve the problem. Instead, a combination of things
are required, beginning with the political will needed to create a
relief system "that recognizes both the society's obligation through
government and business, and the individual's obligation through labor
and family." He does propose some specific steps in the right direction
such as altering the current wage structure, creating more vocational
programs (in both the public and private sectors), developing a fairer
way to distribute school funding, and implementing basic national health
care.
Prepare to have any preconceived notions about those living in poverty in America challenged by this affecting book. --
Shawn Carkonen
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Poor Credit Invisible in America Paperback