This film was really upsetting. I think as Americans we have this notion that if we work hard we will succeed and be able to live the "American Dream". Meaning that we will be successful and financially stable. Able to afford to live comfortably and have some of the nicer things in life. This is quite untrue as we can see throughout this film. Like for an example, the first lady we see that says that she has been at her job for 13 years and can barely afford to make ends meet. The only way that happens is if she puts in overtime, which clearly she relies on heavily. It also showed how her daughter has cancer and can't afford to get the treatment that gives her a better shot at living. It was truly heartbreaking to watch. The fact that these people can't even afford the cheapest housing they can find because of their low wage jobs is horrible. These are people who should be living the "American Dream" but how is that possible when technically they are following the guidelines and getting nowhere. They work hard everyday but can't get far in life because their low wage jobs barely make ends meet never mind ever being financially stable. Which adds so much stress to the lives of these people and does not allow for an easy life.
I think I related this film a lot to Kozol's article "Amazing Grace". In the article he talks to people in some of the poorest cities and how they also are low wage earners yet are not bad people like is stereotyped. I feel like when we think of people who struggle we generally assume it is because of some mistake they made in their life or because we think they are low lives and do not try. Well we see this is very wrong in both instances. We have Kozol's article following people who do what they can to make ends meet. These people are hard workers and work at low wage jobs. They are not bad people. He even talks about the people who have to go to the unaccredited hospitals and wait for days just to get treated. It is like the first ladies daughter in the film. If she was not in that situation and had the financially stability she might not be looking at death within a year. Other people who have her disease and get treated have a much better shot at living and how is that far just because she was not lucky enough to be put in the same situation as them.
It is just really sad to know that people are living like this in this country. People who are trying their very hardest and working their hardest and virtually getting nowhere because of these low wage jobs. The cost of living is higher than the money they earn at these jobs. They can never get ahead, never create a better life, and follow the "American Dream" because the 'American Dream" essentially does not exist. These people who are trying to work harder to chase this dream will not get to far and it is not because they are not doing it right because they are but if this country is only offering them these low wage jobs and no benefits and no way to get ahead then they will be in this position until the day they die. These stereotypes of these low wage workers are constant and yet people do not get an accurate idea of them whatsoever.
I was reading some articles online about low wage jobs in America and how they are fairing in the declining economy and I found this one interesting. It talks about low wage jobs of today and basically discussed the 'grim outlook' for them. These jobs are not leading anywhere. Not allowing for advancement within the company and not seeing an increase in wages anytime soon.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130324/BIZ/303240032/Survey-Low-wage-employees-report-grim-outlook
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