A review by jenergizer
The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler

4.0

This book made me feel uncomfortable, which is probably partly the point. The poverty line is a tough one to cross, particularly in a country that isn't really interested in helping people get up and out of a welfare state. Too often, it's easy to say "they just need to work harder", or "stop buying iPhones or cable (or insert other "luxury" here)". It's not as simple as not having cable. A single mother has a job, and her kids are in child care. One day, the car won't start after work. The kids are picked up late because Mom had to take the bus. There's a bill for the late child care, AND a bill for the car. Those kind of expenses have a ripple effect on the financial situation of people on the poverty line.

I remember well the days when I had less than $20 in my bank account, gas was almost $5/gallon, and I drove a car with poor gas mileage. Every week I'd wonder if I could get to work (bus service to my job was limited, complicated, and would have taken 2-3 hours). Carpooling with a coworker helped relieve my burden, but I often lived on basic food with little to no nutritional value to save a few bucks. Housing was 60% of my income and my credit card debt was through the roof.

I can't help but wonder if there will ever be a good solution to the issue.... it's not promising in this political climate!