Life of the Poor in the US according to Nicket And Dimed - Essay Example

Task: Life of the poor in the US according to “Nicket and Dimed” United s is considered as one of the most powerful nations in the entire globe. Some people on hearing the term “powerful” undoubtedly associate the US with a nation where economy is well and favorable to every citizen. However, under normal circumstances there can never be an ideal situation where every individual is well conversant and comfortable economically. In other words, there are several people in the great nation who are languishing in abject poverty due to the undesirable economic doldrums in their various states. Life and plight of such individuals has been depicted in several literary books and articles with a view of informing the entire nation and the world, at large, about the unlucky population in the United States. One of these books is Ehrenreich’s “Nicket and Dimed”. The book has its settings in Florida, Maine and Minnesota (Ehrenreich 38). People normally work to get money and make their lives better. However, what most of the workers in Florida experience is opposite, or contrary to what a reasonable person would think of. Most of the people in this area work hard but poverty still remain the greatest challenge to their existence and lives. Most of the workers strive to do their best but they do not achieve their target of affording a good lifestyle. The same is experienced by workers in Twin Cities in Minnesota and Maine. Another contradicting issue on the poverty life among people in these regions is that the demand for labor in most industries and companies is high, but the wages are very low and there are no increments. This is against the normal law of economics whereby an increase in demand naturally leads to an increase in the price of the product, or labor in this case. In addition to the above, the workers work tirelessly under these low wage rates. It is uncommon to find people commit themselves working on a peanut pay. Ehrenreich says that she grew with a belief that the secret of success was hard work and nothing else (E-notes.com). What she experiences in the mentioned areas makes her doubts her beliefs and the childhood teachings. ‘Hard work’ was the secret of success: ‘Work hard and you’ll get ahead’ or ‘It’s hard work that got us where we are (Chazelle & Chainani)”. She remembers this, through flashback, and believes that it is only through hard work that she will achieve her life dreams and consequentially succeed in his plans. The reality that unveils the low-wage workplace is like a mockery to her (E-notes.com). She does not believe it and she wonders what might be happening in her nation. Her notion of relating hard work to good life and success slowly fades. According to Ehrenreich, poverty among the Americans should be blamed on the noble or the employers who pay low wages. The tone he uses in the book is an indicator of how he views the employees. She is not startled by the attitude of the low wage workers in the US. Nevertheless, it is not rational to put all the blames on the employers or the rich fellows in these regions where workers are in pathetic work situation with a lot of mistreatments. Some of the low wage workers are very submissive to their employers and are not willing to show any form of being inquisitive about their conditions and earning. Most of them fear losing their jobs if they question the employers. Holly, a low wage worker is willing to go to work even when unwell and apologizes to the employer, Ted. Her desperation drives her into excess submission to her employers. This gives the opportunistic employers a chance for maximum exploitation of their employees. As an employee, one should have confidence in herself in order to gain maximum respect from the employer. Desperation lowers an individual’s self –esteem and impacts fear in him or her. Low self-esteem gives the employers chance to impose unfavorable work conditions and strict grueling rules that makes the lives of the many low wage workers miserable. In the book, Ehrenreich talks of the high amount of expenses in terms of rents and the cost of food and other necessities. She also talks of the costly application process of the low paying jobs. Albeit all these poor living standards, the workers are still blindly determined and work harder with hope that one day the wage rate will shoot. Moreover, for one to get a rental house there has to be a security deposit which is equally high (Chazelle & Chainani). Most of the workers can not afford this and they are left with one option of hiring hotels. Hiring hotels, like in Maine, costs $59 per night amounting to more than $ 300 per week. The wage rate of most workers in the same place is less than $10 per hour, mostly ranging from $4-$6 per hour (Chazelle & Chainani). Logically reasoning, the amount of hiring hotel at $59 is very high and for those who did it, they paid all their daily income leaving them with nothing to eat (Chancer 89). The employers, on the other hand, use this opportunity; at the same time oppress the poor individuals by paying them minimum wages that they could only spend for a day. This is to ensure that they return to work the following day in order to survive. This is a representation of a negative prudence by the employers. Psychologically, they think the employees are dumb and cannot complain. Most of the employees in various companies are not allowed time to rest. They are on their feet throughout the day handling and performing different tasks in the organization. Hearthside is a typical example of a workplace where the workers never had time to rest. Stu, the Assistant manger of the place is a dictator whose primary job is to ensure that the employees are always on their toes working. He does this even when there are no customers in restaurant. To summarize, most of these employees are the cause of all their sufferings (Bookrags.com). Their exposed naivety and desperation makes them vulnerable to the totalitarian managers. An individual can only be respected if he or she respects himself or herself. The employers can only respect those who respect themselves and do not show their desperation. Most of the employees are ignorant about their rights. The law in Minnesota, for instance, underscores on family medical leave, whistle-blowing, sexual harassment, character defamation, and age discrimination (Bookrags.com). All these are present in the constitution yet most the low workplace employees face several related problems that can easily be solved through proper channels legal channel. The constitution regards them as employees, and thus provides for their rights. When Ehrenreich applies for a job at Wal-Mart, Roberta a sixty-year old employee interviews her and informs her that she has not met all the procedures, especially the drug test. Roberta insists on drug test due to the recent chemical indiscretion in the state (Chancer 87). Ehrenreich, a woman who is over 40 years is doubted and accused of doing drugs. This is uncommon in very many areas. She says, “If it weren’t for the drug test, I might have stopped looking right then and there, but there has been a chemical indiscretion in recent weeks and I’m not at all sure I can pass…my indiscretion involved the only drug usually detected by testing, marijuana” (Chazelle & Chainani). In this case, Ehrenreich confesses his habit of taking marijuana. It is not reasonable doing a drug test on an applicant of her age. She used to do the drug but stopped. However, Roberta insists on the test which Ehrenreich doubts if she will pass. In other words, Roberta’s intention is to disqualify her from the job. The job application process is also long and cumbersome involving interviews, drug tests, and a long waiting time (Ely & Scully 300). Although this represents some form of sense as far as organization rules and regulations are concerned, the main intention why the manager insisted on the issue of drug test was to simply disqualify her. This is against the law which guarantees equal opportunity to all employees and applicants. The employees lack union among themselves. It only through a well organized union that the employees can use to fight for their rights. It is very strange for an employee to witness his or her colleague being mistreated and keeps quiet. The US is a nation known for very many informed civil activists. It is strange that these workers do not show any signs of dissatisfaction (Ely & Scully 299). They never show any solidarity with an aim of solving their problems. Ehrenreich is startled by the attitudes of the poor low wage workers in the US. Colleen, a single mother and a maid, shrugs off the workplace arguments. She says, “I don’t mind, really, because I guess I am a simple person, and I don’t want what they have. I mean it is nothing to me...and still be able to buy groceries the next day” (Chazelle & Chainani). Colleen does not show any anger or propensity for rebellion. There is no spirit of revolution and solidarity to battle against this oppression. The wages are very demeaning, but the workers are not willing to question their employers on this. They have not shown any form of struggle, as a group to eliminate the problem. The book “Nicket and Dimed” is allegorical in nature representing the today’s American society. Most of the workers in the US are faced by a hard task of maintaining their normal leaving standards due to high economic meltdown. There are jobs, but the cost of living is much higher than the income. Rationally reasoning, the employees are the ones to blame, in this case, an employer will only pay what an employee asks for (Ehrenreich 38). Employers cannot do the jobs themselves; therefore with unity and boldness the oppressed low paid workers can air their grievances successfully. The issue has to be solved; otherwise the economy will deteriorate further. Work Cited Chazelle, Damien & Chainani, Soman ed. “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America Themes”. GradeSaver, 28 July 2009. Web. 22 February 2012. Ely, Robin & Scully, Maureen & Foldy, Erica. Reader in gender, work, and organization. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003. Print. Chancer, Lynn. Gender, Race, and class: an overview. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006. Print. E-notes.com. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) getting by in America: Introduction. May, 26 2009. Web. February, 22 2012. Booksrags. Com. Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America Summary & Study Guide Description. Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. New York, NY: Henry Holt & Co, 2008. Print. Read More