Barbara Ehrenreich wrote Nickel and Dimed in 2001—eight years ago—before the recession kicked in, at a time when we were more focused on terrorists and safety. Back then her book was relevant, but with the recession in full effect, we now have a better understanding of what she was talking about. For us, in various socioeconomic classes, the recession could have translated to no air conditioning during the summer, or having to sell a car; nevertheless, the effects of the recession were present. Thankfully I had a job this summer, so I didn't have to stay home with the air conditioner off, but my job was an unpaid internship. I worked at the Public Advocate’s Office in New York City, and my job title was ombudsman—an official appointed to investigate individuals’ (constituents’) complaints against maladministration. (Oxford American Dictionary)
The office I worked in is second to the mayor’s, so we hold a lot of power but aren’t very well known. We handle all of the complaints that New Yorkers have about city, state or federal agencies. After a complaint comes in, we categorize it and speak to the constituent to figure out the heart of the issue. Often people complain about trains being late or buses smelling bad—small things. Other people call about terrible management in their apartment building or violence in the projects. After we extract the issue, we find the corresponding agency—Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Health, the New York Police Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for example. We send letters to the agencies regarding the complaint, wait for a response from them, and then inform the constituent of the decision. Once all of that is done, you have closed a case. This summer I closed 72 cases, some more extensive than others.
I got this job through a program called the Public Policy Internship Program. A requirement of the program was a project on a public policy issue, and the public policy issue I focused on was minimum wage. While doing research, I found an article in the New York Times written by Barbara Ehrenreich on June 14, 2009. The article began:
The human side of the recession, in the new media genre that’s been called “recession porn,” is the story of an incremental descent from excess to frugality, from ease to austerity… In some accounts, the recession is even described as the “great leveler,” smudging the dizzying levels of inequality that characterized the last couple of decades and squeezing everyone into a single great class, the Nouveau Poor.
In her article, Ms. Ehrenreich follows up with some of the people in her book. The lady she worked with at Wal-Mart got a raise. After working there for nine years she moved up from $7 to $10. A whole $3. Some of you probably worked this summer and know what it feels like when you make $10 an hour and spend it shopping or on video games that weekend; however that amount of money is what some people have to survive on. In my project I talked about the difference between living wage and minimum wage. Minimum wage is based off the basic needs model, which usually measures a minimum level of consumption, without regard for the source of the income. Living wage is generally characterized as what a person working forty hours a week, with no additional income, should be able to afford in specified quality or quantity of housing, food, utilities, transportation, health care and recreation. Those six aspects are what break down the $10 an hour the working poor make. How many of you have been left by your friends? You say, “Hey, I'm going to the bathroom,” and no one really hears you or they all forget, and you walk back into the Student Center and they're gone. That walk of shame from the Student Center to Forbes Dining Hall is tough. Not many people will notice that your friends left you, but you still feel it. In Ms. Ehrenreich's article she quotes a man who is a part of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy in Los Angeles. He says:
The already poor—the undocumented immigrants, the sweatshop workers, the janitors, the maids and security guards—had all but disappeared from both the news media and public policy discussions.
They were forgotten. And those people who were forgotten were the same ones calling me with complaints and pleading for help. My supervisor told me not to get attached with any cases because it can be hard when the agency’s response is not in favor of the constituent. Alas, she told me this a couple of weeks into my internship. After speaking with a woman for two minutes about her situation, she started crying. She had no money to afford what needed to be fixed, her kids were suffering, and they didn’t have a lot of food. I spent 45 minutes on the phone with her trying to keep her calm and trying to think rationally. But there are just cases that get to you. I felt terrible for the rest of the day because I had no idea how the agency would respond to her situation. I realized, however, that sometimes people just want to be heard. She only wanted me to listen to her story, and to help if I could.
After reading Ms. Ehrenreich’s book, reading her article, doing my project, and finishing the internship, I became a little more appreciative. I didn't mind that the air conditioning was off, because I knew that I spoke to someone that day without one. I wasn't upset that the Cinnamon Toast Crunch was finished, because I knew that there was someone who probably couldn't afford milk. Now it’s easier for me to see the value of each nickel and dime, and I'm glad I read this book.
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