DePena-IDS804-Response to questions of weeks 3 and 4 discussion

Thank- you for your email and thank- you for putting the face of poverty a name and a real life
story.
What are the solutions besides government intervention and friends/family in a situation like
this?
What if they had savings?
Could it happen to them again? Could it happen to any of us?
Dr. Shipper

Dr. Shipper,
While not impossible, it is axiomatic to say that it is extremely difficult to come out of poverty,
particularly in the case of my dear friends, who happen to be Hispanic. As a matter of fact,
Zweig argues that poverty is not evenly distributed across the working class; it is relatively
concentrated among blacks and Hispanics, and among women. (90).
If they had savings, they could have maybe opened up a little business (maybe a small restaurant
as they both are excellent cooks!). With no savings, another potential source of income could
have been for Laura to try to get a job somewhere, probably part-time due to the overabundant
supply of workers everywhere back in 2009; however, I can arguably say that a big chunk of her
earnings would probably had gone for childcare. Because of that, leaving welfare and Medicaid
for a low-paying job with no medical benefits, is hardly a rational economic choice. (Zweig 93)
Lastly, that situation could actually happen again if they dont make better preparations for the
future. The other day I chatted with Frankie and he said that now that their daughter is going to
school, Laura will be looking for a full time job with benefits; with the extra income they will
be focusing in paying debt, and maybe investing a little in the stock market. Could my friends'
situation happen to any of us? Absolutely! Particularly to those of us in the working class,
regardless of race and ethnicity. Its a matter of being prepared if another economic bubble
bursts.
Works Cited:
Zweig, Michael. The Working Class Majority: Americas Best Kept Secret. 2nd ed. Ithaca: IRL,
2012. Print.