Nickel and Dimed
Introduction and chapter 1 review

So first of all I’d like to say that so far I really enjoyed this book and I think that it is well written and gives an interesting point of view to those who might not know what it’s like to live on the poverty line. The idea of making this book was proposed to the author by a magazine editor while they were at lunch. They discussed the idea of what life is like for people who have to live paycheck by paycheck on the poverty line. So they decided that she herself would conduct an experiment where she would assume the role of a person who lives a day to day life in this lower class. She had to find a job without using any of her prior resources (college education, writer,) and work that job to pay for a place to live, food, and other essentials. Then when the experiment was finished she would use the research and facts that she had gathered along the way and write an article and later this book. She starts her experiment by getting a place to live. She finds a place not far from where she actually resided in Key West, Florida. It is in an old run down trailer park but it is the best she can do because she will be working a low wage job that will require her to live in a less than average home because that’s all she will be able to afford. Next she goes on a job search. She looks at many different places including restaurants, hotels, various cleaning jobs and other small occupations. After looking through 23 different possible occupations she finds one that will be able to support her financial needs in a small restaurant in a hotel. She is hired as a waitress to bus tables and take orders. The job doesn’t pay a lot but it is just enough to get by on. While working this job she observes others around her like her co-workers and the customers. No one shows any signs of knowing that she is actually an accomplished writer and college graduate. They just see her as another lower class woman trying to earn her paycheck. She goes into detail about her father and her family’s employment history. Her father was a miner who worked in the mines for most of his life to provide for his family. And how she had down more with her life in graduating from college and working a successful higher paying job. This is a great example of social mobility because it shows that she broke the mold of herself of being a working class person and went out and did more with her life.

Does Race Really Matter

Does Race Really Matter?
By: Michael A. Cohen
New York Times
So far in this heated battle of a presidential election. Most polls heavily favor democratic candidate Barack Obama. But as we see Senator Obama keep rising the question many people are asking themselves is “What about the race factor?” Many people believe that we as Americans are not ready to put an African-American man in the white house just yet. It is true that we have came a very long way when it comes to race and prejudice. But we aren’t where we need to be yet. Recent polls say that 56 percent of voter’s wont vote for Obama based on his ethnicity. It is no secret that race will play a huge role in the 2008 election. But what we aren’t realizing is that this doesn’t necessary mean bad news for Obama. Actually this might be the defining factor in his road to the white house. With Obama being the first African-American presidential candidate with a legitiment chance of winning, He is most likely going to get the highest rate of minority voters in election history. 95% of black voters side with Obama. And African-Americans do make up over 1/3 of the population now. So even if Obama does lose votes do to his race, he will most likely make up for them and more because of his race.

Palin's Words Carry Racial Tinge

Palin's Words Carry Racial Tinge
By Douglas K. Daniel-Associated press

Recently in Republican Sarah Palins speech in Englewood, Colorado, She attacked Senator Barack Obama’s “supposed” ties with terrorists and in her opinion his lack of love for his country. Governer Palin said “ Senator Obama doesn’t see the U.S like other people”. Yet another attempt by the Republican party to try and scare people away from Obama. Although Palin’s attack got a positive response from the crowd (Republicans). She didn’t realize the racially tinged message she was attaching to herself and Senator McCain. Palin was also quoted with saying that “Obama sees this country as imperfect. So imperfect that he is palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.” In my opinion even with all the slander and propoganda this election has provided this is the worst I have heard to date. Accusing your opponent of palling around with terrorists? Really? This is just a little much. Palin has been questioning Obama’s patriotism ever since she was put on the ticket. She has said numerous times that he doesn’t look at America like other people do. She has been trying to spread the message that Obama looks down on this country to much. She says she doesn’t see America in that way. She sees it as a force of good in this world. She sees an America of exceptionalism. I don’t know where she has been the past eight years but this country has been operating on anything but an exceptional platform. I think governer Palin needs a long over due reality check. She has been taking on Obama on all sorts of issues and I feel she is in way over her head. But in the long run of this election we will see if statements like Palin’s make or break the Republican partys chance at the presidency.

About Me

Hey My Name is Seth. This is my first blog so im not sure how this is gonna work. Im a pretty open and laid back person. And im easy to get along with so i hope this works out good.