Good article

[velvetpage]

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/43778/

Excerpt: "I wrote this book because I love this country, and I think America is a gift. Its greatest gift is this: people have come here from all over the world, and all they expected to do was work hard. And what they hoped was that their work would be rewarded. What they dreamed about was that their kids were going to do better than they were. That was the American Dream. And despite a civil war, two world wars, recessions, depressions, the American Dream has survived. Until now."

Comments

[merlyn4401.livejournal.com]

Yes, but one big difference between paying for services and paying for goods is that most services ARE a luxury. I don't know prices in other areas of the country, but my cable, internet, and cell add up to around $200 a month. That can buy groceries (GOOD groceries, not junk) for my family of five for a week and a half, or buy good quality shoes for my three kids plus a pair of pants apiece. And that $200 goes out every month. If I were pinching pennies to make ends meet, I'd rather give up my cable, internet, and call, and actually feed and clothe my family.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Yes, you CAN do that. But luxuries are tempting. I was pointing out that this has been true for about 80 years.