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Did anyone else see Frontline's followup? They've been following two formerly middleclass families, one black, one white, in Milwaukee for the past few decades. Both families had factory jobs that paid $14/hour in the 90s. Factories closed, jobs lost, etc. Fascinating series. Here's the link:
Did anyone else see Frontline's followup? They've been following two formerly middleclass families, one black, one white, in Milwaukee for the past few decades. Both families had factory jobs that paid $14/hour in the 90s. Factories closed, jobs lost, etc. Fascinating series. Here's the link:
As I mentioned in the thread above, I saw this play out in my neighborhood countless times growing up. Manufacturing was the backbone of the economy in Michigan, mostly due to the automobile industry. Ever since the big three started using strategies to reduce their need for labor, it started hitting the local market, and hard. Michigan got hit by the great recession the hardest, and they were the first to really feel it. Around 2006, we were already in recession. Guys who used to make +$20/hr in the shops and factories were applying for $11/hr jobs. Many lost their homes. Many left those professions entirely. I bought a lot of tools off a guy who sold his machine shop to start his own lawn care company. Said the profit margins were higher, the overhead was much lighter and the work was far less stress. Can't blame him.
Excellent documentary. I just watched the whole thing from your link. I've been blessed to have a high income and a spouse with excellent benefits, but Americans as a whole are just one paycheck, illness, or downsizing from these same problems.
I watched some of the documentary online as I had seen the thread in the other economics subforum here on C-D.
As I watched these people and felt really sorry for them, I had thought to myself, timing and job opportunities did not work out for them as it had for some others in the baby boom age bracket (and older). Sometimes we are in the wrong place at the wrong time and have no idea while all this change is going on until many years later. (job loss).
I know a lot of people like this who had the good paying manufacturing jobs and now, such decent paying jobs are long gone. Some people cannot easily switch jobs or careers and bounce back while they are middle-aged and tied with many family responsibilities, just many variables to think about.
I have some good friends in Michigan whose families (parents mostly) have gone through very similar trials and tribulations. Many of their old jobs there were tied into the auto industry and lost their jobs over time. Some never bounced back to find a decent-paying career unless they left the area completely to work elsewhere.
I watched some of the documentary online as I had seen the thread in the other economics subforum here on C-D.
As I watched these people and felt really sorry for them, I had thought to myself, timing and job opportunities did not work out for them as it had for some others in the baby boom age bracket (and older). Sometimes we are in the wrong place at the wrong time and have no idea while all this change is going on until many years later. (job loss).
I know a lot of people like this who had the good paying manufacturing jobs and now, such decent paying jobs are long gone. Some people cannot easily switch jobs or careers and bounce back while they are middle-aged and tied with many family responsibilities, just many variables to think about.
I have some good friends in Michigan whose families (parents mostly) have gone through very similar trials and tribulations. Many of their old jobs there were tied into the auto industry and lost their jobs over time. Some never bounced back to find a decent-paying career unless they left the area completely to work elsewhere.
Those well-paying manufacturing jobs ARE long gone and the ramifications of that impact us ALL, even if we weren't employed in that sector. Anytime the middle class take a huge hit like that - we all suffer to some extent. Those jobs - won't be returning either. They are gone for good.
I would like to see a documentary like this about the white collar unemployed or underemployed masses of former over-50 tech workers living in suburbia.
I kinda see the relatively brief period from the end of WWII to the period of the 70's energy crisis as the rare time when folks with generic factory jobs could make a decent living... The vast majority of human existence never afforded folks with no special skills, no drive / iniative a comfortable living.
From what I have seen the college educated technically skilled folks, who have contributed to succesful firms and not been too timid about leaving faltering employers have done quite well.
Don't misunderstand, I certsinly would not wish the fate of the families in the Frontline upon anyone, but the reality of having to be highly skilled and still take risks is part of what everyone should learn early in life.
Recently, I went on a binge watching several of these documentaries about the full time working poor, some of whom are homeless, and some of whom have college degrees.
I found that really the only thing that separates their situation and mine (or me being in their situation if bad luck struck) is that they have children ... usually multiple children, often several.
Being able to scrape by yourself with a very low paying job, although not a glamorous life is doable. But with children, it becomes a real life nightmare.
It really needs to be emphasized that if you are making $15/hr or less (just a random #), you should seriously reconsider having children, the same way you would reconsider financing a nice new car. If you never make more than that, then don't have kids.
I realize that's a rather harsh statement to advise someone not to have children based on their income, but I think, a sensible one.
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