Desiree's Book Discussion

Desiree Utz
11/17/2015
Discussion 2
FCS 4840

I really have grown to love the tone of The American Way of Poverty, the author does a good job of illustrating the changes that our nation has made to safety nets throughout U.S. history. The book uses extensive forms of data to make it easier for the reader to relate too. Abramsky really strips down to the core information and allows you to see the sad truth that millions of Americans face each year. Throughout this read I was shocked by the data I read, for instance, page 127 “In the late 70s, there used to be a bumper sticker: ‘Last one out of Michigan, turn out the lights.’” (Abramsky, 2013) This really hit me because it seems like the bumper sticker was a little of a joke when really this is a terribly sad event. These people were losing their jobs, homes, and communities. They were completely uprooting because there was no glimpse of hope in their near future. It makes you wonder about the endurance and strength the people who stayed in Detroit must have. Over 40 square miles of the city was abandoned and still people tried to remain loyal to their homes. Whereas, outsiders observed the empty buildings as though they were ancient ruins. That is left of these building is the said story of what once was. It makes you wonder why American didn’t plan for the shift in the labor force and prepare citizens with adequate ways to transition. Another thing that really just seemed ridiculous was on page 145 where Abramsky talks about how New York City made programs to help homeless people receive housing but by making their applications too difficult very few people actually benefit from this program. That being said in these areas more people are turning to shelters and it cost the state more money to run the shelter than to help people in the program. “Instead of paying $800 per person in rent subsidies, it runs an emergency shelter system that can cost up to $25,000 per year per resident.” We can see history repeating itself by not serving the needs of the majority, we having a lot of people living housing cost burdened and even homeless and the government act like it is not a problem. This book makes me extremely frustrated at times because you want someone to listen to the evidence Abramsky has found and wake them up to the reality that people are still struggling in a 1^st world, capitalist economy. The question I would pose to my classmates would be: How do you think you could incorporate Abramsky’s writings into the FCS profession, how will you share this new knowledge?