Most people don't even understand that what they're doing is exploiting people just like her. First of all, _SHE_ was considering taking a $7.00/hr job. _She_ doesn't reckon she's that much different from the people who might be taking temporary jobs at $7.00/hr. Her husband makes how much as a librarian assistant and has a part time job at what was it $5.45.
As for spending to much money, give me a fuckin' break. I figure it takes me a bare minimum of $1500/month to live and that's with absolutely nothing -- no fast food quickies, no meals out, no meat that costs more than $2/lb., no expensive fresh fruits and vegetables, no savings, no health care. That's for _two_ people. Her rent, if she has a house is probably, easy, %1500/month in Miami.
As for the used car, I was getting my battery replaced in October. I cringed and told the guy that I didn't want to put any more money into the thing, I'd been planning on getting more reliable transportation so I could get a better job. We talked about how much I spent on the thing per year since I bought it in 1997 and we figured out that I hadn't saved that much money running "the beast" into the ground.
Yeah, they could probably live on less. They could probably scrimp and save and pinch every freakin' penny. But, really, what's the point? The woman is right: it _was_ easier to afford a home years ago, you _could_ also count on fairly stable jobs, etc. etc.
Kelley
"We live under the Confederacy. We're a podunk bunch of swaggering pious hicks."
--Bruce Sterling