Living on Low Wages

As we talked about in class, the United States was founded based on the American dream that everyone is created equal and should be treated equally, and that all would be given more rights and chances to be able to gain a better life. But even though our country is based off of these values, then why are so many people are still jobless, struggling to pay debt and don't have the chance to get a better job with higher wages? Lots of people have low wage jobs because they cannot afford college or can't find any other jobs available. In the book Nickel and Dimed, Barbra works hard in low wage jobs to pay off the rent and often struggles with stress from the job and having enough for meals. Many of the other workers she gets to know can't even afford to go to college to get education to gain a better job. This shows how many opportunities for a better future are taken away when they can't afford to pay for the education for a higher wage job. Another problem caused by the bad economy is the higher taxes and less amount of jobs available to citizens. This has lead some people to be desperate for a job and taking any one they can find, even if it is a low wage job.

          All of these job issues can relate to the upcoming elections of Barrett or Walker for governor. In the election for governor, Walker wants to lower taxes, make the government smaller, and wishes to get rid of the estate tax on retirement income. Already in Green Bay he has made a five-page, six-point plan that he hopes will create 250,000 jobs in Wisconsin within his first term. Barrett wants to make tax cuts mainly on smaller businesses and outlined $1.1 billion cuts to reduce the next biennial budget. These changes which they want to make may help increase jobs as well as lower taxes for people in debt and help them earn more money for education. This will also help people with the education find available jobs. 

The american dream still lives

Their is no definite definition for the american dream. Many people have different ideas of what it is. As we discussed in class, the American dream was not actually attempted to be defined until 1931 by James Truslow Adams in his book called The Epic of America. He defines it as a new place with a better life where everyone was given a chance have a new life, where you are not defined by your class or status in your country, but by your acheivments and abilities. Also in the writing of what is and american which we annoteated the author describes europe as the place where they couldn't afford to live and did poorly, and that america was a place where they flourished and could earn a living. Today there are many countries with people that have this dream of someday making their country more free like America and being given the chance to use their abilities to raise their status and make a better living. In India , people are restricted and defined more so by what family they were born into. Also in China they have no freedom of religion and their is much cheap labor their making it hard to find a good job and have better living conditions. Afghanistan also has more rules concering religion and with the war going on their, they are often  in danger. There are some people making the effort to try to change these rules sothey can have more rights as in america, but it is difficult to bring change and an effort from the people. This is also can relate to my life because at the church where I go, they are having the missionaries speak this week about how they are doing their and some of the struggles they are going through in the country they are working with because of all the laws of that country. This shows that the American dream of a better life still lives on.  

History's Destruction and Solidification of Community

Events in history can be a major part of solidifying a community and helping it grow. They can be a destructive force as well and can weaken a community. One thing that goes on today which is weakening many communities is the bad economy and all the debt that the government is in. People are losing jobs and things are becoming more and more expensive. As the economy continues to get worse people are struggling to pay their own debts and it is becoming harder to support their community. Another event which occurred among the Puritans was the Salem witch trials. Innocent people were accused of witchcraft and hanged because they would not confess. Out of fear some accused others to protect themselves from accusation and being hanged. This tore much of the community apart and put distrust among the people. Relating to that, recently a commitee was accused by Beijing when they gave a Nobel peace prize to someone they thought worked hard to bring peace. Beijing accused them because they believed they did it to tear a hole in Chinese society and to benefit themselves. These people were falsely accused as some of the people in the Salem witch trails were. Also some historic events can be harmful as well as building to a community. For example the civil war brought many people down since so many lives were taken and weakened the government and society, but it strengthened them in realizing what war is and prepared them for future war. 9/11 caused much pain to the people that lost loved ones, but brought so many hurting people together and over time they strengthened each other through the sorrow. Though historic events can tear communities apart it can also solidify them.