Welcome to the Blog Section! This contains two selected blog entries from LKConnelly.wordpress.com! ENJOY!
The Working Poor #4
Posted on October 29, 2010 by lkconnelly
Recently I felt more connected to the book I’ve been reading for book club. My father is just finishing up the tail end of his chemotherapy for esophageal cancer and during his duration in the hospital my brother was in charge of the family finances. My dad was heavily drugged from his operation to remove the cancer and when asked about bills, loans, financial aid for school, etc. he gave direction that was not the best. We ended up getting scammed by a debt relief company and recently we filed for bankruptcy to protect ourselves from companies suing us for money to pay off debt (money we don’t have). Now I find myself angry when my parents go out to eat, when they buy more expensive bottles of olive oil, pay cable bills for channels we don’t watch, and are part of a cheap wine club. We are no better than the people in this book and looking back at my other blogs I feel like we need to make the appropriate changes to our lifestyle because that is the mature thing to do, not try to hide it by buying things we can’t afford.
Recently I felt more connected to the book I’ve been reading for book club. My father is just finishing up the tail end of his chemotherapy for esophageal cancer and during his duration in the hospital my brother was in charge of the family finances. My dad was heavily drugged from his operation to remove the cancer and when asked about bills, loans, financial aid for school, etc. he gave direction that was not the best. We ended up getting scammed by a debt relief company and recently we filed for bankruptcy to protect ourselves from companies suing us for money to pay off debt (money we don’t have). Now I find myself angry when my parents go out to eat, when they buy more expensive bottles of olive oil, pay cable bills for channels we don’t watch, and are part of a cheap wine club. We are no better than the people in this book and looking back at my other blogs I feel like we need to make the appropriate changes to our lifestyle because that is the mature thing to do, not try to hide it by buying things we can’t afford.
Working Poor #2
Posted on October 1, 2010 by lkconnelly
The Working Poor book for book club continues to surprise me. In my readings for book club this week left me angry and not feeling much sympathy for the poor. One case in particular I found to be ridiculous was that of the couple Sarah and Willie, who have since divorced. They barely have enough money to raise their four children (of three different fathers including Willie) yet they spend frivolously and let their children run around in diapers. The parents are children themselves not being much out of their teens and go to clubs and drink, and often get into physical disputes. The extra money they received from taxes went to Sarah and Willie’s tattoos. The children have behavioral problems stemming from the parents own problems with anger, instability, and inconsistencies. The section that infuriated me involved Cody (3), Kayla, and a baby of Sarah and Willie; “Sarah asleep…Kayla, at eighteen months, chewing on a cigarette and putting a Bic lighter in her mouth. She played in the dirty toilet while Cody pulled his chair up to the stove with the burners lit. [The author] saw Kayla hit the baby in the face with a sneaker and pick up a plastic bench, ready to slam it onto the baby’s head” (35). The children even at 3 years old still wear only diapers with no money for proper clothing. They are served Lunchables and other expensive junk foods. This is just one example of a family and there are so many living in America. It’s horrible to know that this is happening especially with innocent children involved. People need to start taking responsibility with their money and their lives, and should think twice before bringing children into an unstable life.
The Working Poor book for book club continues to surprise me. In my readings for book club this week left me angry and not feeling much sympathy for the poor. One case in particular I found to be ridiculous was that of the couple Sarah and Willie, who have since divorced. They barely have enough money to raise their four children (of three different fathers including Willie) yet they spend frivolously and let their children run around in diapers. The parents are children themselves not being much out of their teens and go to clubs and drink, and often get into physical disputes. The extra money they received from taxes went to Sarah and Willie’s tattoos. The children have behavioral problems stemming from the parents own problems with anger, instability, and inconsistencies. The section that infuriated me involved Cody (3), Kayla, and a baby of Sarah and Willie; “Sarah asleep…Kayla, at eighteen months, chewing on a cigarette and putting a Bic lighter in her mouth. She played in the dirty toilet while Cody pulled his chair up to the stove with the burners lit. [The author] saw Kayla hit the baby in the face with a sneaker and pick up a plastic bench, ready to slam it onto the baby’s head” (35). The children even at 3 years old still wear only diapers with no money for proper clothing. They are served Lunchables and other expensive junk foods. This is just one example of a family and there are so many living in America. It’s horrible to know that this is happening especially with innocent children involved. People need to start taking responsibility with their money and their lives, and should think twice before bringing children into an unstable life.
