Two American Families

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2350 is lying.

Sadly, I'm not. This count was made up of dh's sister, uncle and three first cousins and my second cousin.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting. Watching now.

[Anonymous]

How awful. They are good, hard working families struggling to survive. Agree that a key thing would have been to go to college, moved out of Milwaukee and started a family later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How awful. They are good, hard working families struggling to survive. Agree that a key thing would have been to go to college, moved out of Milwaukee and started a family later.

Bravo. You have it all figured out. We should award you with a prize for solving the crisis in America.

[Anonymous]

whether or not people should have gotten better educated, had kids later or sold a house before they were too deep in debt is really a moot point. Fact is, we have LOTS of families like this in the country, and it is getting worse. The number of people without college degrees having kids out of wedlock is growing (wasn't that a post a few weeks back?) and we've got to figure out how best to deal with this. Telling kids "well, your parents just shouldn't have had you" is NOT helpful.

[Anonymous]

Glad PBS did this, although it will cause them even more trouble on the hill. And for the PP questioning those cheating the system, what about all of the CEOs making tens and hundreds of millions a year, how is that not cheating the system? What kind of system do we have that allows that - one put into place by millionaires? And how many millions are cheated away by corporate graft, non-compliance with regulations, etc.?

So sad.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for mentioning this, OP. It just really makes me realize how all the lofty rhetoric we hear from politicians around here (both sides of the aisle) means very little when you're struggling from day to day to pay rent/mortgage, stay healthy and put food on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:whether or not people should have gotten better educated, had kids later or sold a house before they were too deep in debt is really a moot point. Fact is, we have LOTS of families like this in the country, and it is getting worse. The number of people without college degrees having kids out of wedlock is growing (wasn't that a post a few weeks back?) and we've got to figure out how best to deal with this. Telling kids "well, your parents just shouldn't have had you" is NOT helpful.

But finding ways to make people understand the negative consequences of having kids before they are ready is helpful. We need to put more $$/thought/resources into getting kids/teens/young adults to decrease sexual activity and increase contraception.

[Anonymous]

Very depressing. Don't know what the answer is, other than push education as much as possible--but once they've had children, quit school at 17, and can't find jobs, then what? They'll likely never climb out of that hole, and their kids are stuck, too . . .what can be done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:whether or not people should have gotten better educated, had kids later or sold a house before they were too deep in debt is really a moot point. Fact is, we have LOTS of families like this in the country, and it is getting worse. The number of people without college degrees having kids out of wedlock is growing (wasn't that a post a few weeks back?) and we've got to figure out how best to deal with this. Telling kids "well, your parents just shouldn't have had you" is NOT helpful.

But finding ways to make people understand the negative consequences of having kids before they are ready is helpful. We need to put more $$/thought/resources into getting kids/teens/young adults to decrease sexual activity and increase contraception.

Different poster here. Look, you're really misunderstanding the point of this documentary. These are families who would have been just fine if there hadn't been a change in the structure of the economy. They all want to work and support their families but the jobs that used to be there to support families have disappeared. What is tragic is this discussion about whether people did the right thing or not and whether they deserved any help. They wouldn't have needed help if those jobs hadn't disappeared. Just like if my industry disappeared in the next five years, I'd be in trouble too.

Yes, it would be good if people put off having kids. I agree. But try grasping first that these families are in trouble because the economy changed not because they were promiscuous.

Gack - I'm the earlier poster who used the early documentary for classes back in the 90s. I saw the film so many times I can anticipate the dialogue. I'm finally getting around to watching this and I'm still in the beginning part and remember how it went and I just dread what is coming next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very depressing. Don't know what the answer is, other than push education as much as possible--but once they've had children, quit school at 17, and can't find jobs, then what? They'll likely never climb out of that hole, and their kids are stuck, too . . .what can be done?

Now the new hole is graduating with massive debt, being underemployed or unemployed, forgoing or delaying starting families, being unable to buy a house, etc. These new grads are stuck, too.

[Anonymous]

In 1970, there seemed to be more working and even middle class jobs for those with a strong back and a willingness to show up for work on time.

But it's not like having a college education is a panacea anymore.

Globalization will lead to an evening out of living standards around the world. We'll go down some, and the rest of the world will go up a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 1970, there seemed to be more working and even middle class jobs for those with a strong back and a willingness to show up for work on time.

But it's not like having a college education is a panacea anymore.

Globalization will lead to an evening out of living standards around the world. We'll go down some, and the rest of the world will go up a lot.

Will this make people want more restrictions on immigration and foreign trade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 1970, there seemed to be more working and even middle class jobs for those with a strong back and a willingness to show up for work on time.

But it's not like having a college education is a panacea anymore.

Globalization will lead to an evening out of living standards around the world. We'll go down some, and the rest of the world will go up a lot.

Will this make people want more restrictions on immigration and foreign trade?

Thing is, the chatting class presents these things as a Good Thing and automatic win/win with precious little proof of either (1) how this is a Good Thing for Americans or (2) how the alternatives are worse cures than the disease.