To worldcitizen: social commentary essay

[holmertz]

Thank you Brenda for these comments and the others.
I think that among those who have slipped through the social safety net you would find many of the mentally ill or drug abusers you mention. But generally the loopholes in the safety net have been widened in recent decades when many social services have been privatized by neo-liberal rightwing governments. Since I have never been in a situation where I have had to ask the society for any help I don't know exactly all that could be done, but there is - or should be - a system of insurances and guarantees that should save every citizen or tax-payer from the abyss of hopeless poverty. Of course for migrants, especially those from outside the EU, the safety net is a lot weaker and they might have to rely on help from the Salvation Army or similar organizations.

I am right now reading, for the second time, the very interesting book "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich, working "Undercover in Low-wage USA". I can't imagine lives like those she describes could be found in any of the Nordic countries. Working in fast food restaurants, at Wal-Mart or "Maid" services for minimum wages and basically no public social safety net in the USA seems like total hell to me.

Best regards,
Gert