People Still Seem Confused About What Affordable Means

[Heddi]

9. There is a staggering blind spot to the reality of many folks

there is a wide gap between living in poverty and making "enough." And so many people live just barely above paycheck to paycheck and the idea that oh, just stop cable! HOw expensive are rice and beans, really? ignores the reality of having a car that doesn't run, or that eats too much gas, or increasing rent, or a broken furnace, or a hole in the roof.

Just because you're not poverty level subsidy eligible doesn't mean that you're not struggling. That you don't have unexpected expenses. That living a life of basic sustenance is often a real struggle for millions and millions of people.

Not having an extra $50 or $150 or $300 a month, every month, for the foreseeable future isn't always because of poor life choices and too many luxuries. It's a reality of living on substandard wages in a society where the cost of everything is going up and your paycheck is staying stagnant, or going lower.

And "oh just move"...where? where? where? Moving to a place that is cheaper cost of living usually means that wages are that much lower. Places with cheaper cost of living usually (in my experience) means fewer public services like busses and bike lanes and good schools.

Some people CAN'T just pack up and move. There are family obligations, jobs, kids, schools. Not even thinking about the cost of moving. Saving up for first, last, deposit, credit check fees....Uhaul, quitting one job, finding another. Do you move in the hopes of finding a job later, or wait til you find a job to move? What about your spouse? Do you need a second car? How are the schools?

Many people say they "understand" but they have no idea. THeir ideas of working poor and working class are what they see on TV and what they imagine it is.