Appreciating Every Nickel and Dime

          In the elections coming up in only a few weeks, for senator and governor of Wisconsin, there is a great debate regarding whether, Scott Walker and Tom Barrett or Ron Johnson and Russ Feingold will improve Wisconsin's job opportunities and contribute to the American government. Running for Governor, Tom Barrett, plans to create dairy processing jobs, to support what Wisconsin is known for. He also wants to cut the red tape around jobs and get new construction jobs forming. This would improve the unemployment rate weighing down on Wisconsin. He also supports middle class families being able to afford their healthcare.

         Running for governor, conservative Scott Walker, has a plan to create 250,000 new jobs in the state of Wisconsin. He also plans to decrease the taxes in the state of Wisconsin that burden many families living paycheck to paycheck. He also plans on decreasing taxes for businesses that create a burden for them when hiring new employees. Both senators have in mind that many people in Wisconsin, and the entire nation are counting their pennies and aren't making the most plentiful paycheck. Barrett and Walker's views both relate to the scenario presented in Nickel and Dimed. Finding a job and living on a minimum wage salary is stressful and uncomfortable for many individuals and families of different sizes. Barbara Ehrenreich had such a difficult time even getting a call back from many of the jobs she tried applying for. Both Walker and Barrett know that living off a small paycheck isn't easy and creating job opportunities and cutting taxes will take a burden off the hard workers of Wisconsin and America.

           Nickel and Dimed changed my views  of the length and power of the minumum wage paycheck. When the author/journalist Barbara Ehrenreich placed herself in the roles of various minimum wage jobs and left behind her cushy paycheck for an experiment. The challenges she faced were alarming. Her coworkers could barely scrape by every month, and even had to live in cars for periods of time until they saved up money. This situation relates to the millions of people living in America every single day.
           After reading of her experiences first hand, I understand how really valuable every penny is. When deciding which senator or governor I believe will benefit Wisconsin, Nickel and Dimed brought to my eyes how living on a limited paycheck affects your life. Every dollar made determines that kind of lifestyle that you can live. This can determine if you can live out and achieve the true definition of the American Dream and take advantage of the liberty of the America.