My initial thoughts to the book $2.00 a day itself was extremely surprising and eye opening. I think most Americans never really think that this level extreme poverty actually exists right here in our own country. Beginning in Chapter 4, Edin and Shaefer explain what some of things people who live on $2.00 a day do in order to increase their cash income. One of the items they mention was selling plasma. They can make up to $60 by going twice a week. This $60 goes pays for food and other necessities the family may need throughout the week. Before reading this book I never knew that this was a method of earning money. I was unsure how they even survived off the $60 they were given by donating plasma. One of the other methods that they mention people living on $2.00 a day do is to collect cans and sell food stamps. They go on to explain that selling food stamps is a felony which is punishable for up to 20 years and/or a fine of $250,000. I found this ridiculous. Why punish the people who are the most vulnerable financially for a miniscule crime. The chapter mentions that someone in possession of marijuana could get less of a sentence in some area. I think the justice system is unfairly rigged against the Americans …show more content…
I think people who are not in poverty or living on $2.00 a day do not understand how important services like the Salvation Army are to families in need. In the book they bring up school supplies as the beginning of the school year rolls around every year kids and parents are hurdling into stores shopping for new supplies, backpacks, clothes and shoes. With the help of the Salvation Army and some local churches they come together to provide these items for children in poverty. New supplies for a new school year is something that most of us would think of as a ordinary occurrence maybe even a tradition but for these families it is a burden on their