For further reading on this topic, I can highly recommend the book Fear of Failling. it was written during either the late eighties or very early nineties, and it details how American culture has been hiding poverty ever since the World War II ended. Most of the book is about the professional managerial class, and how they have been affected by the political economy from the 50's all the way to the late 80's. And poverty being hidden is a major theme, since the PMC kind of found their "goal" or "purpose" in their treatment of the symptoms of poverty.
I finished the book over the last week, and I can HIGHLY recommend everyone read it. Especially if you yourself are in a kind-of comfortable position w.r.t. having a college degree and/or a pmc-type job.
For further reading on this topic, I can highly recommend the book Fear of Failling. it was written during either the late eighties or very early nineties, and it details how American culture has been hiding poverty ever since the World War II ended. Most of the book is about the professional managerial class, and how they have been affected by the political economy from the 50's all the way to the late 80's. And poverty being hidden is a major theme, since the PMC kind of found their "goal" or "purpose" in their treatment of the symptoms of poverty. I finished the book over the last week, and I can HIGHLY recommend everyone read it. Especially if you yourself are in a kind-of comfortable position w.r.t. having a college degree and/or a pmc-type job.
Fear of Falling: The Inner Life of the Middle Class by Barbara Ehrenreich
Nickel and Dimed also very good, same author.
Unfortunately I know a lot of labor aristocrat libs who've read Ehrenreich and missed the point entirely.