By Dennis Hartley
(Originally posted on Digby’s Hullabaloo on January 12, 2019)
As we enter the 3rd week of the “partial” government shutdown, we’re hearing more and more stories of how it’s affecting thousands of federal employees and contractors who are either on forced furloughs, or who are being asked to continue working…without pay.
This has not only thrown a spotlight on how many of the folks who help keep the country running smoothly are barely scraping by as it is, but it has opened a broader dialogue on how many Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck, period. The stats are not too rosy:
In fact, living paycheck to paycheck – meaning there’s not a cash cushion to cover the bills if the income stops for a while – is a common condition in America. In the 12th richest nation in the world by per capita GDP, nearly 8 in 10 U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2017 study by CareerBuilder, a human capital management firm. And the trend crosses over income groups: more than half of minimum wage workers said they needed to hold down two jobs to make ends meet, while one in 10 workers earning $100,000 or more yearly say they live paycheck to paycheck.
And if there’s an emergency? A large number of Americans don’t have an accessible stash of money to cover a substantial health care expense or car repair, studies show. The Federal Reserve Board in 2017 found that 44 percent of American households surveyed could not cover a $400 emergency expense.
Oy vay.
With that cheery thought in mind (and in consideration of the adage “misery loves company”) I’ve curated a playlist of songs that appropriately…commiserate. Erm, enjoy?
(In alphabetical order…)
“Blue Collar” – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
“Five O’clock World” – The Vogues
“Hole to Hide In” – Foghat
Manic Monday” – The Bangles
“9 to 5” – Dolly Parton
“Pieces of a Man” – Gil Scott-Heron
“She Works Hard for the Money” – Donna Summer
“Wichita Lineman” – Glen Campbell
“Working Class Hero” – John Lennon
“Work to Do” – The Isley Brothers