Comparing the Great Depression and the Job Crisis in America
“ High and rising unemployment could drive up the child poverty rate from 18% in 2007 to around 27% over the next few years. For black children, poverty could rise from the already dismal level of one-third in 2007 to more than 50% in the year or two ahead.” (EPI, 2009, NP)
Compare these two photos. They were taking at two different periods of time, but are they really that different?
“The program cites another record statistic: a total of 1.5 million children, the highest number since the Great Depression, are currently homeless in America. “ (Watson 2011, np)
The boxcar children resemble many similarities and characteristics to homeless children as a result of the recent job crisis. The statistics of the amount of children from the great depression and today’s job crisis numbers of homeless children was astronomical. “The program cites another record statistic: a total of 1.5 million children, the highest number since the Great Depression, are currently homeless in America. “ (Watson 2011, np)
“ Some 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half of the country’s banks had failed.” ("History.com-the great depression-facts," np)
During the great depression “ Some 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half of the country’s banks had failed.” ("History.com-the great depression-facts," np) Which seems similar to the recent job crisis and numbers that states “The most recent data shows that about 14 million Americans are out of work. Another 9.3 million are working part-time because they cannot find full-time work. About 7 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007.” ("The current economy’s,"np )
“The most recent data shows that about 14 million Americans are out of work. Another 9.3 million are working part-time because they cannot find full-time work. About 7 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007.” ("The current economy’s,"np )
Compare these two photos. They are from different time periods, but what is going on is the same.... feeding hungry children. Are they two time periods really that different in the aspects and affects on people?
"The nation’s homeless population increased by approximately 20,000 people from 2008 to 2009, a 3 percent increase. There were 656,000 homeless in 2009, up from 636,000 in 2008.” (Watson, 2011)
“Recently, the National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that between 2008 and 2009 a majority—31 of 50 states and the District of Columbia—had increases in their homeless counts. The nation’s homeless population increased by approximately 20,000 people from 2008 to 2009, a 3 percent increase. There were 656,000 homeless in 2009, up from 636,000 in 2008.” (Watson, 2011) The statistics on the amount of homeless people is shocking but seems to resemble the number of people that were homeless and job less during the depression. The number of people in need of jobs today and the struggles people are having to endure are quite similar to those of people during the Great depression.
“Hundreds of homeless families are crammed into tiny rooms in the aging motels that line one of the highways leading to the famous Disney theme park. School buses have set up regular stops there for the children. "(Watson 2011,np)
This scenario from today’s society resembles the same type of situation the families in the Great Depression experienced: “Hundreds of homeless families are crammed into tiny rooms in the aging motels that line one of the highways leading to the famous Disney theme park. School buses have set up regular stops there for the children. An 11-year-old girl in the one of the families featured reports the five-person family—mom, dad and three children—at one point lived in their van. The parents were both laid off from jobs that paid $20 an hour. After begging on the street corner for a job, the father was able to get enough work to keep the family from being evicted from a two-room motel suite.” (Watson 2011,np)
"An 11-year-old girl in the one of the families featured reports the five-person family—mom, dad and three children—at one point lived in their van. The parents were both laid off from jobs that paid $20 an hour. After begging on the street corner for a job, the father was able to get enough work to keep the family from being evicted from a two-room motel suite.” (Watson 2011,np)
The two quotes that are pulled out, what time period do they sound like the came from? Could they be from the Great Depression? They sound like it, based on the hardships the people are enduring, but the could be from today? What do you think?
Compare the two pictures. They are both homeless people sitting on a rail road track, is there any real difference between the pictures and people other than the time period?