Spurlock and his girlfriend (the vegan chef from the film) attempt to spend 30 days as minimum wage workers and try to survive. They work awful jobs, stay in a shithole to keep rent down, have no car, eat the most basic neccessities, depend on charity, and try to save money they will hypothetically need the next month for the deposit on the apartment.
They end up living a nightmare. Both attain injuries that need medical attention; they try free clinics, but cannot get in due to long lines. Morgan must use the emergency room, and you can imagine his bill. This for me had a direct relation to the hated bankruptcy bill (Hello, Joe Biden), not allowing exceptions for medical problems. Things get tense between them, as trying to survive in America (Columbus Ohio in this case)causes strain on personal relationships. Other people in the same situation tell their stories, and is is wrenching in places.
I loved Super Size Me, and it certainly had a point, while also being hysterical. This show....not so much. I am sure subsequent episodes will have some humour, but this one just had no room for it. And it hurt to watch, realizing how much pain there is in America. One sequence tells how Congress refuses to raise the minimum wage, and features Teddy Kennedy addressing this. Be prepared to kick your TV in when we next have to listen to some asshole from the Heritage Foundation tell us that tax breaks are the best thing for all of this. I wanted to choke the motherfucker.
It was not too long ago that my wife and I were not doing well either, and had to live almost like this. I have great empathy for those that do. Still, to see others in such dire straits really made me question the priorities of this nation, unable and UNWILLING to help our most desperate citizens. Especially since this was in Ohio; they are hurting badly, and the fascist pricks in charge win by somehow making Gay Marriage and The Bible more important than being able to feed your family and keep a roof over your head. And it was clear to me more than ever, THESE are the issues we MUST bring back to the people, and stress harshly that the GOP does not give one good goddamned about ANYONE making less than seven figures.
Please check your listings, and watch. You will never forget it.
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