This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/emma-brockes-blog/2013/jul/11/two-american-families-pbs-documentary

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'We went backwards': two families, one broken American dream 'We went backwards': two families, one broken American dream
(2 months later)
Watch Two American Families on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.Watch Two American Families on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.
Anyone with doubts as to the ongoing resourcefulness of ordinary Americans should watch the Frontline documentary, Two American Families, which aired on PBS this week. Two families from Milwaukee were tracked over 22 years as they attempted to attain a modest version of the American dream: raise a family in a house that they owned, and maybe one day stop working.Anyone with doubts as to the ongoing resourcefulness of ordinary Americans should watch the Frontline documentary, Two American Families, which aired on PBS this week. Two families from Milwaukee were tracked over 22 years as they attempted to attain a modest version of the American dream: raise a family in a house that they owned, and maybe one day stop working.
That neither achieved these goals, despite decades-long effort, made the documentary profoundly depressing. It also put pay to the lie that the only difference between success and failure is hard work and innovation. As George Packer noted drily in the New Yorker, when times get tough for the two families:That neither achieved these goals, despite decades-long effort, made the documentary profoundly depressing. It also put pay to the lie that the only difference between success and failure is hard work and innovation. As George Packer noted drily in the New Yorker, when times get tough for the two families:
None of them thinks of inventing Napster.None of them thinks of inventing Napster.
Both families, one white, one black, started out living on incomes from a single skilled manufacturing job with union protection, entailing decent wages and benefits. Both lost their jobs when those industries downsized and sent the majority of contracts overseas. Unionized labour was replaced with service industry "opportunities" with low wages and no benefits. Tony Neumann went from earning $18 an hour as an engine-maker at Briggs and Stratton, to making $6 at a fast food joint.Both families, one white, one black, started out living on incomes from a single skilled manufacturing job with union protection, entailing decent wages and benefits. Both lost their jobs when those industries downsized and sent the majority of contracts overseas. Unionized labour was replaced with service industry "opportunities" with low wages and no benefits. Tony Neumann went from earning $18 an hour as an engine-maker at Briggs and Stratton, to making $6 at a fast food joint.
After his manufacturing job disappeared, Claude Stanley got a job lining basements for $7 an hour with no benefits, rising after a few years to $8.25 an hour with modest benefits, when he became foreman.After his manufacturing job disappeared, Claude Stanley got a job lining basements for $7 an hour with no benefits, rising after a few years to $8.25 an hour with modest benefits, when he became foreman.
Claude and Jackie had five children. Tony and Terry had two. Both women got jobs, Terry as a security van driver, Jackie in real estate. Claude and Jackie's eldest son went to Alabama State University. With $7,000 a year due in tuition fees, when Jackie's business dried up, they put the shortfall on a credit card, at 18% interest.Claude and Jackie had five children. Tony and Terry had two. Both women got jobs, Terry as a security van driver, Jackie in real estate. Claude and Jackie's eldest son went to Alabama State University. With $7,000 a year due in tuition fees, when Jackie's business dried up, they put the shortfall on a credit card, at 18% interest.
In 1998, Claude was off work for months with a lung condition that his benefits didn't cover and ran up a $30,000 medical bill. There was no possibility of sending the younger children to college. Around this time, Claude read an article in USA Today in which it said "everyone who retires is going to need a million dollars." This made him chuckle.In 1998, Claude was off work for months with a lung condition that his benefits didn't cover and ran up a $30,000 medical bill. There was no possibility of sending the younger children to college. Around this time, Claude read an article in USA Today in which it said "everyone who retires is going to need a million dollars." This made him chuckle.
Jackie's real estate business failed. At 60 years of age, Claude became a garbage collector, earning $26,000 a year, with some benefits and no retirement in sight.Jackie's real estate business failed. At 60 years of age, Claude became a garbage collector, earning $26,000 a year, with some benefits and no retirement in sight.
Terry, now divorced from Tony, retrained as a nurse's assistant on $9 an hour. The agency she worked for kept her part-time to avoid paying her benefits. Between 2008 and 2010, there were 16,000 foreclosures in Milwaukee – one of those was Terry, who lost her house.Terry, now divorced from Tony, retrained as a nurse's assistant on $9 an hour. The agency she worked for kept her part-time to avoid paying her benefits. Between 2008 and 2010, there were 16,000 foreclosures in Milwaukee – one of those was Terry, who lost her house.
"We don't accept partial payment," she was told by the mortgage lender. She then watched them sell the house for a quarter of what they were asking her to pay for it."We don't accept partial payment," she was told by the mortgage lender. She then watched them sell the house for a quarter of what they were asking her to pay for it.
With the exception of the one Stanley son who went to college, neither family had much hope of their children improving financially on their parents' careers. "We went backwards," said Jackie. Both women said they felt like failures.With the exception of the one Stanley son who went to college, neither family had much hope of their children improving financially on their parents' careers. "We went backwards," said Jackie. Both women said they felt like failures.
Much is written about the decadence of the times we live in, and there are plenty of people who believe the financial crisis was largely caused by feckless consumers buying Blu-Ray TVs they couldn't afford. Not much is said about the economic impact of low-wage, no-benefit jobs you simply can't raise a family on.Much is written about the decadence of the times we live in, and there are plenty of people who believe the financial crisis was largely caused by feckless consumers buying Blu-Ray TVs they couldn't afford. Not much is said about the economic impact of low-wage, no-benefit jobs you simply can't raise a family on.
Counseling those like the Stanleys and Neumanns to "try harder", "think bigger" or to "follow their dreams" is, in the context of the options available to them, absurd to the point of obscenity. If this documentary was a study in anything, it was in the grace and resilience with which these two families met the incoming tide and their cheerfulness in the face of impossible odds.Counseling those like the Stanleys and Neumanns to "try harder", "think bigger" or to "follow their dreams" is, in the context of the options available to them, absurd to the point of obscenity. If this documentary was a study in anything, it was in the grace and resilience with which these two families met the incoming tide and their cheerfulness in the face of impossible odds.
If that isn't innovation, I don't know what is.If that isn't innovation, I don't know what is.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.