Discussion Post : Week 2

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ehrenreich-stealing-from-the-poor-20120517,0,7201749.story

Barbara Ehrenreich begins her essay by stating "Before we can 'do something' for the poor, there are some things we need to stop doing to them." The problem she identifies is how companies, the government and others prey on the weak and poor. She assumes that her readers are poor. Though it can also be the rich reading and trying to help. She purpose is to get people to understand what the poor is going through to survive in this greedy world. In order to accomplish this purpose, she appeals mainly to the amount of money the poor is being charged through businesses, fines, fees, etc... She also appeals to the way the poor gets treated. In her essay, Barbara addresses the main argument against her thesis, the idea that the poor are being charged and treated worse than the rich. They get to do whatever they want with no repercussions. She refutes this argument by saying how a homeless woman went to jail because she didn't pay for her sons incarceration. Finally she concludes by making the point of what they need to start doing instead of preying on the poor. Overall, the argument Barbara makes is effective because she added a lot of evidence to support her argument, she states a very serious point that is happening worldwide that needs to stop.