After reading "Nickel-and-Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America," by Barbara Ehrenreich, how have your perceptions of blue-collar Americans been transformed or reinforced, if at all? Have your notions of poverty and prosperity changed since reading it? Nickel-and-Dimed takes place in 1998-2000, a time of unprecedented prosperity in America. Given the economic woes facing our country currently, do you think Ehrenreich's experience would be different/worse/better in today's economy? How so?