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There are those who walk among us who have no grandiose dreams of how the Universe shall smile upon them – men and women who sacrifice their efforts daily to ensure the “privileged” retain their position of superior status within society. The workers who are unappreciated for whatever reason, those that fight the battle 24 hours every day to keep shelter and sustenance for themselves and their families, without consideration of their position in life or hardships are the wheels that turn the world economy. The plight of low-wage workers in past generations of American culture were at the least, respected, as the endeavors of honorable people attempting to grasp their share of the American dream. In the perspective of today’s narcissistic society, these hard working, genuine and tireless individuals are viewed as “Chumps” slaving their lives away for the benefit of others.

In most instances, low-wage workers have but one tool in their arsenal to be used to gain a better life – their sweat equity in their daily job. They work long, hard hours in their position in the hopes of a promotion or raise, that will lift their life position to one with greater benefits and possibilities for an enhanced future. While in some cases the plan to succeed through hard work is successful, in many others the worker is unappreciated and finds several years or more down the road that their efforts are unappreciated by their employer. It is then that the low-wage worker must move on to another position, in the hope of finding a path to a better life. Unfortunately, this individual now has to really start at the bottom in a new job, with whatever seniority they had at their old job gone. After this scenario occurs several times, the low-wage worker awakens to find themselves middle-aged, surrounded by co-workers that still have at least the advantage of youth.

Even in the area of their personal lives, low-wage workers have much more difficulty that those making good wages. The stresses of their daily struggle mount, causing issues to occur in marriages and other relationships that are usually not associated consciously to employment. In some instances, the plight of low-wage workers lead them on a path of destructive habits such as drugs and alcohol abuse in an attempt to escape their living conditions. Simple items that most citizens take for granted like basic health care and the pursuit of a higher education are dreams that remain unfulfilled for most low-wage workers in America.

Sadly, until we collectively as a society make efforts to change the culture of hand outs to one of enabling social betterment, the plight of low-wage workers will continue.