Actually this ghastly aspect of US capitalism has been around pretty much forever. I worked there for a few years decades ago....been back a great many times (brother has an American wife and lives there)....and it's a great place for a visit and touring - people are wonderful and the country spectacular. But the sinister aspects of the economy are blatant. They have always paid menial labour, retail, hospitality, food service, aged care, etc...etc...miserably. As in working destitute, living on the edge - payday to payday or worse, one medical, car, rental issue from disaster. I'm amazed Americans put up with it. But they do.....Too ignorant to figure out how victimised they are I suggest. Place needs a military takeover, permanently take out the garbage that destroyed their dreams and their national integrity, and reset their democracy to the best constitution on the planet.
