Reactions to my column about lobster, steak and Mountain Dew on a Bridge Card was robust and diverse— from “Something needs to be done,” to “You call yourself a journalist …?”
Is it possible to generalize about who reacted how?
As I made my daily rounds Tuesday, nearly everybody I encountered had something to say about the column. And I realize that, face-to-face, people who though it was a waste of space might be reluctant to say so (as opposed to anonymous story-chatters, who will say anything).
Nonetheless, here’s one observation. The people most dismayed to see Bridge Card benefits spent on luxury goods seemed to be those who are working in jobs that wouldn’t be enough, in themselves, to support a family. They have spouses who also work, but still struggle a little to keep the household afloat.
I wouldn’t call them the working poor; I would call them the working-hard-to-avoid-being-poor.
