There are a number of penalties[1] that when applied to a certain demographic (read: working-poor), disproportionately and unfairly hurt those people--either intentional or otherwise. Penalties that include suspended drivers licenses, municipal fines, asset forfeiture, and even required medical screening, overly penalize poor workers.
These folks are so dependent on both the income from their jobs, and the precarious balance they maintain of income to expenses, that anything that threatens either can quickly lead to cascading and compounding problem that become insurmountable.
It's very much possible to get ahead in America[2], that's why I love this country. It's also very important to recognize that it's very much possible to create a house of cards that can come crashing down, and that to also recognize that if that has happened to someone, it's not because their unwillingness to work hard, or some other perceived flaw of their character.
These folks are so dependent on both the income from their jobs, and the precarious balance they maintain of income to expenses, that anything that threatens either can quickly lead to cascading and compounding problem that become insurmountable.
It's very much possible to get ahead in America[2], that's why I love this country. It's also very important to recognize that it's very much possible to create a house of cards that can come crashing down, and that to also recognize that if that has happened to someone, it's not because their unwillingness to work hard, or some other perceived flaw of their character.
As an aside, this is one of my favorite moments in US politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iGmY...
[1] http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/04/09/398576196/...
[2] I'm aware of the international readership of HN. However as an American, I can only speak to the opportunities I've experienced.