So I watched 30 Days tonight on FX, which I heard about on Taalcon's TV show suggestion thread. I went in not really knowing what to expect, but I thought it would be good. The show is hosted by the same guy who did the documentary "Supersize Me" about fast food.
In this first pilot episode, Morgan and his fiancee lived on minimum wage for a month, and it was eye opening. They lived in a crap apartment, walked and bussed to work, worked two jobs, and still barely broke even, until they both had to go to the ER, which put them more than a grand in debt in a single day, since they had no insurance.
First of all, I love that he is actually doing it himself, rather than hosting a show that makes someone else do it. Makes me respect him a lot more.
Second, the show was eye opening. This was far more stunning than any news report on poverty I have ever seen. It puts the issue of healthcare and most especially the minimum wage center stage and paints a clear and real picture. It's hard to claim he was being sensational, he tried it for himself.
I recommend every one watch this show. It is my new favorite show, and Taalc is my hero.
[ July 13, 2005, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: Lyrhawn ]
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I really wanted to see it...but I succumbed to sleep before it was on. I woke up around 10:30 and saw about 2 seconds of it...but sleep claimed me again. *sigh*
I looked at the FX website, though, and it looks like he's not the one doing the other episodes. He finds people who are appropriate for whatever task it is, I guess. I think... it was kinda hard to tell from the pictures.
I wish I had seen the minimum wage one. I wish everybody could see it. I make well above minimum wage and it's hard for me to make ends meet.
Did they have a real ER emergency, or was it staged to make the point about no health care?
-Katarain
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Lyrhawn, if you want a further details of what it's like living on minimum wage in America, read Nickle and Dimed.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
quote:I recommend every one watch this show. It is my new favorite show, and Taalc is my hero.
Hey, just doing my duty as a Geek Missionary. Spreading the Word of good Television. How will people know unless we tell them? Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Only problem is... I only have basic-basic cable, and no F/X.
And none of the torrent sites are currently seeding (or even listing) 30 Days. Hence, as much as I'm pumping it...I haven't seen it yet.
Ah well, like all good missionaries, I'm benefiting others more than myself. At least that makes me feel good.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
They were real emergencies. Morgan's fiancee had a urinary tract infection that kept her out of work for two days, and Morgan somehow hurt his wrist doing landscaping.
Edit to add: They tried going to the free clinic, but it kept turning them away because they got there too late. They couldn't go earlier because they both had to work.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
I saw a discussion of this on another forum, and the general consensus was that the real working poor don't go to the hospital for stuff like that. You only go to the hospital if you're dying. For a urinary tract infection, drink cranberry juice, and for a wrist injury, buy an Ace bandage. I can't really blame them for going though, since they came from money and knew they'd be going back to money after the 30 days were up.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Well, it wasn't likely that they were going to be in a dying situation during those 30 days, and I think it's important that every non-mininum wage worker sees what it's like when you DO have to go to the ER/hospital with no insurance.
Because it does happen. Last year we had hardly any income and no insurance and HAD to go several times.
-Katarain
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
It was ridiculous. It cost them 30 dollars for an ace bandage, and a combined 800 dollars just to walk in the door and be seen, regardless of what the actual problem ended up being.
That's just stupid.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
Yeah, I know. My husband had to go for an ear infection a couple years ago, when we were impoverished and uninsured. We had to borrow from my folks to help pay it off, it really sucked. I get your point about showing how disastrous it is to have an emergency when you're uninsured. It might've also been good to show how much it sucks to suffer for months with more minor ailments, hoping they'll clear up on their own, because you don't want to take on a mountain of debt to see a doctor. Heck, we still have to do that now that I'm making okay money, because we still can't afford insurance. I guess that might not have fit in the scope of the show though.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Saw the second episode last night, it was about the anti-aging process, and more specifically about taking steroids, HGH, testosterone and tons of pills along with exercise to get your body back in shape.
It was a good show. The guy doing it ended up quitting becuase it was screwing up his body so bad, and it scared me a little bit. I use a whey protein powder after I work out a couple times a week. So now I'm wondering if I should stop taking it. Another good episode though.
Next week a Christian man worships as a Muslim.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Saw the episode where the Christian worships as a Muslim.
It really seemed to be an eye opener for the guy. Didn't do much for me personally, I live right around the corner from Dearborn where they did it at, and know a LOT of Chaldeans. But for others, I think it would be very informative.
I missed the episode about the straight guy living with the gay guy. But I'm watching the eco village episode right now.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
All of them have been amazing. I don't have FX, so I'm missing the eco village one, but I'll be sure to get a copy of it ASAP.
I say that Morgan Spurlock could potentially be one of the most influential documentary filmmakers today, if only people would watch his work.
Watch Supersize me. Watch 30 Days. Show them to people.
Spurlock I view as the anti-Michael Moore. Moore makes movies about reinforcing agendas.
Spurlock makes films about getting in others' shoes, and viewing the world from a different point of view to experience and understand hearsay firsthand.
His blog is pretty fascinating.
In the first episode, while living on Minimum Wage, he and his fiance got their furniture from a Free Store run by a local church. On his blog, he revealed that no, he didn't give the furniture back - he left in the apartment (which he paid up for the rest of the year), and found a family in need that he gave the pre-paid apartment to.
Spurlock really did leave the experience a changed person, and that comes across in his writing.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
He seems like a great guy.
I thought he was a bit of a yahoo in Supersize Me, and the premise of the movie was just so out there, and unrealistic. But his point at the end, and the points that he makes along the wayy in general about the food we eat and our health are VERY good points.
His show is phenomenal. This eco-village one has been very very good. He proves that there are some simple fixes that many of us can do to reduce our impact on the planet, and improve our health and finances while we're at it. It helps debunk a commonly held myth that being pro-environment means being anti-economy, which isn't true.
On that note, there is an article in Time Magazine last week about how eco friendly technologies will help spur a multi billion dollar economic boom in America.
Next week is about a mother trying to get her daughter to stop binge drinking in college.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Hey, just doing my duty as a Geek Missionary. Spreading the Word of good Television. How will people know unless we tell them? ![[Wink]](wink.gif)