Hedges writes: "Those with jobs worry about being laid off. Some live in terror that creditors, or the state, will electronically empty their meager bank accounts for debts they owe."
(photo: Blake Bolinger/CC BY 2.0)
Recalled to Life
24 March 14
e’s going to be 11 when [his father] gets out,” she says. “Liam wants to know if he’s going to be in his life. I can’t give him an answer. It’s really sad that for $578 [the father is] sitting in prison for nine years. I’m not condoning what he did. He did it. He’s guilty, but nine years?”
“The system is set up for us to fail,” she says. “Ten years from now I’m still just going to be a number. I’m always going to have an SBI [State Bureau of Identification] number. I’m always going to have mug shots all over the Internet. Liam’s father is going to be out when he’s 42 years old. And what the fuck is he going to do? And they expect people not to go back. What’s he going to do? I realize everyone’s got a choice, but the state won’t even help me. They’re not going to help him. I’m not saying people shouldn’t pay for what they do. Most people don’t change. I’m not going to say that they do. But some change. I fight everyday to be a better person. I fight to fit into society.”
The manager of the diner comes over to tell us he is closing in 15 minutes. He looks at Pagano. He sees she is distraught. “Take your time,” he says gently. We are drinking coffee, pouring in little containers of creamer and stirring it too long.
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