I know this probably isn't worth much, but after reading through most of this thread, I must say I appreciate your efforts to explain the existence of the working poor here. I am probably biased, because you have essentially been representing the way my family was forced to exist for my entire early life (you have no idea how crazy spot on that "$300 car that just happens to be a corolla" example was --core memory unlocked, as they say), but either way, I just thought you should know that your efforts and apparently immense patience in the face of bad faith arguments and willfull ignorance is truly appreciated.