Apart from the continuing theme of minorities and lower income people being targeted in regards to hazardous waste sites continuing in chapter four, I was distraught to see the let down these immigrants found in our nation.
What was hope for a more just system for these individuals coming to America, they were met with injustice and sneaky, "legal" corruption similar to what they were hoping to leave back in Mexico. Rather than blatantly do their dirty business, American officials cater to their wants and what makes the most money. It is a dirty system apparently wherever you go.
I was also shocked to see the company and lawyers come back after the appeal to ask these low-income farmers for $8,000!! This goes back to what we were discussing in class earlier today that those denied adequate safety and living conditions are also hit hard with lack of cleanup. The folks living in Buttonwillow were obviously having some issues with the happenings in their community (otherwise they wouldn't have pushed so hard for so long), but they were then pressured to pay money they don't even make in a year! This disgusted me, because it's all about money and fees; fees and money.
I would like to see the value that our society places on money decrease, and be replaced with empathy. If we as a nation were a little more empathetic and understanding as a whole, there would be less struggle and need to survive. We could start living. Sadly this needs to be spread throughout those in power to trickle down and lessen the burdens of those struggling in order for the social change to truly take place. When the majority of citizens are living rather than trying to survive, I believe we would be more united and helpful to one another.
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