‘America and Its Poor’
Reading Barry Bearak’s article (July 29) on the poor of this country, I was almost instantly transported back to the days when my family was on welfare--although in those long ago days it was called “relief.” A widowed mother who couldn’t speak English and two daughters, 11 and 13. We stayed on “relief” for about three years until I started working at age 15.
Although I have been living a more than comfortable life since then, the painful memory of those three years “has stayed with me like a birthmark.”
Thank you, Mr. Bearak, for letting us all know that the majority of the poor would rather work than get handouts.
DOROTHY FISHER
Studio City
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