Questions on “The New Precision Journalism”: 1.) Because a journalist can look at one statistic or piece of data and come up with a completely different outcome than another journalist, how can one do his or her best to analyze data in a way that reflects all sides of a certain topic? 2.) When adjusting for inflation, how often does the task need to be done, and how can one understand when and how it needs to be adjusted?

On “Class Matters”: I do agree with the New York Times’ argument about class in the modern debate about income inequality, for the most part. To be completely honest, I have never been incredibly interested or knowledgeable about math in general, let alone the math that is involved in economic structures. So, as a result, my opinion really means nothing at this point. Still, the way class is set up now is much different than it was years ago. My dad, a 76-year-old code enforcement officer, grew up in a time where the classes were extremely separated. His family was as poor as it could be, and my dad understood the importance of hard work. He built up enough money to move into what would formerly be called the “middle class”. Today, though the lines are blurred, the top of the food chain and the bottom of it are still polar opposites. The rich continue to get richer, while the poor do just the opposite. The middle, on the other hand, has split into many different sectors that can be classified by many factors other than simply money or material wealth. Still, I do agree that a person’s standing on the spectrum at birth determines at least a part of what his or her income will be later in life. At the same time, the American economic system is fluid to a point, so that same person could move up or down on the spectrum depending on connections, work ethic, and sheer luck.

Interview Subject:

Jenny Ridyard is a woman in her mid-50s who works at 7Hills Homeless Shelter in Fayetteville. Once homeless herself, Ridyard now works as one of the main data workers at the shelter. While her salary at 7Hills is not extravagant by any means, her husband’s disability checks and the family’s frugality has given them the opportunity to live relatively comfortably.

“All I need is a bed, clothes, car, food, and I’m good,” Ridyard said. “This shirt is two dollars, (these pants) are two dollars, these bracelets and everything are one dollar. I get everything from thrift stores.”

While Ridyard’s job description isn’t on the OES database, Community and Social Service Specialists make $27,980 a year in Arkansas. One could assume that’s about what Ridyard makes.

“People don’t need to get all the fancy stuff and the name brands,” Ridyard said. “Save, save, save. I’ve been on the other side where you don’t have anything at all. It changed my perspective, living out in the woods with nothing.”