Shipler gives us an idea of the situation of some in the United States who live on the edge of an economic cliff: “A run - down apartment can exacerbate a child’s asthma, which leads to a call for an ambulance, which generates a medical bill that cannot be paid, which ruins a credit record, which hikes the interest rate on an auto loan, which forces the purchase of an unreliable used car, which jeopardizes a mother’s punctuality at work, which limits her promotions and earning capacity, which confines her to poor housing. ”
Ema ületab krediiti, mis tõstab autolaenu intressimäära, mille tõttu tal tuleb osta vana ja kehv auto ning sellega ei jõua ta alati õigeks ajaks tööle. Nii ei avane tal võimalust saada ametikõrgendust ega paremat palka, mille tõttu tal pole ka lootust paremas korras korterit osta. ”