Writers Notebook 5: Davidson's Making It In America

ENGL-1010-07
20 February 2014
Writers Notebook 5 “Davidson’s, “Making it in America” A broadcast and print journalist who specializes in reporting on the impact of major economic trends, Adam Davidson, points out that, computer-aided machines, are taking over the factories. Years ago, people could work with or without an education. With learning the job on their own and years of experience, people would be set for life. For instance, Madelyn Parlier, (Maddie)a single mother, with little education, got a job at, ‘Standard Motor Products’, as a temp-to-hire and she worked her hind-end off. Standard noticed Maddie because of all her hard work and determination, and they hired her in to the company. Maddie’s job is fast-paced and she likes it,
because she hates to sit still.
Maddie also enjoys learning how to run all the different machines. Maddie would much rather work in the office helping to design parts instead of stamping them, because she sees robotic arms replacing people a lot and is worried this will happen to her. Maddie is considered an un-skilled worker, makes thirteen dollars an hour, and competes with workers in Mexico and China that does the same work for less pay. Davidson said, “I had to come to Greenville to better understand what, exactly, is happening to manufacturing in the United States, and what the future holds for people like Maddie-people who still make physical things for a living and, more broadly, people (as many as 40 million adults in the U.S.) who lack higher education, but are striving for a middle class life” (318). Davidson also interviewed other people in the factory. Such as Luke Hutchins, who is considered a high-skilled worker because he has a higher education and can operate high-tech machines. Standard hired Luke straight in to the company and he
makes twenty dollars an hour. Luke can read the special language that the machine understands. The advanced, computer controlled machine that Luke works on is hard to operate. When the machine (Glidemeister) that Luke operates is doing well, it can continue to do well on its own, but Luke has to check the part it is making constantly. Davidson said, “When Luke got hired at standard, he had two years of technical school work and five years of on-the- job experience, and it took one more month of training before he could be trusted alone with the glidemeisters”(322). If people do not have a higher education these days, it is hard to get a job if they can get one at all. Machines are taking the factories over and they require a higher education to operate. This is crazy to me; everyone is losing his or her jobs. If someone is looking for a job and they do not have a college degree, their chances are slim to none, on finding employment. Sometimes people will get lucky and land a good job by having experience, but in the twenty-first century, people need to be educated. Davidson does a great job explaining this article. I completely understand his point that he is putting forth. Maddie inspires me; she gives her all for pennies, just to try to give her child what she did not have, while growing up.