Game simulations

The following are the options and projected results after finishing the game simulations. My options are restricted now that I’ve lost my job, and the only option that will work for me is to work as an office temp for $306 per week while working 40 hours per week. I’ll choose the $12 monthly opt-out option because I can’t afford health insurance and the state covers my child’s insurance (Adler et al. 1). If I choose to live further away from the area, my rent payment will be greater. I had an experience of hitting another car and had a dent on the bumper and taillight, instead of paying, I will ignore the situation and drive away. The cop states I am speeding but I wasn’t instead of going to the court as I’m innocent, I pay $225 to save my working hours. I break a vase, and since no one has seen me, I hide evidence. I also decline an offer to join the union to negotiate a better pay. Unfortunately, by day 20, I ran out of cash. The choices are all geared towards saving and using the least money possible although at times looks unethical like hiding evidence of broken vase.

When people lose their jobs, few start with $1000 and the cost of groceries in two weeks would be about $60. I even fix my leaking sink which is cheaper.

This game is far from reality, the options are exaggerated and narrowed. For instance, there is no option of picking two jobs at a time while in America many people do so to survive. Shepherd and Williams (2) also suggest that people can find capital and start a business as a measure to bounce back after job loss which is not provided in the game making it unrealistic (1). Bills like airtime, visiting family and close friends in the neighborhood, water bills and fee for the childlike weekends’ daycare are omitted from the game. Other sources of revenue would be from family or take two jobs at different flex times. Additionally, I can sell out some stuff I do not need instead of renting storage facilities. If I did not have a child, I would look for a friend we live together and cost share the renting and food costs. I would also opt at eating at fast foods which are cheaper instead of having to cook in my house.

If I had more money, I would choose to rent an apartment close to my workplace and have groceries delivered to my home than going to the store. This choice to live in a different neighborhood because of income has resulted in residential segregation as Massey (7) notes. Additionally, I would pay for my health insurance and not postpone payment of any bill. With two parent household, we would afford a spacious apartment and also our healthcare insurance.

Based on this situation, I would select ‘blame the system’ theory since the state needs to have alternatives that are suitable for low-income earners like health insurance. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF program) offers financial assistance to needy families and pregnant mothers with shelter, clothing, and food apart from medical expenses. The emphasis for self-reliance for adults pushes the reforms such that jobless Americans to do work or have supervised training as reciprocity for benefits attained from the state. I do not approve the benefit limits seems they do not seem to address the poverty level at the moment and is likely to increase the gap between the poor and the rich. The welfare reforms have done little to reduce poverty given that they do not empower the recipients of the basic needs to meet their necessities. For instance, instead of paying for the low-income earners’ healthcare insurance, the reforms should aim at offering the poor with jobs and affordable insurance that they can pay for themselves.

Works Cited

Adler, Nancy E., Cutler, David, Fielding, Jonathan, Galea, Sandro, Glymour, Maria, Koh, Howard, and Satcher, David. Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities. Washington, DC.: Discussion Paper, National Academy of Medicine, 2016. https://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Addressing-Social-Determinants-of-Health-and-Health-Disparities.pdf Accessed 12 Oct. 2017.

Massey, Douglas S. “Residential Segregation is the Linchpin of Racial Stratification.” City & Community, vol. 15, no. 1, 2016, pp. 4-7.

Shepherd, Dean, and Trenton Williams. “Hitting Rock Bottom after Job Loss: Bouncing Back to Create a New Positive Work Identity.” Academy of Management Review, 2016, pp. 1-47.