A Reader-Response paper - Book Report/Review Example

of the of the Concerned English 29 August 24/7 EconomiesA thorough reading of the passage under consideration that is “Selling in Minnesota” by Barbara Ehrenreich makes one question the very sanity of the vision supporting the modern 24/7 economies. The passage deals with the experience of an individual working through varied shifts in a 24/7 Wal-Mart store. If one somehow manages to ignore the economic premises supporting the contemporary commercial logic, the perusal of this paragraph draws a striking attention to the inhuman treatment to which the human resources supporting the 24/7 economies are subjected to.

One is moved to question as to whether the 24/7 economies are meant to support the human objectives and motives, and if so, are not the employees serving in the institutions representing such economies, ought to be treated in a humane manner? The very approach of the 24/7 economies projected in the passage betrays the mechanistic nature of such systems. It is a scientifically proven fact that the bio-chemical rhythm of the human body closely follows and responds to the rhythms of a natural day.

So the very concept of stores and institutions those run 24 hours a day and hire employees to work for them is utterly abnormal and perhaps unnatural. Normally speaking, the human body is meant to work at certain time in a day, at to rest at a specific time. Hence, the economies that expect people to work at abrupt hours thereby disturbing and spoiling their natural bio-chemical rhythms and their human sense of well being are by no means sane and natural. In nature there is a time for every purpose and a system that rejects this fact in the name of growth and prosperity is conclusively sick.

As expected, when people are treated like machines, it directly compromises their capacity to love and serve others. The employee mentioned in the passage eventually ends up hating the customers, whom she is meant to serve. In fact she finds a closer affinity to the material aspects of the store like clothes. This also brings to the forefront the confusion created by the excess of choice in the 24/7 economies. For instance, in the store mentioned in the passage, the customers are so flooded with choice while purchasing the clothes that they waste much time just trying varied pieces of clothing.

Just wonder, what is the logic of such an institution as the store mentioned in the passage, where some employees may spend, perhaps their entire life steering shopping carts and picking up clothes dropped by the customers? What a waste of human potential in the name of choice and economic growth! The passage highlights the inability of the 24/7 economies to come to terms with the human face of progress and growth. It flicks the human attention to the non monetary aspects of human happiness and fulfillment.

To put it simply, just because an economy makes people work 24 hours a day does not mean that it is the best possible economy. Word Count: 500