The Atlantic: Blood, Plasma, Sweat and Tears (Being poor in America)

[TygrBright]

Blood, Plasma, Sweat and Tears

Surviving when you're poor in America apparently now depends on the quality of the bodily fluids the Oligarchy can suck out of you.

Pretty much literally.

After completing these initial steps, she sits in the waiting room, listening for her name to be called. She describes what happens after that: “They take your blood pressure and your temp. And then if everything is okay, you wait and get your finger pricked to test for your iron and your protein and stuff…Usually, it be during my time of the month that my iron really goes down.” Lately, the iron pills she has tried haven’t been working. This terrifies her, because “donating” is the bedrock of the family’s finances right now. The phlebotomist in charge of the finger pricking has told her that “if the iron pills don’t help, [it means] I could be, like, anemic.” Anemics are barred from donating.

Today, like other days, she’s nervous—what will happen if she is not allowed to give plasma? The family desperately needs the $30. They’re now nearly three months behind on the rent. Once she passes all the tests, she proceeds to the back room, where she’s directed to a recliner. Today she has brought along a Nicholas Sparks novel she checked out of the library. “I always bring a book with me,” she says.

sadly,
Bright

[Warpy]

1. Visit the poorest part of most cities

and you'll find a plasma donation center. Donating as often as possible has been the way poor folks avoid humiliating trips to the food bank or rescue mission for a very long time.

They've been sucking us dry for decades.

[TygrBright]

2. Yep. I wish it were a dystopian fantasy. We MUST change this reality. n/t

[NBachers]

3. Last time I sold plasma, I walked outside & saw a dead guy sitting up against a tree, his eyes open.

It was right outside the plasma bank door. I wasn't sure if he was a local wino, or a just-discharged client of the plasma bank. It was quite un-nerving.

It's been a long time, and I haven't been back to a plasma bank since.

[Warpy]

5. Yeah, that could put you off the place for sure

but I've seen a lot of lives saved by that donated-for-money plasma, so if you can donate, consider going to a different place to do it.

They don't want mine.

[PatrickforO]

4. An offense against everything this country is SUPPOSED to stand for.

We need a New Deal type redistribution of wealth right away. ASAP.

We've all had a GUT FULL of billionaire parasites, and now they are sucking the blood out of our bodies. Nickel and diming us to death wasn't enough, apparently.