Thursday, February 14, 2019

Left Behind America 2018


     This film is an episode of Frontline (Season 36: Episode 16) and it focuses on the economy and social forces of Dayton, Ohio.  This city was once booming but now it struggles to recover in the post-recession economy.  The city was formerly a center of innovation and manufacturing.  Over the past few decades many companies have deserted Dayton.   The beautiful buildings are still there but they are empty.  The once high wages have fallen to near the poverty level with replacement jobs.  Many neighborhoods don’t have a grocery story anymore.  There isn’t access to anything fresh.  There are only a few fast food places.  Entire neighborhoods have been abandoned and bought up at cents on the dollar by foreign investors.
     General Motors left Dayton In December 23 of 2008 and this was 2 days before Christmas.  There wages were about $35 an hour.  A cardboard box company has gone into the factory and the wages are about $13 an hour.  Other companies to leave are National Cash Register NCR, Mead Paper Company, Standard Register, Reynolds and Reynolds, Dayco and Phillips Industries.  Detroit has also suffered the same job losses and economic decline from the loss of the auto industry too.  The Big Three (General Motors, Ford and Chrysler) began shifting their production of out central Detroit between 1945 and 1957. This is a TOUGH situation.  Families turn to food banks to be able to feed themselves.  Their wages are not enough to cover, housing, utilities and other necessities.  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

53 min, Doc directed by Shimon Dotan with Mark Bernstein, Priyanka Boghani, Joseph Bohbot, Rodney Brickey, Sarah Childress, Cherish Cronmiller, Christopher Vroom, Krys Davidson, Rana Foroohar, Jacob Hacker.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 1 review.
Special Note:  Filmed in Dayton, Ohio.  Amazon give the book written by Robert Wuthnow 3.4* out of 5* with 16 reviews.

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