If the U. S. is a developed nation and really has an open stratification system based on meritocracy, why are so many low-wage workers struggling to make ends meet and never seem to be able to get out of poverty, even though they work full time? How do Ehrenreich’s findings (first clip), Edin's findings (second clip), and the U. S. Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines data (the link under the clips) challenge the notion that people are poor and may need financial assistance because they are lazy and/or unwilling to work?