Response essay / Final draft Is anyone really stealing our lives?

In his article Someone is stealing your life, Michael Ventura asserts that most American people are completely dissatisfied with their jobs. The crucial reason for that feeling is related to the fact that the management and the owners of the companies do not give enough power to the workers. They decide all the issues and obtain all the profits and benefits. Consequently, the author argues that the employees should have more opportunities to make decisions, more power, more vacation time, and more benefits (including bonus and higher wages). As a result, Ventura concludes that the owners of the companies are practically robbing his life. Three relevant points that I would like to debate are: the strong generalization presented by the author, the real effectiveness of this kind of article, and the possible change of attitude if the article was written in the present day. Generalizations are present throughout the entire article. The author assumes that all the workers are frustrated and disappointed with their jobs and, consequently, with their lives. Thinking about this complex issue, I strongly believe that some people are really satisfied with their jobs. Each person is different and some simply do not want to embrace more responsibility and power in the professional life. Besides that, one company needs all kinds of roles and functions. If everybody had the same level of power, probably it would be the chaos. Another generalization made by the author is related to vacation time. According to him, all employees have just

two weeks paid vacation per year. However, a lot of professionals, such as teachers and consultants, have more vacation time. The authors purpose is to complain about the situation at the companies. In addition, he clearly tries to persuade the workers to protest against the employees. For this, he shows his arguments using some sarcastic terms and words, which express anger and outrage, such as drone, own little house, own quirky way, enlightened workplace. Throughout the entire article, it is possible to notice the feeling of anger. He uses harsh words to try to convince the readers that all employees, like him, are the victims; and all the management are the responsible for the depressed life of the workers. Nevertheless, only complaining probably is not the best solution for those issues. If a person wants to change a situation, it is essential to suggest how it would be possible to make innovations, and to overcome the difficulties. The last relevant point about this article is the fact that it was published in 1990. Probably, it would be written in a different way nowadays because a substantial number of people do not have job. According to IDES (Illinois Department of Employment Security), the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 8.5% in December 2011. When we compare to the same rate in December 1990, which was 6.2%, it is possible to affirm that in the current days people are thankful to have work of any kind, even menial jobs. In other words, people who have their jobs right now probably are not concerned to claim more power in their companies. They are worried about working hard to maintain their jobs. Presumably, they are extremely grateful to have their income to sustain their families (Rivara).

In conclusion, although I believe the author has the right to protest against management and the owners of the companies, it is not possible to attest that he found the best way to try to change this situation. It would be more effective if he were more specific, detailing and focusing on the problem that is the most drastic. Beyond that, it would be extremely valuable if he suggested some alternatives to solve that complicated issue. Another point to be considered is the current situation of the American economy. If the author were to rewrite this article, he should consider the high unemployment rate plaguing the whole country. In other words, the author should use a milder and more constructive tone to express his opinion. However, it is possible to infer from the article the fact that the author has a radicals opinion on this issue. Therefore, probably even in the current days, the author would use the same tone and would have the same opinion.

Words Cited Rivara, Greg. Unemployment Drops; State Adds 52,600 Jobs in 2011. Illinois Department of Employment Security. 20 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Jan. 2012.