Synthesis (Rewrite)

In both the documentary Roger & Me by Micheal Moore and the article "Must the Jobless Also Be Hopeless?" by David Moberg, the issue of unemployment is addressed and shown to the world. Moore's documentary shows the effects on Flint, Michigan after General Motors closes their factories. This left almost the entire town unemployed. The former autoworkers had to move to other cities, resort to lower paying jobs, and basically doing what they had to survive. In the article by Moberg, various examples are given to show unemployment in America. Rather than giving a specific example of the issue, the article tries to concentrate on America as a whole. It discusses the definition of "long-term unemployment," how it effects the society, and different organizations that try to help the unemployed get back into the working environment.One similarity between the two sources is showing that the society/community is also affected by unemployment and the unemployed are not the only ones who suffer. In the article it is said that research has shown that unemployment is connected to higher suicide rates, declining health, more divorces, increased depression and stress, and increased crime and social violence. In the case of Flint, we did see some of the things mentioned as well as others happen. The crime rate in Flint increased so much that a new prison had to be built. Also the environment got so bad that the rat population passed the human population in Flint.Even though there are other similarities between the two sources, there are also differences. One big difference is that the article mentions different organizations and programs that help the unemployed, so they don't have to depend on government funding. These organizations help the unemployed get back into the working environment by educating and informing them about their options and alternatives they have before the lost their jobs. They also help train them in different areas, build the skills they already have, or help them go back to school. These organizations help the unemployed help themselves; they just give them the little push that is needed to start. But in Roger & Me, Moore never really shows any organizations or programs helping the people of Flint. He does show people trying to help themselves by resorting to other jobs and taking lower pay. However, most of these people end up unemployed again after a period of time. There were probably some kind of organizations trying to help the people of Flint, but Moore chose not to show that in his film. Moore did not do this because he had a purpose and message he wanted to tell his audience. So he chose scenes that were related to his purpose and that would appeal to his audience's emotion. He had rhetorical goals.Both Roger & Me and "Must the Jobless Also Be Hopeless?" address the issue of unemployment. Even though they are both from different time periods, they both show that unemployment is a continuous problem that somehow needs to be solved.