American author and social critic Barbara Ehrenreich is well-known for her writing on issues like women's rights, politics, health care, and poverty. When talking about economic inequality in the US, one of her noteworthy observations is frequently brought up.

Ehrenreich points out that many Americans would rather minimize or ignore some realities, especially when it comes to problems like chronic poverty and the decline of the middle class. She contends that these issues are not merely regrettable outliers but rather enduring difficulties that society as a whole often ignores because they are difficult to face.

Ehrenreich could use the metaphor of a neglected garden to demonstrate her point. Unchecked poverty and economic instability can thrive if they are not addressed, much like weeds can quickly overtake an untended plot of land and suffocate more desirable plants. Similarly, it can be very difficult for people to get back on their feet after falling from secure middle-class jobs into unstable situations.

Ehrenreich promotes a closer examination of the systemic causes of these problems by drawing attention to them. Instead of letting these problems continue unnoticed beneath the surface of larger public discourse, her observations encourage readers to think about how societal structures and policies might be changed to better assist those who are experiencing financial hardship.