"In 1900 Americans on average lived for only 49 years and most working people died still on the job"

This quote by William Greider paints a grim photo of life in the United States in the very early 20th century. It highlights the rough facts of life for numerous Americans at the time, with life expectancy being just 49 years as well as most working people dying while still at work. This suggests that the working problems of the moment were commonly dangerous and also harmful, resulting in sudden death for lots of. It also suggests that the quality of life for lots of Americans was low, with little access to health care or various other resources that might have improved their life expectancy. This quote functions as a reminder of exactly how far the United States has actually come in terms of lifestyle and health care, and also just how much development has actually been made in the last century.