For several weeks, the World Socialist Web Site has interviewed working people in Detroit about the worsening social conditions as gas prices and food prices skyrocket. In this segment, our reporters spoke with Ola Horne, 67.

Part one of the accompanying report, "The spiraling cost of food," was published June 20, 2008; part two, "The impact of gas prices," followed on June 21; and part three, "Collapse of an American city," concluded the series on June 23.