Oh, poor me...poor me !!!

[texasjohn]

Amazing how an article, partial and poor quality, causes so many comments.

Some show a realistic understanding of the human condition.
Some show a realistic understanding of the economic condition.
Some show a need to rant against people's condition.
Some show compassion.
Some are calloused.
Some show a need to dictate how others should live.
Some use facts to support or illustrate their comments.
Some use fantasy and assumptions to justify their position.

Some don't know the difference between any of the above.

Are the differences because of nature or nurture?

An American Psychological Association task force in 1995 concluded:

The task force concluded that IQ scores do have high predictive validity for individual differences in school achievement. They confirm the predictive validity of IQ for adult occupational status, even when variables such as education and family background have been statistically controlled. They agree that individual (but specifically not population) differences in intelligence are substantially influenced by genetics.

So, when you got it, you got it. :cloud9: When you don't, you don't.:mur:

Doubtless, Smstonypoint, who holds the TBN chair in statistics and 'rithmetic, can explain the reasons for all the above far better than I.:confused3:
Perhaps the great man, himself, had a pithy commentary on it all.

 

[JDgreen227]

texasjohn, feel free to bash me as I didn't provide the entire article in perfect quality. Which of the "some" category do I fit in? Oh, likely the "Some who show a need to dictate how others should live".

 

[CBW1999]

Texasjohn- while you observations are true, these comments are written by the poor slobs who work and EARN their pay. So, a little jaded cynicism isn't out of line.

In regards to pensions and such- if people would save rather than spend every cent that comes in, they would have something for the future. That is the issue- it is all "here and now". I want I want.....

 

[joshuabardwell]

These threads always really upset me. One thing I always think is that we (the U.S., which is where most of the commenters are from) currently have some of the worst unemployment in our country's history. Unemployment is currently just under 8%, and the "real" unemployment rate (which includes unemployed people who have simply given up looking) is in the teens or around 20% in many states. Given this, it seems especially cruel to look at someone on some kind of public assistance, or someone who is camped out at Occupy and say, "Get a job, ya bum!" Many of these people would desperately love to get a job, and it is specifically the fact that they are having such a hard time getting a job that they are complaining about. And the fact that unemployment is so high and the economy is so bad means that those who do have a job are pressed even harder. I have a friend whose employer categorizes all their employees as independent contractors (1099, not W-2) so that they don't have to contribute to medicare and social security for them. The employees are being deprived of benefits that they are legally entitled to, but they don't dare complain because they're just glad to be working at all. Bottom line: prices are up, wages are down, and lots of people who want to work simply don't have anyone who wants to hire them. So have a little compassion for the unemployed, okay?

The other thing that upsets me is this idea that you can look at a person and know everything you need to know about them, and then start making all these judgments about them. You see a person in line for some kind of assistance and he's on a smart-phone and you say, "Jerk! Spend that money on your heating oil instead of getting public assistance!" Well, let's just think for a minute how much a smart phone costs? I can get a Samsung Galaxy Prevail from Boost Mobile (pre-paid cellular) for $100. That is approximately three times, or $66 more than the most basic phone they sell. How many months of heating oil will $66 buy a person? How much difference does it really make that this person decided to splurge on that phone? Do you even know that they bought the phone new? Maybe they bought it used off of eBay? Maybe their cousin gave it to them because their cousin is better off and bought a latest-and-greatest phone. Maybe they bought it a year ago when they had a good job. You don't know.

What you are doing, for the most part, when you screed against these people is yelling at a construct in your head that you have made up, not an actual person.

You look at the person in line for heating oil assistance and say, "That guy smokes? Why he could buy heating oil with that money!" Yeah. And he could buy cigarettes with that money too. Are you going to be the one to say how many cigarettes a day a person on public assistance is allowed to smoke? How expensive his shoes and clothes are allowed to be? How new of a car he is allowed to drive? All the time never bothering to ask why is it that this person is on public assistance? No, that question never needs to be asked, because the answer is always that the person is a lazy bum, full stop.

 

[logdog]

Are there any jobs a fellow could walk into straight out of high school, make enough money to support a spouse and 2.5 kids, and retire at 48-50 years old with a pension?

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Are there any jobs a fellow could walk into straight out of high school, make enough money to support a spouse and 2.5 kids, and retire at 48-50 years old with a pension?

The US Military for one...

Just a thought.

Here is my meager 2 cents...

I suspect the person in question provided the photo used, or the "reporter" took the photo at the "interview"

Regardless of which source, the picture is a HUGE part of the story.

Think about that for a second... I did...

Was that the best picture they could find?
Was/Is there an agenda in how this person has been photographed (i.e. is this a "point" someone is making)?

No matter what the reason, if I were in such a situation, I would ask for a picture to represent me in the BEST possible light (and the article BTW before I gave consent).

THAT is the nature of my thoughts on this.

Be well,
David

 

[IndyIan]

My $0.02 is that middle class is disappearing, due to the loss of well paid manufacturing jobs.
Does a high school grad deserve $50k/year? I don't know, but at one time before "free trade" with 3rd world it was common. Now the owners and executives of Caterpillar are getting stupid rich on the backs of the factory workers. In the 60's and 70's CEO's made a few times what the guy on the factory floor made, now its 100's of times more.

 

[smstonypoint]

Doubtless, Smstonypoint, who holds the TBN chair in statistics and 'rithmetic, can explain the reasons for all the above far better than I.:confused3:
Perhaps the great man, himself, had a pithy commentary on it all.

This is news to me --- I wasn't aware that I was so honored. I will update my Curriculum Vitae. I have offered my services (pro bono) as an expert witness in some upcoming litigation. This honor will lend great credibility to my testimony.

Named chairs provide additional remuneration. Would you please advise me as to the additional amount and when I can expect to receive same?

To remain above the fray in this thread, here are two quotes from the great man:

"No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable."

"The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations."

Steve

 

[JDgreen227]

Really like the second quote as it describes my loser girl cousin EXACTLY. She has never aspried to do much more than the minimum to get by...and she was booted out of the army because she didn't even meet their minimum standards.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

This is news to me --- I wasn't aware that I was so honored. I will update my Curriculum Vitae. I have offered my services (pro bono) as an expert witness in some upcoming litigation. This honor will lend great credibility to my testimony.

Named chairs provide additional remuneration. Would you please advise me as to the additional amount and when I can expect to receive same?

To remain above the fray in this thread, here are two quotes from the great man:

"No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable."

"The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations."

Steve

Steve,

To obtain your chair, simply reach down to the one you are seated upon. Your renumeration is hiden in the box for the "Monopoly" game in your house. Please note that this particular currency has remained "UNCHANGED" in value for decades...

I also agree the 2nd quote is the one with the juice of truth most readily evident.

Be well sir.
David