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

[aczlan]

Romney and his 47%....how many people as he layed off? How much suffering has he contributed to the world?

How many has he prevented from being laid off? How many companies would have gone bankrupt if they hadn't stepped in (hint: start with Staples and Dominoes)? Look at both sides of the equation you must.

Aaron Z

 

[tractchores]

I think that the answer is a number of things, but there's definitely a generational thing going on (and I'm a young guy). A lot of the answer lies with ambition and people's willingness to do what it takes. That works both ways, you choose what you spend, you also I believe choose what you make.

I for example grew up with very meager means, but decided I was going to college, despite having no real way to do so for a variety of reasons. I had my first job before high school, in high school I at times had up to 5 jobs (yes 5) and would work every night and weekend, sometimes putting in 15+ hours per day on the weekends. Every cent went into savings for college. In the end it wasn't nearly enough, but luckily I made very good grades and was able to get an academic scholarship for a 2 year college. I went there and put my head down and got great grades. Upon graduating I could have easily walked into a 30k job (a huge amount for the area).

Instead I said I want a 4 year degree, but I can't pay for it, so I found a company that would pay me hourly and went to work again. I worked over 100 hours a week on average and saved every cent. My work got me more than cash though, the company realized how hard I was working and decided to put me through school at night providing that I kept up the work, so I went back to school - full time at night while working 100 hours per week. I barely slept, but it paid off, and 2 degrees later I'm now running my own company and have had amazing success.

I've got more money than I ever thought I would have of having and more opportunity too. I still live well below my means because I know how hard it was to get that money. I was never given anything and had to earn it all and work hard. That's why I believe that folks can work hard and control what they earn. If I had a $15 / hr job and I wanted more money I'd be in school at night, or I'd have multiple jobs. Settling is a choice and just waiting around with your hand-out is a choice. Personally for me it's one that I'll never make, but I have little sympathy for people who "can't" get work, you can always get work - it just may not be the work you want.

 

[buck12]

I think that the answer is a number of things, but there's definitely a generational thing going on (and I'm a young guy). A lot of the answer lies with ambition and people's willingness to do what it takes. That works both ways, you choose what you spend, you also I believe choose what you make.

I for example grew up with very meager means, but decided I was going to college, despite having no real way to do so for a variety of reasons. I had my first job before high school, in high school I at times had up to 5 jobs (yes 5) and would work every night and weekend, sometimes putting in 15+ hours per day on the weekends. Every cent went into savings for college. In the end it wasn't nearly enough, but luckily I made very good grades and was able to get an academic scholarship for a 2 year college. I went there and put my head down and got great grades. Upon graduating I could have easily walked into a 30k job (a huge amount for the area).

Instead I said I want a 4 year degree, but I can't pay for it, so I found a company that would pay me hourly and went to work again. I worked over 100 hours a week on average and saved every cent. My work got me more than cash though, the company realized how hard I was working and decided to put me through school at night providing that I kept up the work, so I went back to school - full time at night while working 100 hours per week. I barely slept, but it paid off, and 2 degrees later I'm now running my own company and have had amazing success.

I've got more money than I ever thought I would have of having and more opportunity too. I still live well below my means because I know how hard it was to get that money. I was never given anything and had to earn it all and work hard. That's why I believe that folks can work hard and control what they earn. If I had a $15 / hr job and I wanted more money I'd be in school at night, or I'd have multiple jobs. Settling is a choice and just waiting around with your hand-out is a choice. Personally for me it's one that I'll never make, but I have little sympathy for people who "can't" get work, you can always get work - it just may not be the work you want.

Well said.

 

[tractchores]

Doreen's Story - YouTube

Some humor on the subject.

 

[JDgreen227]

Doreen's Story - YouTube

Some humor on the subject.

Tractchores....thanks for sharing your experience...very informational. My dad grew up in the Depression years and when he wasn't in school or helping his father with the family farm he would do chores for other farmers, usually getting paid in either food or hay and grain to feed the horses. He had a favorite saying:

"There will always be work for the man who wants to"

 

[Hillman314]

Wow, the solution is to work 100 hours per week while going to night school. Impressive. 100 hours over (say) 6 days is 16-2/3 hrs per day, plus (let's say) 1 hour work commute, plus (say) 2-1/3 hours of classes, plus (say) 1-1/2 hour of homework per day, plus 1 hour school commute, plus (say) a generous 1 hour/day to "live" (eat, shower, do wash, pay bills, buy groceries, etc..) = 23-1/2 hours/day. -Wow you did get little sleep! Wait, what's this detector over here I hear beeping? (Perhaps my number estimates are wrong?)

 

[CBW1999]

Are you really going to try to say that today's historic unemployment rates are the result of people being too stuck up to take a job that they think is beneath them?

In short- YES! I think a fair percentage fall into that category. Otherwise there wouldn't be as many unskilled jobs listed as hiring.

Aha! So you agree that people should be given taxpayer-funded access the at least the basics of survival without having to justify that access? Awesome. I knew we could find some common ground. People need to justify their purchase of cigarettes or expensive cell phones, but they can have food and shelter and medical care on the taxpayer dime. I'd take that deal.

As long as we're at it, do you really need those tax deductions you took? I mean, you bought a tractor, but did you really need it? Or could you have paid that money to the government instead?

First part is out of context,

Yes I bought a tractor. Yes it was a small upgrade from the one that died. I had the need because I raise livestock to feed my family and, mow the lawn, clear snow.... I didn't claim the tractor as an exemption because it wasn't a business or allowable purchase expense and, I paid sales tax on it as well.

Oh..by the way- when I purchased it I had stable income, provided all needs for my family first by having a well planned budget that allowed for this purchase. Nor was I receiving any public assistance (or otherwise) that was based on not having enough money to provide for that basic need.

 

[tractorshopper]

Wow, heated issue. I think there may be some good breaks that come for some and bad breaks for others, but I also think what you do and your level of ambition can play into the equation. God has truly blessed me, no doubt. I joined the Navy so I could get married and have a steady income to provide for my young family. After getting out of the Navy, I got a full time job (in a good economy) at a company that had tuition reimbursement. Worked full time and went to school at night full time for the better part of 8 years. Received an associates, bachelor's and master's degree in that time. Was not an easy task while also our daughters came along during that time. Lot's of sleepless nights and lots of weekends spent studying. Lots of vacation days finishing projects and not doing stuff I wanted to do.

It has paid off in a big way as I've been promoted repeatedly over the years at work and my family life is very comfortable now, quite different than the struggles of starting out. I've told many a person along the way as encouragement that they can also pursue the same goals and that time goes by whether you're writing papers or sitting on the couch watching TV. Each makes their own decision and has different levels of risk and comfort. God has blessed me whether in spite of myself or by some gift he gave me. I do know one thing; I would not be nearly as financially secure or be raising my kids in near the same level of comfort had I not pursued the education. And no, the government didn't do it for me.

 

[Turbys_1700]

We are in a global economy...
The value of US labor is nothing more than the value of Vietnamese, Chinese, or Indian labor...
Companies will produce products at the lowest cost possible...
If this includes moving offshore if need be...
I don't like it...
Our standard of living will continue to erode as other countries continue to provide labor at lower costs than the US can...
It sucks...
But that is the way it is...

 

[riptides]

We are in a global economy...
The value of US labor is nothing more than the value of Vietnamese, Chinese, or Indian labor...
Companies will produce products at the lowest cost possible...
If this includes moving offshore if need be...
I don't like it...
Our standard of living will continue to erode as other countries continue to provide labor at lower costs than the US can...
It sucks...
But that is the way it is...

We use to RUN the Global Economy. We need to get back to being a leader, and not part of a resource pool.