Dumb people with money

L

lordxixor101

CAGiversary!
It's always been a pet peeve of mine having to deal with those people that never seem to have any money, but they blow every cent they have. Though, my sis in law right now might take the cake (hope she doesn't read this lol).

Anyway, she has been living with me (and the wife) for 3 years. Has 2 kids (3 and 1, love them like my own). She works a deadend job making minimum wage for 30 hours a week. But, the government (through Section 8) wants to give her her own house to rent, which will cost her $150 a month (wow, how far ahead could I get with that). Anyway, she needs to come up with a grand to move, and she's set on a deal of a lifetime. Obviously, knowing this was coming for 6 months, she's saved up a grand total of $0. But, her plan is to beg her dad for money, it'll probably work.

But, the best part, she needed a $50 application fee yesterday. Of course, doesn't have it. But, she didn't have it because she dropped $70 at the bar Saturday night (knowing she had this application fee, but didn't tell anyone since she assumed someone would lend her the money afterwards). So, she didn't come up with it, so now she isn't having it processed in a month.

I can't decide if I hope she gets everything in order or not. She doesn't deserve it, but I'm wondering if she's going to be 40 and living with me if she doesn't get this.

Anyone else have any stories?
 
[quote name='Revenantae']There is a reason most "poor" people are "poor" and it's very rarely circumstance.[/QUOTE]


:whistle2:k I wander what your political party is
 
[quote name='Ikohn4ever']:whistle2:k I wander what your political party is[/quote]

I'm democrat, grew up in a one room shack with my waitress mother for a good bit of my life, and I agree with that statement 100%.

Its real hard to get out of that hole... but if you're 25 and you're not out... you fucked up somewhere. Rich people are rich because they know how to play the game. Learn how to play, and you can be too.
 
[quote name='Ikohn4ever']:whistle2:k I wander what your political party is[/QUOTE]
I'm a Republican.. old school, Bush is a spendthrift idgit.

I moved out and lived on my own from the age of 15. I paid my way trhough High School by working Pizza Hut, I paid my way trhough college by working 3 jobs at once. Everything I have is mine. Nobody gave me anything.

The point: I'm nothing special. I'm no prodigy, no superman, no lottery winner. If I can do it, so can anyone else. So no, I have very little sympathy for MOST poor people, because they, much like the OP's sister, bring thier circumstances on themselves.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']I'm a Republican.. old school, Bush is a spendthrift idgit.

I moved out and lived on my own from the age of 15. I paid my way trhough High School by working Pizza Hut, I paid my way trhough college by working 3 jobs at once. Everything I have is mine. Nobody gave me anything.

The point: I'm nothing special. I'm no prodigy, no superman, no lottery winner. If I can do it, so can anyone else. So no, I have very little sympathy for MOST poor people, because they, much like the OP's sister, bring thier circumstances on themselves.[/QUOTE]Comedy gold!
 
[quote name='Puffa469']the ignorance displayed in this thread so far is astounding![/QUOTE]

Puffa, I'm not so sure I can agree with you here. I've supported just about every side of this issue at some point. However, I've known some people who, on the surface, seemed to do everything right, and yet never caught a break. Yet, after knowing them longer, they really were poor because they weren't willing to work out of it.

I won't say the difference between the rich and middle class, but I'm beginning to wonder about the poor. Every circumstance I've seen, you can earn enough to support yourself if your willing to work hard (many times, you don't even have to work that hard, just be willing to put in your 40). Yet, you'll be amazed at how many poor people don't feel a need to work 40 hours, or don't want a second job, yet complain they don't have anything.

Get a job and an education, and you should be ok (maybe not well off, but well off enough)
 
Just remember- there is a difference between a "NEED"- Food, Water vs WANT "OMGWTFBBQ I WANTS A BIG SCREEN TV AND I WORK AT BLOCKBUSTER!"

People confuse the two- there are few people who really have a problem solving their needs- instead they confuse it with thinking they deserve to solve all their WANTS.
 
Yeah, I would lend her the money to get her out of my hair. However, they need some responsibility. I have a brother like that how tends to rely on my parents....still living with them actually. He liked to party too much, in a band, bad decisions. STarting to get better now. People have to learn to keep their legs closed if they cannot afford kids either. Child support should be paying for them too, right? I know single mothers have lots of options to get money.

Yes, there is a a matter of NEED vs WANT. I'm learning I have to cut somethings out our budget with my wife having a kid and being a stay-at-home mom, which is coming soon. So, I know how that is...but I still can live just fine.

Tell her to stop going to the bar? Do you watch the kids while she goes? Tell here you cannot do it. How often is she doing these frivolous things?
 
[quote name='jmcc']Comedy gold![/QUOTE]
Wherein lieth the comedy? Earning what you have? I guess that might be funny if you're exceptionally coddled.
 
[quote name='guessed']When I read the thread title, I thought it was going to be about stupid rich people, not stupid poor people.[/quote]

So did I.

This thread raises some interesting points about Republicans and Democrats.

Generally speaking Democrats are more likely to fund social service programs and Republicans are more likely to cut them. That is just a generalization of course.

People like the OP's sister are mooches. No amount of money from their family members or from the government are going to help them change their ways. Its people like these that destroy the value of social wellfare.

I used to know a section 8 guy who lived near me and he was one lazy prick! He did nothing! I was mad because my tax money was support people like him.
 
i feel bad for the op's sister in law's kids. if their mother cannot support herself by not saving, how is she going to support her kids? i have a hard time spending my knowing that i have a mortgage and job insecurity. that's why i always wonder how people can spend and not think about how to could live on if they don't have a job.

a story about a former co-worker: she quit her job here because she didn't feel secure. i mean, she just walked out one day and didn't come back. she owes $70k with my current employer (i work for a credit union) alone, and she has other credit card debts. my employer was being nice and paid her 2 weeks extra as a severance pay even though she just walked out. she cashed out her retirement plan here and all together, she got about $12k. what did she do with that $12k? blew it in reno. now, she has no job, at least $70k debt and late on every loan she has. she's a single mother as well. i wonder how she can support herself and her kid now. she also owes me $150 but i most likely would not ask for that money back.
 
I believe that people easily confuse a "need" verses a "want".

I have a friend who works and lives with a roommate. She gets paid twice a month. One paycheck goes towards bills, and about 50% of the next paycheck still goes towards bills. This leaves her with about $300-400 left over each month (after all expenses). She has no savings and always says she wants to better her situation. The other day she tells me she's buying an iPod. Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but if you only have $300 to your name, buying an ipod isn't the smartest choice to make. I would think saving any kind of money you have left over would be the best bet so you can eventually better your situation.

I believe a big problem is the American mentality of "gotta have it now". I read that last year Americans actually had a -3% saving rate. That means people aren't saving money anymore. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to society and our economy over the long term when this starts to have a greater impact.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']Wherein lieth the comedy? Earning what you have? I guess that might be funny if you're exceptionally coddled.[/QUOTE]Yeah, I guess that was unfair. For all I know, your college education could make you qualified to throw around statements about most poor people bringing it on themselves. You'd have to be the Ph.Dest Ph.D in the field of sociology for it not to be a hilarious post, though.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']I believe that people easily confuse a "need" verses a "want".

I have a friend who works and lives with a roommate. She gets paid twice a month. One paycheck goes towards bills, and about 50% of the next paycheck still goes towards bills. This leaves her with about $300-400 left over each month (after all expenses). She has no savings and always says she wants to better her situation. The other day she tells me she's buying an iPod. Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but if you only have $300 to your name, buying an ipod isn't the smartest choice to make. I would think saving any kind of money you have left over would be the best bet so you can eventually better your situation.

I believe a big problem is the American mentality of "gotta have it now". I read that last year Americans actually had a -3% saving rate. That means people aren't saving money anymore. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to society and our economy over the long term when this starts to have a greater impact.[/quote]

i agree 100%. advertisers today will make most kids want everything now. eventually the U.S. economy will go down the drain. as for myself, i base my spending on necessity vs luxury. luxury always comes last of course. example would be video games. reason i'm a CAG is because i don't need to pay full price for a game. i don't need to newest release of the game either. i can wait till a game is $5 or $10. the last game i bought at full price was guild wars in september 2005 and before that, it was dynasty warriors 4 when it first came out. other than those 2, i have bought my games $15 and under. so glad we have the toys r us and circuit city sales :lol:
 
[quote name='jmcc']Yeah, I guess that was unfair. For all I know, your college education could make you qualified to throw around statements about most poor people bringing it on themselves. You'd have to be the Ph.Dest Ph.D in the field of sociology for it not to be a hilarious post, though.[/QUOTE]
Not really. The point stands. I had very little, I used what I did have to get more. Anyone can. Poor? Get a job first. Spend money on essentials only: food, clothing (not name brand), shelter.

Got some extra money? Save it.

Use goverment aid to go to school. If you're poor, you'll get, at the VERY least, free loans. Most times you'll get grants. Go to school, night school if you need to work. Most schools schedules are flexible enough you can work 80+ hours a week and still attend, it just limits the number of classes you can take, and increases the time till graduation.

Apply for better job. Rinse repeat.

You'll probably never get stinking rich, like say Bush, Kerry, or Gates, but you'll have a nice middle class life.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']Not really. The point stands. I had very little, I used what I did have to get more. Anyone can. Poor? Get a job first. Spend money on essentials only: food, clothing (not name brand), shelter.

Got some extra money? Save it.

Use goverment aid to go to school. If you're poor, you'll get, at the VERY least, free loans. Most times you'll get grants. Go to school, night school if you need to work. Most schools schedules are flexible enough you can work 80+ hours a week and still attend, it just limits the number of classes you can take, and increases the time till graduation.

Apply for better job. Rinse repeat.

You'll probably never get stinking rich, like say Bush, Kerry, or Gates, but you'll have a nice middle class life.[/QUOTE]Anecdotal evidence rarely supports a point.
 
[quote name='jmcc']Anecdotal evidence rarely supports a point.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps, but you've offered nothing to counter it. There is absolutely nothing in that plan I outlined that can't be done by any able-minded individual.

Even people with mild retardation are able to live life on their own, hold down a job, pay rent etc. Why do you seem to think it's too much to ask of the average American?
 
[quote name='Revenantae']

Got some extra money? Save it.

Use goverment aid to go to school. If you're poor, you'll get, at the VERY least, free loans. Most times you'll get grants. Go to school, night school if you need to work. Most schools schedules are flexible enough you can work 80+ hours a week and still attend, it just limits the number of classes you can take, and increases the time till graduation.

Apply for better job. Rinse repeat.

[/quote]

This is all very true. I came from a poor family myself. Worked some shit job making minimum wage throughout high school. Applied for federal aid for college and got a few grants (and loans). Worked throughout college and graduated. Rinse and repeat as well.

The problem lies in the fact that people are lazy. They expect things to be handed to them on a silver platter.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']Perhaps, but you've offered nothing to counter it. There is absolutely nothing in that plan I outlined that can't be done by any able-minded individual.

Even people with mild retardation are able to live life on their own, hold down a job, pay rent etc. Why do you seem to think it's too much to ask of the average American?[/QUOTE]I didn't say that. I said you can't throw around statements like "poor people bring it on themselves." That ignores shit-tons of variables that you don't take into account because they didn't come into play in your case.
 
The quickest way in America to make alot of money from a couple thousand dollars is tax lien certificates. I know people who do this for retirement savings instead of a IRA or 401k. 20%-35% return on your money per year (depends on state) backed up by your local government and the person's house is the collateral if they don't pay you back within one year.
 
[quote name='jmcc']I didn't say that. I said you can't throw around statements like "poor people bring it on themselves." That ignores shit-tons of variables that you don't take into account because they didn't come into play in your case.[/QUOTE]

Too poor people.

A friend of mine family was poor, dad died, mom had a nervous breakdown, they had no money- he and his brother were able to go to Cal Tech, have their PHD's paid for because of their intelegence and willingness to work. They had friends in Highschool who did crack.

LIFE ISN'T fuckING FAIR- GET OVER IT

You make your own luck- stop trying to blame crappy situations on someone else- take some responsiblity for your own life.

Having Kids is a decision, buying stuff other than food / water is a decision. Deal with it.
 
Hmmm, this went in an interesting direction. I was originally posting to see if people knew similar stories. Not many were posted, but this is still very interesting (so I'm glad I posted) (also, sadly, this is the most posts I've ever had for a topic in 3 years here, so thanks everyone :) )

First off, I can't afford the 1K for her. I could give her the $50, but I don't have $1,000 just to give away (been down that road with other family members before, and even if I could lend it to her, I know after a month it won't ever see another cent).

Secondly, even if I did, this really isn't teaching responsibiltity, it's just shoving the problem out the door. In the future, it might have been worth 1k just to have her gone. My thought is, she'll have the house and still not make payments, and she'll eventually just expect others to pick it up for her. I'm not falling in that trap. She does need to grow up, but maybe losing a golden opportunity and seeing that she has no future other than living in another person's house might wake her up.

I doubt it, but we'll see.
 
[quote name='jmcc']I didn't say that. I said you can't throw around statements like "poor people bring it on themselves." That ignores shit-tons of variables that you don't take into account because they didn't come into play in your case.[/QUOTE]
If you'll notice, I repeatedly used the qualifier "MOST". I was poor, I've known plenty of poor people, and I stand by what I said. Sure, there are people that just have things stacked against them from birth. I'll give you that some folks can't catch a break.

However, for every one of those, there are ten more like the OP's sister. Go to a poor neighborhood sometime, if you're brave enough. Ask youself this, why are nice cars parked in these crappy houses? Why are so many kids in this neighborhood wearing brand name clothes? Why do I see big screen TV's and setellite dishes on so many of these homes? How much would these people be able to save if they bought clothes from factory2u, settled for a smaller TV and broadcast television, bought older, but reliable used cars, and used food money for groceries instead of McD's?

MOST of them simply aren't spending their money well, or planning their lives. They choose luxuries NOW instead of a comfortable life LATER.
 
[quote name='friedram']Too poor people.

A friend of mine family was poor, dad died, mom had a nervous breakdown, they had no money- he and his brother were able to go to Cal Tech, have their PHD's paid for because of their intelegence and willingness to work. They had friends in Highschool who did crack.

LIFE ISN'T fuckING FAIR- GET OVER IT

You make your own luck- stop trying to blame crappy situations on someone else- take some responsiblity for your own life.

Having Kids is a decision, buying stuff other than food / water is a decision. Deal with it.[/QUOTE]Tell your friend it was his fault all that bad shit happened to him and see what he says.
 
[quote name='jmcc']Tell your friend it was his fault all that bad shit happened to him and see what he says.[/QUOTE]
You seem to be missing his point; having bad shit happen to you is no excuse for failure.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']If you'll notice, I repeatedly used the qualifier "MOST". I was poor, I've known plenty of poor people, and I stand by what I said. Sure, there are people that just have things stacked against them from birth. I'll give you that some folks can't catch a break.

However, for every one of those, there are ten more like the OP's sister. Go to a poor neighborhood sometime, if you're brave enough. Ask youself this, why are nice cars parked in these crappy houses? Why are so many kids in this neighborhood wearing brand name clothes? Why do I see big screen TV's and setellite dishes on so many of these homes? How much would these people be able to save if they bought clothes from factory2u, settled for a smaller TV and broadcast television, bought older, but reliable used cars, and used food money for groceries instead of McD's?

MOST of them simply aren't spending their money well, or planning their lives. They choose luxuries NOW instead of a comfortable life LATER.[/QUOTE]You can stand by your point all you want. That doesn't change the fact that you're not qualified to throw around "most" in this case.
 
[quote name='jmcc']You can stand by your point all you want. That doesn't change the fact that you're not qualified to throw around "most" in this case.[/QUOTE]
So, your argument, in short, is that the majority of poor people are poor because " all sorts of bad shitt happened to each and every one of them". Only a small minority can choose to spend their money on education. Only a small minority can save. Only a small minority can try to better themselves. The rest simply have retailers YANK money right out of their wallets and place luxury items they can't truly afford in their homes.

BS. Sorry, but for all this countries fault, the USofA is stil the land of opportunity. Anyone who wants to improve themselves, and works hard to do so, can. All the tools are provided. Govermnet assistence for education? Check. Quality education from myriad community colleges? Check. Job programs? Check.

Sorry, but you just don't have an argument on your side. Almost anyone who is poor is NOT USING THE TOOLS PROVIDED FOR THEM. That makes their situation their own fault.
 
[quote name='Revenantae'] Ask youself this, why are nice cars parked in these crappy houses? Why are so many kids in this neighborhood wearing brand name clothes? Why do I see big screen TV's and setellite dishes on so many of these homes? How much would these people be able to save if they bought clothes from factory2u, settled for a smaller TV and broadcast television, bought older, but reliable used cars, and used food money for groceries instead of McD's?

MOST of them simply aren't spending their money well, or planning their lives. They choose luxuries NOW instead of a comfortable life LATER.[/quote]
The answer to why this is, is quite simple really. Society. It's become the "norm" to want to have it now. America has become a "give it to me now" society. I find it simply amazing sometimes to sit back and watch this happen.

Living in the south, I notice this a lot. Very nice SUV, 24" Rims, etc, parked outside of a ratty house.

Why does this happen? People aren't taught how to save/spend their money. They do what they see on TV or what they see their friends do. Short of an economics class, when was the last time an individual "learns" how to spend/save money? They usually don't. It's up to that individual to make it a point to want to "break the norm" that society has procured.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']So, your argument, in short, is that the majority of poor people are poor because " all sorts of bad shitt happened to each and every one of them". Only a small minority can choose to spend their money on education. Only a small minority can save. Only a small minority can try to better themselves. The rest simply have retailers YANK money right out of their wallets and place luxury items they can't truly afford in their homes.

BS. Sorry, but for all this countries fault, the USofA is stil the land of opportunity. Anyone who wants to improve themselves, and works hard to do so, can. All the tools are provided. Govermnet assistence for education? Check. Quality education from myriad community colleges? Check. Job programs? Check.

Sorry, but you just don't have an argument on your side. Almost anyone who is poor is NOT USING THE TOOLS PROVIDED FOR THEM. That makes their situation their own fault.[/QUOTE]No, my argument is that you can't say "most poor people bring it on themselves." You're trying to shift it to "most poor people can succeed if they try." That's fine, it's just not what you originally said. What you originally said is that people are responsible for their poverty regardless of situation, which is ridiculous and beyond your authority to say.
 
I don't even want to get started on my ex-boyfriend's family... God damn fuckers....

His mother's boyfriend makes $30k a year as an insurance salesman. They have 5 kids in the family from four different fathers. His mother doesn't work, of course, and feeds off the MA welfare, etc. even though she doesn't even live there anymore (gets the aid through her PO box in MA). Of course, like the other people in this topic, they have shit that no person in their position should need. Satellite TV, cell phones, a bunch of other shit, while the children are fed cereal for dinner and the adults get fish and a full dinner. The mother spends the $100 a week she gets from one of the fathers- the only one that actually pays up besides the boyfriend- on DVDs, movie tickets, dinner at a nice restaurant, and other shit that's certainly not a necessity.

The ex inherited similar values, which I'm not going to go into in depth this post. Let's just say he wasted my parents' money on college tuition for a summer and got a 1.9 GPA (failing two classes), convinced us to get him a $3000 laptop, and we paid for all his expenses while he lived with us for 6 months. And what do I get in return? Physical and verbal abuse on me and my mother, and 3 years wasted of my romantic life, as well as thousands of dollars. Well, at least now I'm with a lawyer who was a football player in college, so if he ever tries anything, he's fucked.


EDIT: Also forgot to add that my ex keylogged my computer to get my passwords, AIM conversations, etc, so I couldn't talk to any of my friends about it except in person, which isn't an option most of the time because of distance.
 
[quote name='Dead of Knight']I don't even want to get started on my ex-boyfriend's family... God damn fuckers....

His mother's boyfriend makes $30k a year as an insurance salesman. They have 5 kids in the family from four different fathers. His mother doesn't work, of course, and feeds off the MA welfare, etc. even though she doesn't even live there anymore (gets the aid through her PO box in MA). Of course, like the other people in this topic, they have shit that no person in their position should need. Satellite TV, cell phones, a bunch of other shit, while the children are fed cereal for dinner and the adults get fish and a full dinner. The mother spends the $100 a week she gets from one of the fathers- the only one that actually pays up besides the boyfriend- on DVDs, movie tickets, dinner at a nice restaurant, and other shit that's certainly not a necessity. [/quote]

shit like this pisses me off. i work my tales off and drive a beat up used car and people on welfare are driving lexus. i mean, welfare comes from my tax dollars!!!
 
[quote name='jmcc']No, my argument is that you can't say "most poor people bring it on themselves." You're trying to shift it to "most poor people can succeed if they try." That's fine, it's just not what you originally said. What you originally said is that people are responsible for their poverty regardless of situation, which is ridiculous and beyond your authority to say.[/QUOTE]
The thing you are missing is that those two statements are functionally equivalent. If a poor person betters him/herself they will not stay poor. If they stay poor, they did not better themselves. If they did not better themselves, it's simply because they did not use the tools provided for them. If they did not use the tools, the fault is theirs. Ergo, most people are poor because of themselves, their choices, and their actions.

I did not say "regardless of situation". I already said that some folks can't catch a break. Some are born severely handicapped. Some are mowed down by devastating diseases. Some are just plain unlucky and get hit by falling branches or struck by lightening. They are, however, a tiny minority.Most people are responsible for thier situation.

The problem, it seems, is that "trying" part. Too many people these days think wealth and good fortune should be showered upon them simply for existing. They don't think they should have to work, suffer or sacrifice.
 
[quote name='jmcc']Tell your friend it was his fault all that bad shit happened to him and see what he says.[/QUOTE]

Learn2Read

My friends did better than most people would have ever thought because they applied themselves and are brilliant people. You have to have something to offer other than "I WANTS STUFF" to go somewhere in life.

Hell- we need people to make minimum wage- I just want them to shut the hell up and accept their lot in life

or... do something about it.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']The thing you are missing is that those two statements are functionally equivalent. If a poor person betters him/herself they will not stay poor. If they stay poor, they did not better themselves. If they did not better themselves, it's simply because they did not use the tools provided for them. If they did not use the tools, the fault is theirs. Ergo, most people are poor because of themselves, their choices, and their actions.

I did not say "regardless of situation". I already said that some folks can't catch a break. Some are born severely handicapped. Some are mowed down by devastating diseases. Some are just plain unlucky and get hit by falling branches or struck by lightening. They are, however, a tiny minority.Most people are responsible for thier situation.

The problem, it seems, is that "trying" part. Too many people these days think wealth and good fortune should be showered upon them simply for existing. They don't think they should have to work, suffer or sacrifice.[/QUOTE]No, they aren't equivalent. One is saying people have control over their socio-economic background. The other says they have control over their socio-economic future.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']The answer to why this is, is quite simple really. Society. It's become the "norm" to want to have it now. America has become a "give it to me now" society. I find it simply amazing sometimes to sit back and watch this happen.

Living in the south, I notice this a lot. Very nice SUV, 24" Rims, etc, parked outside of a ratty house.

Why does this happen? People aren't taught how to save/spend their money. They do what they see on TV or what they see their friends do. Short of an economics class, when was the last time an individual "learns" how to spend/save money? They usually don't. It's up to that individual to make it a point to want to "break the norm" that society has procured.[/QUOTE]

This is the best post in this thread- my hats off to you Mtxbass1. People'd rather have tricked out cars NOW, than something that will do them more good in the long run (house in a non-Ghetto neighborhood)
 
[quote name='friedram']Learn2Read

My friends did better than most people would have ever thought because they applied themselves and are brilliant people. You have to have something to offer other than "I WANTS STUFF" to go somewhere in life.

Hell- we need people to make minimum wage- I just want them to shut the hell up and accept their lot in life

or... do something about it.[/QUOTE]Go back to the original post on the subject and peruse it before telling me to learn to read. "Most poor people bring it on themselves" was the statement. If you're agreeing with that point, and I assume you are since you're attempting to argue against me, you're saying it's the fault of people put into poverty by circumstance that they're poor. So your friend's harsh original lot in life is his own fault by your logic. So go ask him why he chose to be born into that.
 
[quote name='jmcc']No, they aren't equivalent. One is saying people have control over their socio-economic background. The other says they have control over their socio-economic future.[/QUOTE]
Yes, they are. If you have control over your socioeconomic future NOW, you had it 5 years ago too. Thats the thing. Most people who ARE poor have only themselves to blame. Those unlucky bastards previously named excepted.
 
I was taught that if you get a college education,especially business, you will be successful. Yeah Right!!!!! Here I am roughly 1.5 years after college and making roughly 2 dollars more an hour than in HS. I did everything society told me to do yet.......I get nowhere. AMERICA IS A SCAM. Unless your a cracker from a well heeled family the odds of you making it in today's America is close to zero. BTW, I'm a white male. Until working and middle class people wake up that capitalism only works for people who live off investments and capital gains this country will never change. 45 million with no health care. 11% REAL unemplyment when you add in people who have given up looking for work Source: The Nation Magazine . Foreclosure all time high. Inflation at 7 year high. DOW and SP have gone no where in the last 6 years. Last, PEOPLE ARE NOT SAVING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!! I'm no way poor. My parents have a 300K house that IS PAID FOR NO MORTGAGE and roughly 200k in savings on top of that! However, my generation will have to work three times as harder in order to achieve what my parents did due to over blown free markets.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']Yes, they are. If you have control over your socioeconomic future NOW, you had it 5 years ago too. Thats the thing. Most people who ARE poor have only themselves to blame. Those unlucky bastards previously named excepted.[/QUOTE]You'd have a point if it was a significant minority. But 13 million of the 39 million people in poverty in America are children. So saying they're responsible for their own welfare is a throwback of a couple hundre years.
 
[quote name='dberuvides']I was taught that if you get a college education,especially business, you will be successful. Yeah Right!!!!! Here I am roughly 1.5 years after college and making roughly 2 dollars more an hour than in HS. I did everything society told me to do yet.......I get nowhere. AMERICA IS A SCAM. Unless your a cracker from a well heeled family the odds of you making it in today's America is close to zero. BTW, I'm a white male. Until working and middle class people wake up that capitalism only works for people who live off investments and capital gains this country will never change. 45 million with no health care. 11% REAL unemplyment when you add in people who have given up looking for work Source: The Nation Magazine . Foreclosure all time high. Inflation at 7 year high. DOW and SP have gone no where in the last 6 years. Last, PEOPLE ARE NOT SAVING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!! I'm no way poor. My parents have a 300K house that IS PAID FOR NO MORTGAGE and roughly 200k in savings on top of that! However, my generation will have to work three times as harder in order to achieve what my parents did due to over blown free markets.[/QUOTE]
Absolute and complete bullshit. Pick me ANYONE who is living "just a paycheck away" and lets take a look at what they do with their money, shall we?

Got cable? $50 a month right there. Eat out for lunch every day? Theres another $200 a month. Fancy new car vs reliable used car, 1-3 hundred a month. Raise the thermostat a few degrees, another $20 a month. Drop the cell phone $60 a month. Quit going out to eat or spending money at bars $70 a month.

As was pointed out earlier, the amount of money people blow is phenomenal. Yes even middle class people are feeling the squeeze, but it's not because of "those damn rich crackers". It's because, as with poor people they are making bad choices. Don't buy anything but a house that you can't afford to pay cash for, and when you buy a house, buy what you can afford. Live by those rules, and you'll NEVER be "a paycheck away".
 
[quote name='jmcc']You'd have a point if it was a significant minority. But 13 million of the 39 million people in poverty in America are children. So saying they're responsible for their own welfare is a throwback of a couple hundre years.[/QUOTE]
I'll grant you children. I should have stated I am talking about able-bodied people old enough to get a job. My bad.
 
[quote name='dberuvides'] Last, PEOPLE ARE NOT SAVING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote]

What?

This is bullshit. EVERY PERSON can save money. Even if you save something as small as $5 a week, it can be done. That adds up to over $260 a year. I find it hard to believe that anyone who works a job simply cannot afford to save money. It's that they choose not to. Even if you are saving pennies, you are still saving money. It all adds up over time. People don't get rich over night.

Saving money requires making smarter choices. A prime example of this is eating out verses cooking at home. I spend roughly $25-40 everytime I go out to dinner with my girlfriend. If we had taken that money and went to the grocery store, we could have bought at least 2-3 (or more) good meals. The same would apply to any situation like this. If you cut back on spending, or make wiser spending choices, you will save money. It's all about discipline.
 
[quote name='Revenantae']Absolute and complete bullshit. Pick me ANYONE who is living "just a paycheck away" and lets take a look at what they do with their money, shall we?

Got cable? $50 a month right there. Eat out for lunch every day? Theres another $200 a month. Fancy new car vs reliable used car, 1-3 hundred a month. Raise the thermostat a few degrees, another $20 a month. Drop the cell phone $60 a month. Quit going out to eat or spending money at bars $70 a month.

As was pointed out earlier, the amount of money people blow is phenomenal. Yes even middle class people are feeling the squeeze, but it's not because of "those damn rich crackers". It's because, as with poor people they are making bad choices. Don't buy anything but a house that you can't afford to pay cash for, and when you buy a house, buy what you can afford. Live by those rules, and you'll NEVER be "a paycheck away".[/quote]

Hey tell that to someone who is making $7 an hour, full time working. That's below 1k a month AFTER taxes. Who can live on less than a 1k a month unless they live with mom and dad or a boat load of roommates.:drool: Yet one in four wokers in America are currently in this situation. Ie making less than 20k per year.
 
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