Detroit becomes Largest City in US History to File Bankruptcy

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
221

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Zeppelin795 wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]pittbulll wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

What is corrupt about it? You don’t get paid enough?[/quote]

They are buying our elections
[/quote]

If your talking about unions (I know your not), then I agree with you.[/quote]
What about the private sector? I wonder what the dollar for dollar comparison is?[/quote]

in 2008 Unions contributed, verifiably $206.7 million to Obama directly (that’s the verifiable number, it has been suggested that it was more than that and it definitely was if you include the political costs of lobbyists, pollsters, and campaigners). John McCain only raised $368 million total.

An article in the Wallstreet Journal, indicated that between unions reported $1.1 billion in campaign spending the Federal Elections Commission and Congress. However there was an additional $3.3 billion spent on political activity according to the unions’ report to the Labor Department.

I highly doubt any group spent more than that, as that kind of money will buy you a lot of political influence.[/quote]

Check out opensecrets.org lots of good information in regards to donations and where the money is coming from.

222

[quote]countingbeans wrote:]

Sure, but the American people are just as much to blame at this point.
[/quote]

we agree , but If I were a politician my first interest would be to fix that problem, to educate the people why we need campaign finance reform . I heard a figure that 50 people in America donate more than %50 of Americans . That in essence gives 50 people more power than %50 of America.

That is a classic example of an imbalance in power

223

[quote]pittbulll wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:]

Sure, but the American people are just as much to blame at this point.
[/quote]

we agree , but If I were a politician my first interest would be to fix that problem, to educate the people why we need campaign finance reform . I heard a figure that 50 people in America donate more than %50 of Americans . That in essence gives 50 people more power than %50 of America.

That is a classic example of an imbalance in power[/quote]

Well, I’m sure there are a lot of people who think like this.

However, I would imagine your first interest would be getting elected. And your second interest would be getting re-elected, and whatever your third interest was, would be largely irrelevant to the other two.

And holy crap, you and I, and Zep and I have agreed each in the same day. Pretty sure Hell is all but frozen. :wink:

224

Democrats. Can’t live with them, can’t kill them.

225

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.

226

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.

227

I still like my idea…

People have knowledge at their fingertips but want entertainment over politics and truth. That’s why people feed off the political play and bashing and not actually what’s being said. Everyone I knew that worked hard was pissed Obama was probably going to be elected a second term, only the people trying to PC or “cool” wanted another term, or the folks with their hands out.

Detroit is a great example of what the folks with their hands out will become if they are allowed to their own devices. Its kind of sad and funny, but Detroit is a lot like Gotham in Batman Begins. The city limped along until finally the last of what was helping it hold on caved and there now it lies in ruin.

People won’t learn from this though, that requires honest thought, reflection, and responsibility. Just as the Ancient Romans took to the colliseums while the world collapsed around them, so too will the US watch Honey Booboo (or whatever it is, I’ve never seen it) and reality TV while the rest of the world move on without it.

228

[quote]Bauber wrote:

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.
[/quote]

Me as an accountant for that same district makes $18.75 and hour (for only a 235 day working year) which equates to $35,250 a year. I am married, the sole wage earner in my home and putting my wife through nursing school. But guess what, I have a cheap phone with a $25 a month basic plan and two paid for vehicles that I am praying make it till she finishes school. We don’t go out much but we do some and neither of us feel like we are deprived of anything. Its all about priorities.

229

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Bauber wrote:

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.
[/quote]

Me as an accountant for that same district makes $18.75 and hour (for only a 235 day working year) which equates to $35,250 a year. I am married, the sole wage earner in my home and putting my wife through nursing school. But guess what, I have a cheap phone with a $25 a month basic plan and two paid for vehicles that I am praying make it till she finishes school. We don’t go out much but we do some and neither of us feel like we are deprived of anything. Its all about priorities.[/quote]

I get made fun of all the time for my cheapo cell phone. I hear “it’s only 30 extra dollars a month for a smart phone” all the time. The best part of giving up all this extraneous crap is that you never miss it. It’s death by a thousand cuts, 30 dollars more for a cell phone, 100+ dollars for cable TV and internet, eating out at dinner. These things over a year add up to thousands of dollars. Cut them out and minimum wage becomes very livable.

Oddly enough, once you learn to be content you manage your money better. When your income increases your lifestyle doesn’t and then you get to retire with a little dignity.

230

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Bauber wrote:

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.
[/quote]

Me as an accountant for that same district makes $18.75 and hour (for only a 235 day working year) which equates to $35,250 a year. I am married, the sole wage earner in my home and putting my wife through nursing school. But guess what, I have a cheap phone with a $25 a month basic plan and two paid for vehicles that I am praying make it till she finishes school. We don’t go out much but we do some and neither of us feel like we are deprived of anything. Its all about priorities.[/quote]

I get made fun of all the time for my cheapo cell phone. I hear “it’s only 30 extra dollars a month for a smart phone” all the time. The best part of giving up all this extraneous crap is that you never miss it. It’s death by a thousand cuts, 30 dollars more for a cell phone, 100+ dollars for cable TV and internet, eating out at dinner. These things over a year add up to thousands of dollars. Cut them out and minimum wage becomes very livable.

Oddly enough, once you learn to be content you manage your money better. When your income increases your lifestyle doesn’t and then you get to retire with a little dignity.[/quote]

Exactly. I am extremely excited about my wife getting a nursing job, not because we can start living more frivolously but because we are going to take her income and use it to pay off our house in large chunks while living off my salary. Also the nursing school allotment that will not longer be there will go towards at least one new car.

231

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Bauber wrote:

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.
[/quote]

Me as an accountant for that same district makes $18.75 and hour (for only a 235 day working year) which equates to $35,250 a year. I am married, the sole wage earner in my home and putting my wife through nursing school. But guess what, I have a cheap phone with a $25 a month basic plan and two paid for vehicles that I am praying make it till she finishes school. We don’t go out much but we do some and neither of us feel like we are deprived of anything. Its all about priorities.[/quote]

I get made fun of all the time for my cheapo cell phone. I hear “it’s only 30 extra dollars a month for a smart phone” all the time. The best part of giving up all this extraneous crap is that you never miss it. It’s death by a thousand cuts, 30 dollars more for a cell phone, 100+ dollars for cable TV and internet, eating out at dinner. These things over a year add up to thousands of dollars. Cut them out and minimum wage becomes very livable.

Oddly enough, once you learn to be content you manage your money better. When your income increases your lifestyle doesn’t and then you get to retire with a little dignity.[/quote]

Exactly. I am extremely excited about my wife getting a nursing job, not because we can start living more frivolously but because we are going to take her income and use it to pay off our house in large chunks while living off my salary. Also the nursing school allotment that will not longer be there will go towards at least one new car. [/quote]

If you look around only this forum you can see a pretty convincing trend. All of the people who are killing it financially don’t necessarily make a ton of money (some do), but all have similar beliefs when it comes to money and politics. Why is it that some people are capable of winning with 35k while others are fighting off bankruptcy? How can someone with an iPhone possibly convince me that they cannot afford health insurance? Being a financial loser has less to do with how much money you make, but rather how you manage it. These losers are a burden to their families, friends, and country and would rather complain about how you make too much and steal half your income than give up their ostentatious lifestyles.

232

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
The we need to look in the mirror argument sounds great on paper, but have you ever been to a house of mirrors? There not all the same and some just don’t work.
[/quote]

I want to comment on this, but can you expand what you mean first please?[/quote]

200+ million people don’t all think the same. Some thinking it’s better to move out of a city, some try to stay and help, others think crime is the way to live. What do you suggest the guy who has a steady paying but get by a little bit job in Detroit to prevent the city from going bankrupt? and are you saying nobody in Detroit did that?

233

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Bauber wrote:

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.
[/quote]

Me as an accountant for that same district makes $18.75 and hour (for only a 235 day working year) which equates to $35,250 a year. I am married, the sole wage earner in my home and putting my wife through nursing school. But guess what, I have a cheap phone with a $25 a month basic plan and two paid for vehicles that I am praying make it till she finishes school. We don’t go out much but we do some and neither of us feel like we are deprived of anything. Its all about priorities.[/quote]

I get made fun of all the time for my cheapo cell phone. I hear “it’s only 30 extra dollars a month for a smart phone” all the time. The best part of giving up all this extraneous crap is that you never miss it. It’s death by a thousand cuts, 30 dollars more for a cell phone, 100+ dollars for cable TV and internet, eating out at dinner. These things over a year add up to thousands of dollars. Cut them out and minimum wage becomes very livable.

Oddly enough, once you learn to be content you manage your money better. When your income increases your lifestyle doesn’t and then you get to retire with a little dignity.[/quote]

Exactly. I am extremely excited about my wife getting a nursing job, not because we can start living more frivolously but because we are going to take her income and use it to pay off our house in large chunks while living off my salary. Also the nursing school allotment that will not longer be there will go towards at least one new car. [/quote]

If you look around only this forum you can see a pretty convincing trend. All of the people who are killing it financially don’t necessarily make a ton of money (some do), but all have similar beliefs when it comes to money and politics. Why is it that some people are capable of winning with 35k while others are fighting off bankruptcy? How can someone with an iPhone possibly convince me that they cannot afford health insurance? Being a financial loser has less to do with how much money you make, but rather how you manage it. These losers are a burden to their families, friends, and country and would rather complain about how you make too much and steal half your income than give up their ostentatious lifestyles.
[/quote]

Those who bust their ass for the money are not so quick to spend it on frivolous bullshit.

Those who garner money by “other means”, find it easy to spend so recklessly.

Think about it, how responsible would you be with someone else’s money ?

234

[quote]Airtruth wrote:

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
The we need to look in the mirror argument sounds great on paper, but have you ever been to a house of mirrors? There not all the same and some just don’t work.
[/quote]

I want to comment on this, but can you expand what you mean first please?[/quote]

200+ million people don’t all think the same. Some thinking it’s better to move out of a city, some try to stay and help, others think crime is the way to live. What do you suggest the guy who has a steady paying but get by a little bit job in Detroit to prevent the city from going bankrupt? and are you saying nobody in Detroit did that?[/quote]

I would tell him to GTFO out of Detroit, and I would tell him to do it yesterday.

There are no city services, the entire tax base fled, which means whatever dollar he pays is burdened to pay for as much as possible.

Detroit is not coming back, the city is dead, all that is left is for the lawyers to argue over the semantics.

235

[quote]Airtruth wrote:

200+ million people don’t all think the same.[/quote]

No, and that is the good part.

Using Detroit as an example, when you only have one set of ideas to work with… Bad things happen.

My initial comment you quoted wasn’t specific to Detroit, but rather a larger commentary about the state of the union’s electorate.

But what is that person you mention to do? Pay attention, care, and suggest other’s do the same. Stop voting based on TV ads and in terms of party bullshit.

Would it have helped? Apparently not, but you won’t know until you try and all great things tend to start rather small.

I’m saying, very few in America care. Elections are decided by 30 second sound bites which are 95% personal attacks, lies and total misinformation. This is idiotic, and an outside observer would laugh at us.

Some blame “campaign finance”. I say that is a cop out response from people that can’t be bothered to do their own thinking. The American electorate needs to take some personal responsibility and look into matters for themselves, not vote purely for the messenger.

If the last election taught us anything, is a politician can literally lie their entire first campaign, accomplish nothing, and still get re-elected if they can make the other guy look bad…

Modern American politics is a folly, and we have no one, not money not anything, but ourselves to blame.

236

That sad part is, there is no longer a “safe” place in the world to move. The whole thing is going to hell in a hand basket and I can’t decide if some folks are just waiting for it to happen or quite honestly everyone is pulling a Griswald and on the path of “ignorance is bliss.”

237

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Bauber wrote:

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Of course it can, but somehow these people think they are entitled for everyone else to pay for them having kids.
[/quote]

Me as an accountant for that same district makes $18.75 and hour (for only a 235 day working year) which equates to $35,250 a year. I am married, the sole wage earner in my home and putting my wife through nursing school. But guess what, I have a cheap phone with a $25 a month basic plan and two paid for vehicles that I am praying make it till she finishes school. We don’t go out much but we do some and neither of us feel like we are deprived of anything. Its all about priorities.[/quote]

I get made fun of all the time for my cheapo cell phone. I hear “it’s only 30 extra dollars a month for a smart phone” all the time. The best part of giving up all this extraneous crap is that you never miss it. It’s death by a thousand cuts, 30 dollars more for a cell phone, 100+ dollars for cable TV and internet, eating out at dinner. These things over a year add up to thousands of dollars. Cut them out and minimum wage becomes very livable.

Oddly enough, once you learn to be content you manage your money better. When your income increases your lifestyle doesn’t and then you get to retire with a little dignity.[/quote]

Hell, cut it out anyways and if you make more than minimum wage suddenly those thousands become the new worldwide trips you always wanted to take, or the next cruise ship, or road trips once a month on weekends, or new guitar amps, or camping gear, or motorcycle. Shit everybody around you is now saying “man I can’t afford to travel. how are you going to Peru AND France next year?”

238

[quote]countingbeans wrote:

And holy crap, you and I, and Zep and I have agreed each in the same day. Pretty sure Hell is all but frozen. ;)[/quote]

239

[quote]Aragorn wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]dmaddox wrote:

What is a living wage? Able to put food on the table, put a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. Minimum wage does do that. The issue is people want more. They want to live on more than they make. They dont just want food they want steak and lobster. They dont just want a roof over their head, they want a mansion. They dont want just clothes, they want Jordans, Ralph Lauren shirts, and expensive jeans. Minimum wage gives you a basic living, not a life of luxury. It is jealousy or some call it coveting. They want to take from the rich so they can feel more rich themselves.
[/quote]

Exactly, people with no real skills that would justify them earning a wage greater than “just getting by” believe that they are entitled to the same things that those that actually have set themselves apart have and more. A first year teacher in our district makes 32,100 in our district.
[/quote]

Interesting… so you’re telling me that the $20 per hour “livable wage” that Pittbull talks about actually makes almost 10,000 more per year than a first year teacher? (FYI, 20/hour is roughly 41,000 per year, gross).

Yeah, not buying that. “living wage” is significantly less than 40K a year unless you’re in a very high cost area (such as NYC…where you have to have a salary of approximately 100,000 to match the quality of life in my area that you get on roughly 40,000 per year. How’s that blue democrat ticket working out for them again?).

I lived on pretty much minimum wage…by myself, in an apartment with no roommates, with food and a phone…for a long time. It can be done. Maybe not if you have 5 kids, but it can be done.[/quote]

Don’t really care what you are buying , we have to Reredistribute the wealth :slight_smile:

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