Posted by AuntieMel on May 10, 2005, at 13:13:00
In reply to Re: I beg to differ » AuntieMel, posted by alexandra_k on May 9, 2005, at 15:46:05
I understand your points, but .....
>>>It is easier to spend less than you earn if you earn so much you don't 'need' to spend it all.
>>>Much harder if you only earn enough to meet your basic needs in the first place...
That was exactly the point. Most of the people that manage to amass a million don't make any more than those that don't. No matter how tight things are, I believe that anyone can make do on 5% to 10% less - and save the rest. Putting away that little bit regularly has to be a top priority.
>>>>Though there is something to the never having had any money so then when you do going banana's idea. Bit like if you have always had too little food then you tend to become a bit of a pig when food is available. The body takes a while to forget its former state of deprivation...
Or maybe it takes a state of mind that spending all you have is a bad thing.
>>>>But I do think redistribution is in order.
I wish they had done that 15-20 years ago!
>>>>Do you think there should be free access to healthcare, education, reasonable food and housing etc?
>>>>Would you be prepared to pay more tax so that that could happen?
The second part of your question answers the first one - nothing is free. But yes, I would pay more in taxes to increase access to education and healthcare. Free food and housing is a maybe.
>>>>What happens if you are out of a job?
>>>>How many weeks or months do you qualify for assistance?
>>>>Then what happens to you?In the state where I live (one of the least out-of-work friendly ones) you get 6 months of a pittance for unemployment.
What happens is you find a way to survive. Hubby and I *both* lost jobs in the '86 downturn of the oil biz - along with hundred of thousands of other people (and the jobs are still shrinking. last count 1.1 million jobs lost in the industry)
But we made it somehow. Renegotiated the mortgate, took what work we cound find, etc, until we got something more reasonable. Thankfully because of our 'always put something away' thinking we did have some savings and no debt besides the house.
>>>>They have the best standard of living for everyone in the world.
>>>>(Sorry to disillusion you peoples).
>>>>They have the best welfare benefits in the world.I, myself, don't equate best welfare with best standard of living. I think we could use more welfare, but it should be geared towards re-education.
You are right >>> the playing field is not level. But I'm not sure the rest of your argument is true. Or maybe it's statistically true, but ....
>>>But what makes it most likely that you will get an education?
>>>The fact that your parents did.My father went to a couple of years of college and didn't do well so he dropped out. He spent the rest of his life in chemical plants. My mother started nursing school but quit when she got married.
>>>What makes it most likely that you will have money?
>>>The fact that your parents did.My father was a lousy money manager. He never asked how much something cost, just how much the payment was. While he made a "decent" lower middle/middle class income we had no extra cash. I made all my own clothes for school and bought used jeans for $2.00. No money for college.
>>>What makes it most likely that you will get a high paying job?
>>>The fact that at least one of your parents did.Neither of my parents made much money. I was ashamed to have friends over - no curtains, no rugs, etc. The only decorative items were given to us. Neither took pride in the exterior of the house - if anything got weeded or planted I was the one doing it.
So - sure the playing field doesn't start out level.
But...
I got married young to get out of my miserable surroundings - and got divorsed not too long after. At that point I:
1) Went to the local (25 miles away) community college to get a technical degree. I was so poor I qualified for every government grant, loan, workstudy that was out there. In addition to that I worked three part time jobs (at the same time!) and took care of my son.
When I finished that bit (in the 2 years it's supposed to take) I had enough training to get me a job in the 'big city.' So I packed up and moved and enrolled in night school. I was lucky - my job was early (I got out at 3:30) and I could arrange my 10-12 semester hours of school to only take 2 days a week so I still had plenty of time to spend with the munchkin.
Five years of night school and the downturn hit and I was made redundant. Somehow I managed to get back to school - making money tutoring on campus. Then my old job wanted me back, so I went there part time which eased up the cash flow. Meanwhile hubby got a new job - but it paid commission so that was impossible to count on.
So, yes the playing field isn't level. But I wouldn't trade those years of struggle for the dole for anything.
And one more thing:
>>>>Not just because of continuing racisism etc which continues to shackle them but because in the race of life they were shackled from the starting line. It isn't enough to simply remove the shackles and expect them to catch up with their competitors who were never shackled.
I read last week that over 75% of black Americans have middle class or better incomes. I'm just guessing, but I think it would probably be about the same percentage of whites.
poster:AuntieMel
thread:495094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050509/msgs/496028.html