Are you rich or do you work for a living??

Yeah, I am going to rant a bit here. I HATE the term "working class". Politicians use it, people who dont make much money use it and I will tell you why it sucks.

People like to complain "look at that rich guy, he sucks" then they go on to say "Im a workin' fella" or "I aint got no Mercedes, no-sir-ee, I work for a livin'"

Politicians like to say "Tax the rich and help out the working man"...Ok, enough of that crap already!!!

Look, Kristie and I live check to check like most folks and there are those times when you think "uh oh...where did the money go?"...well, we are not going to starve, but you get the point...so yes, we are "working class".

So what about rich people...they dont work? I suspect there are a few rich folks who simply had the money dumped in their lap, but for the most part, people who are rich worked for it so guess what that makes them...yep..."working class"

My parents are not rich by any means...but they do pretty well and are financially secure. WAY BACK WHEN my dad went to college, he worked odd jobs including a slaughter house to be able to go to school. When he went to medical school, mom was a nurse and worked 70 and 80 hour weeks to help with expenses and dad also took on more odd jobs. They would rent peoples basements to live in, eat peanutbutter sandwiches for weeks on end and walk to work and/or school everyday. When I was little and all through my time at home, I remember dad getting up at 4am every morning and coming home at 5 or 6 in the evening...and of course the 2am phone calls for emergencies and having to leave often in the middle of the night. He is in his 70s and still works about 30 hours a week. Mom is still a nurse and volunteers for a hospice.

Kristie's brother is an airplane mechanic...up every morning, plenty of overtime and all of that. He is not rich, but he has a big house, 2 cars, motorcycle and a big ass TV and all the good stuff...and he works his ass off for every bit of it.

So I guess it just hacks me off when those who dont have much get mad at those who do and then think the deserve to take from those who have. And politicians who use class-envy to get elected by promising to take from the "mean old rich people" and give it to the "working class".

Just because somebody has a lot does not mean they dont work...chances are they just worked a hell of a lot harder to get where they are...took the risk and it paid off.

As for Kristie and me, we live pretty modest...dont travel, have a small but comfy home and actually have to budget things in like going out to a nice place to eat...but we are incredibly happy and not jealous at all of those who have more....except for Duff, I am jealous of his Super Ocean

I think Lombardi said "it's amazing how lucky you get when you work hard..."

I think most RICH people on the planet have put in a fair amount of work to get where they are today...

As for the famous, it's US who make them rich by going to their games, seeing their movies, listening to their music, etc...

I enjoy my current lifestyle but would not complain if I won the POWER BALL (course I never buy a ticket)...

The secret is learning to be CONTENT. I've heard someone say J.P. Getty was asked "how much is enough money?" to which he replied "a little bit more..."

That doesn't sound content to me...

My Mom complains about rich people just like you noted in your post. She also complains about her social security not going up.

She quieted down when I asked her two questions:

1) What jobs did you work to better your situation?
2) How much did you contribute to social security?

Of course she got quiet because she never worked a job in her life and never paid into SS.

I also asked her how many jobs poor people have created.

Safe to say, we don't see eye to eye on social and financial matters.

LOL at WP.

It's kind of funny that the average person has no idea how hard Professionals like doctors (except Robert) lawyers and the like work. I know that a buddy of mine puts in a minimum of 70 hours a week, he is a lawyer and has an assistant that does much of the paper work that is normally required in a position like that. He said without an assistant he would have to work twice the number of hours he currently puts in. I have no problem with that fact that his house is 4 times the size of mine and that he drives a Jag and a Hummer. He works his ass off for what he's got and he deserves those luxury items. Luckily he's not married and has no kids. But I can honestly say that I am happy with what I have and would not want to sacrifice my family life to enjoy the creature comforts that Rick does. I would never see my kids, literally. As the old expression goes "Walk a mile in my shoes"

Your right the only ones who don't work for a living, don't contribute to SS, don't have to pay for insurance, etc are the congressmen.....oh yeah sorry no political discussions.

Let me start over, me and my wife work hard, lots of overtime and nightshifts....we spent our $$ on toys (watches for one), or whatever we want or need to. Am I rich?...sure in a lot of ways....but I got $200 in my bank account. I plan to die owing a lot of money... , aint that the American dream? Most 'rich' guys either worked hard, had great ideas, or both to get where they are....more power to them. Are there rich people who never lifted a finger in thier life? SURE...but there are a lot of poor people who think the world owes them a living too.

I'll throw another variable into the mix here. Let's not confuse long hours with hard work. I know a lot of friends and peers that work many hours to product the same amount of work that others do in half the time, it's called efficiency or the lack thereof. We still have a stigmatism around our office that Joe Blow sure puts in a lot of hours he's a dedicated worker. Truth be told, Joe Blow is a bit slow and doesn't know how to manage his time effectively, or goofs off half the day b.s'ing with others. This is why I've always told my people and hope that my boss gives me the latitude to manage my own workload no matter how many hours I put in. As long as the job gets done on time, I don't care if it takes you 10 hours or 50 hours.

WatchNoob wrote:

I'll throw another variable into the mix here. Let's not confuse long hours with hard work. I know a lot of friends and peers that work many hours to product the same amount of work that others do in half the time, it's called efficiency or the lack thereof. We still have a stigmatism around our office that Joe Blow sure puts in a lot of hours he's a dedicated worker. Truth be told, Joe Blow is a bit slow and doesn't know how to manage his time effectively, or goofs off half the day b.s'ing with others. This is why I've always told my people and hope that my boss gives me the latitude to manage my own workload no matter how many hours I put in. As long as the job gets done on time, I don't care if it takes you 10 hours or 50 hours.

Point taken but I can tell you that lawyers do work the majority of the hours that they put in. They are either researching case histories to see if there is a correlation between a case from the past and the one they are currently working on. The paper and computer work is ridiculous, I will reiterate that lawyers earn their keep. JMO.

Sadly our parents are probably the LAST generation that will have any real wealth (or items of substance) to pass down to our generation.

Our generation lives on credit and borrowed funds, and really has very little in actual worth to pass on.

sad.

Great topic. I made 70,000 a year as a cop, more than that with the DSS, and for the last three years, ten dollars an hour at a golf club. My Police retirement is around 30,000 a year. My wife owns a hair salon and clears about fifty a year. We are very far from wealthy. However, with no kids and a decent savings, we have toys and accoutrements that may give the appearance of wealth. It's all about priorities, and what you do with what you make.

TVDinner wrote:

Sadly our parents are probably the LAST generation that will have any real wealth (or items of substance) to pass down to our generation.

Our generation lives on credit and borrowed funds, and really has very little in actual worth to pass on.

sad.

Exactly!

falcon4311 wrote:

WatchNoob wrote:

I'll throw another variable into the mix here. Let's not confuse long hours with hard work. I know a lot of friends and peers that work many hours to product the same amount of work that others do in half the time, it's called efficiency or the lack thereof. We still have a stigmatism around our office that Joe Blow sure puts in a lot of hours he's a dedicated worker. Truth be told, Joe Blow is a bit slow and doesn't know how to manage his time effectively, or goofs off half the day b.s'ing with others. This is why I've always told my people and hope that my boss gives me the latitude to manage my own workload no matter how many hours I put in. As long as the job gets done on time, I don't care if it takes you 10 hours or 50 hours.

Point taken but I can tell you that lawyers do work the majority of the hours that they put in. They are either researching case histories to see if there is a correlation between a case from the past and the one they are currently working on. The paper and computer work is ridiculous, I will reiterate that lawyers earn their keep. JMO.

For the record I wasn't pinpointing Lawyers bro. That goes for the general work force. I think a lot of Lawyers get a bad wrap from the Ambulance chasing Sam Bernstein's of the world. While some people really need this service because they are getting screwed over, their are 10X more it seems that want to make a quick buck off someone's elses' misfortune.

WatchNoob wrote:

falcon4311 wrote:

WatchNoob wrote:

I'll throw another variable into the mix here. Let's not confuse long hours with hard work. I know a lot of friends and peers that work many hours to product the same amount of work that others do in half the time, it's called efficiency or the lack thereof. We still have a stigmatism around our office that Joe Blow sure puts in a lot of hours he's a dedicated worker. Truth be told, Joe Blow is a bit slow and doesn't know how to manage his time effectively, or goofs off half the day b.s'ing with others. This is why I've always told my people and hope that my boss gives me the latitude to manage my own workload no matter how many hours I put in. As long as the job gets done on time, I don't care if it takes you 10 hours or 50 hours.

Point taken but I can tell you that lawyers do work the majority of the hours that they put in. They are either researching case histories to see if there is a correlation between a case from the past and the one they are currently working on. The paper and computer work is ridiculous, I will reiterate that lawyers earn their keep. JMO.

For the record I wasn't pinpointing Lawyers bro. That goes for the general work force. I think a lot of Lawyers get a bad wrap from the Ambulance chasing Sam Bernstein's of the world. While some people really need this service because they are getting screwed over, their are 10X more it seems that want to make a quick buck off someone's elses' misfortune.

I will give you that, I can't deny that there are snakes in every profession.

Sounds like we have a good conserivtive here, I agree with the OP. We live in a country where we all have the opportunity to be "rich", be it start our own business or college, or whatever, the choice is ours. Its all about priorities as to what "stuff" we have and spend our money on, also the instant gratification with a C.C. Or save and wait to pay outright. Its our choice.

What I can't stand is having to pay for someones poor decisions, I give plenty to church and charity as there are truly needy people, but I hate goin to work and paying for people who can and choose not to.

I am rich because I have a great partner, pugs and parrots.
I also have a couple of bucks in my pocket, which I earned the old fashioned way as part of the "working class" though I do come from a family that grew very affluent by seriously hard work.
Mrs. B is a trust fund baby. However, nothing in life is free or without consequences including that. Don't envy "high society." Most people in the Palm Beach crowd have serious emotional problems and are severely crippled in some way.

. . . I wear the term "working class" with great pride. I have to. I started working in sawmils and papermills at age 15, hit the merchant marines very shortly after that, and have never not worked since.

The luxury of a formal education was never in the cards. It was either be a logger or toil in the mills forever. The merchants gave me the chance to escape and see the world. I decided to stay ashore and migrate to the States in the late 70's . . . . and worked, worked, worked. I went back into papermills, and busted my ass to learn . . . not only the job, but the system. The system that would allow an 8th grade educated knuckle-head to rise out of the ranks and be paid for what I know . . . . and not how fast I could pull the plow. I got out of the mills and returned to the water-front, where I am today. Everything I learned along the way, slowly and surely, put me where I am today. I attended a 20 year educational program.

My grey collar roots are my soul, my spirit, my defining aspect. When I'm on the job now, as a Superintendent, the guys may not agree or may not even like me . . . . but they know that I come from the same stock as they do, and I have felt thier aches . . . . I can run equipment they run, I never put them in danger.

Today, people want start as the boss. No no one wants to earn thier place at the table. And they are totally and completely baffled when they don't get "the respect"!!!!

I begrudge no one anything, at any time . . . . if they worked and earned it. I don't care whether your'e a doctor, a lawyer, a judge . . . . . or a papermaker, an office worker, a salesman . . . . . if you work hard, live an honest life, the world is yours to love.

I've been a working stiff for 40 years.
I'll probably work until I drop dead.
I know people my age that are retired now.
To be honest,it doesn't matter to me who has what or how they got it.
I'm relatively content with the way things are.

I have worked as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family that constantly worked on the road either putting on roofing, asbestos and aluminum siding, above ground swimming pools, home renovations...etc. I always worked my summers off of school with my father starting at the age of 8. Unfortunately I also grew up in a family that lived from hand to mouth. Living in the northern part of the country meant you didn't work much in the winter. They were unable to really save for their retirement so that isn't something that was instilled in to us as children. I don't begrudge people that have more than I....there are many, but my wife and I are comfortable. We have a modest roof over our heads, our toys and have built a home in Thailand for when we finally are forced to leave the workforce. I, like Richard believe that most affluent people work hard for what they have.

WatchNoob wrote:

I'll throw another variable into the mix here. Let's not confuse long hours with hard work. I know a lot of friends and peers that work many hours to product the same amount of work that others do in half the time, it's called efficiency or the lack thereof. We still have a stigmatism around our office that Joe Blow sure puts in a lot of hours he's a dedicated worker. Truth be told, Joe Blow is a bit slow and doesn't know how to manage his time effectively, or goofs off half the day b.s'ing with others. This is why I've always told my people and hope that my boss gives me the latitude to manage my own workload no matter how many hours I put in. As long as the job gets done on time, I don't care if it takes you 10 hours or 50 hours.

There is a jack bag i work with who does just this. Always makes a point to get in early and leave the latest. Tool box is constantly running in circles. We all see through him. Goober...

To quote a wise man "Life is like a box of chocolates etc." I think life is all about
the decisions that you make. Just one more drink....I'm ok to drive home....should I attend
college....should I marry young or wait.....should I spend or save.....use protection or not.
All these little decisions add up to what your life is. I am very happy with my decisions.
I have a great wife, two great kids, one great grandson. I have a steady job where I make decent
money and am really not in need of anything. I have lots of friends and an extended family that care
for me. It's nice to have LOTS OF STUFF but, you can't take it with you and when you are about to go
do you think that you will be thinking " I should have bought that green corvette!" No, you'll be thinking
'I wish I could spend one more day with my MOM or DAD or my Wife & Kids. Money isn't that
important in the big scheme of life.......just one man's opinion!