V
vampiredust
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I saw this and had to laugh, considering that 37 million Americans live below the poverty line
V
vampiredust
Guest
I agree
R. Richard
Literotica Guru
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I don't know about the rest of you, but when I went to high school they told me that they would not even address my concern about getting a job after I graduated. The same thing occurred in college. What is quoted as the path to a decent life is entirely ignored by the American public educational system.
I took classes that I hoped would lead me to a good paying job. I then used those classes to obtain a halfway decent paying job and learned more on the job so that I could make more money.
Never once was I asked to memorize poetry on any of my jobs.
It would appear that the people living below the poverty line could use more job training and less memorization of poetry.
JMNTHO.
I took classes that I hoped would lead me to a good paying job. I then used those classes to obtain a halfway decent paying job and learned more on the job so that I could make more money.
Never once was I asked to memorize poetry on any of my jobs.
It would appear that the people living below the poverty line could use more job training and less memorization of poetry.
JMNTHO.
S-Des
Comfortably Numb
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There are some innaccuracies in that article. In our state, the minimum wage is much higher. The cost of living is different in every state, so the real poverty line isn't the same (you definitely couldn't survive here on what it takes to survive in Kentucky). I think the biggest problems are health care and investment. Obviously living without health care (especially with kids) is an incredibly risky gamble. If you lose, it will take a long time to get out. In some cases, not being able to get proper health care limits the jobs you can do.
The problem with investment is that people don't know how to make the most of what they earn. Immigrants come here and live in conditions that many would refuse to (many adults to an apartment, no TV, no car, etc...). They save enough money to get out of debt, then are in a better position to stay out of poverty. Speaking from someone who never invested anything (and lost an estimated $75,000 just in apartment costs alone), I promise you I have saved a lot more since my income was cut in half than I ever did before (and now that I picked up a good job, I'll remember those lessons).
Children and divorce are big ones too. Child support for a divorced (separated) parent is something that can keep you from being able to get out of debt. Child care is incredibly expensive, so a single mother (or father) trying to work will be faced with difficult choices. To me, these should be the first thing to be addressed by the new congress (they're probably going to raise the Fed minimum wage, but it still won't be as high as our state one).
The problem with investment is that people don't know how to make the most of what they earn. Immigrants come here and live in conditions that many would refuse to (many adults to an apartment, no TV, no car, etc...). They save enough money to get out of debt, then are in a better position to stay out of poverty. Speaking from someone who never invested anything (and lost an estimated $75,000 just in apartment costs alone), I promise you I have saved a lot more since my income was cut in half than I ever did before (and now that I picked up a good job, I'll remember those lessons).
Children and divorce are big ones too. Child support for a divorced (separated) parent is something that can keep you from being able to get out of debt. Child care is incredibly expensive, so a single mother (or father) trying to work will be faced with difficult choices. To me, these should be the first thing to be addressed by the new congress (they're probably going to raise the Fed minimum wage, but it still won't be as high as our state one).
Misty_Morning
Narcissistic Hedonist
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I have known several couples whose incomes were between $120,000 and $200,000 and basically lived pay check to pay check. However they always had to have their play pretties and lived far beyond their means.
I knew this one couple that used to really irritate me. We were at a dinner party about 9 years ago and the husband showed me his "new" rolex that he picked up for $7,000 used and it originally cost over $20,000. He was so proud of himself. I then showed him my Timex indiglo watch that I got at Walmart for $19.95 and then showed him that it even had a light on it.
If you got it, great. But if you got it and bitch about how hard times are, shame on you.
Personally at this particular time I wish I had been a little more frugal with my money over the last few years. But I can't change the past and am grateful that I did manage to sock away a nice bit of change. Cuz I really need it now. My weekly unemployment payments are about 22% of what I would normally bring home. Some of my friends have no sympathy and say that I still make more than some folks with jobs. But I have no benefits. But I do have a roof over my head, food in my house, and my car has just been paid off.
I knew this one couple that used to really irritate me. We were at a dinner party about 9 years ago and the husband showed me his "new" rolex that he picked up for $7,000 used and it originally cost over $20,000. He was so proud of himself. I then showed him my Timex indiglo watch that I got at Walmart for $19.95 and then showed him that it even had a light on it.
If you got it, great. But if you got it and bitch about how hard times are, shame on you.
Personally at this particular time I wish I had been a little more frugal with my money over the last few years. But I can't change the past and am grateful that I did manage to sock away a nice bit of change. Cuz I really need it now. My weekly unemployment payments are about 22% of what I would normally bring home. Some of my friends have no sympathy and say that I still make more than some folks with jobs. But I have no benefits. But I do have a roof over my head, food in my house, and my car has just been paid off.
rgraham666
Literotica Guru
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Thanks for the laugh. 
Let see, my disability is $8,053 Cdn a year which is $6,845.77 US.
I do alright. Rarely go hungry, sometimes but rarely. Can even afford to go out for beer once a month with friends.
Some people just don't know when they are well off.
Let see, my disability is $8,053 Cdn a year which is $6,845.77 US.
I do alright. Rarely go hungry, sometimes but rarely. Can even afford to go out for beer once a month with friends.
Some people just don't know when they are well off.
TheeGoatPig
There is no R in my name
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Did anyone else notice that they lived on 3 acres? That's a lot of land. I live in a nice sized house on 1/3 of any acre, which is also nice. 3 acrse is fucking huge compared to my place.
Shut up about it already! You don't need to live like that!
Shut up about it already! You don't need to live like that!
FallingToFly
Political Stance: Porn
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vampiredust said:
Thanks, Dusty... now I've been involved in taking surveys for the past twenty minutes.
FallingToFly
Political Stance: Porn
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FallingToFly said:Thanks, Dusty... now I've been involved in taking surveys for the past twenty minutes.
And I just replied to myself... gah... anyway... yet another absolutely hilarious and REALLY strange fact of the world.
http://www.jollyjohns.com/?aun=Volition&acid=1978&am=0
Go ahead, take a look!
CrimsonMaiden
Pretty in Pink
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cloudy said:God, what a whiner.
"I just can't live on $150,000 a year!"
We get by on less than a third of that.
So do we, and there are 6 of us.
cheerful_deviant
Head of the Flock
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My family of 5 has to make due with about half of that income. Personally, I'm with the group that says stop whining.
And for the record, the cost of living in Massachusetts as opposed to Nebraska is alot higher.
And for the record, the cost of living in Massachusetts as opposed to Nebraska is alot higher.
starrkers
Down two, then left
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Not only do they live on three acres, they have two investment properties that are losing them money.
SO GET RID OF AT LEAST ONE OF THEM!
Sheesh, we get by on about 1/5 of that figure. We run two cars (old but perfectly servicable). Things get ugly moneywise every now and then, but we're still here, the kids have clothes and shoes and food. We're working on the roof over our heads
Yeah, it can be hard to learn to do without. We used to have a combined income of more twice what we do now and one child. Now on one income and three kids we don't go to restaurants; we don't go to expensive entertainment venues (hell, the kids had more fun on a ferry ride than they ever did at an amusement park!)
SO GET RID OF AT LEAST ONE OF THEM!
Sheesh, we get by on about 1/5 of that figure. We run two cars (old but perfectly servicable). Things get ugly moneywise every now and then, but we're still here, the kids have clothes and shoes and food. We're working on the roof over our heads
Yeah, it can be hard to learn to do without. We used to have a combined income of more twice what we do now and one child. Now on one income and three kids we don't go to restaurants; we don't go to expensive entertainment venues (hell, the kids had more fun on a ferry ride than they ever did at an amusement park!)
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