DCUM Class warfare

[Anonymous]

This is sort of a spinoff from the "who can afford a million dollar home?" thread, but also just DCUM in general. There always seems to be jealousy among those who don't earn high wages against those that do here on DCUM. Snide comments like "at least I have my soul" etc just shows how these people who chose different career paths obviously covet the earnings of others. I think this goes to a larger point and where we are in our country. Even as a liberal, I feel as if the class warfare in this country is out of control. People don't just fall into money. The vast majority (I think I read it was 90%) of wealthy and high income people in this country start off with very little and WORK hard. Big Law doesn't just GIVE you $350k (pay attention Ms Cheh I'm your constituent) you work your ass off and sacrifice some social time to reach there. That's why people drive a nice car or live in a nice house because if you can afford it you should take advantage of it. The whole driving a 10yr old Odyssey to prove you're martyr is pretty silly.

[Anonymous]

I think it's rather the perceived lack of empathy on the part of the wealthier portion of the DCUM population. The idea of jealousy is a simplistic and self-serving out, OP.

There are lots of hardworking parents who make under six figures. The almost constant knee jerk response of "well, you shouldn't have had kids if you can't afford them" is inappropriate. When this is then juxtaposed with statements and lamentations about barely getting by on 250K, it's a slice of madness.

[Anonymous]

Excellent point. People make choices in life, but then resent and/or are jealous of the choices and sacrifices made by others. Class warfare is out of control in America. There was a time when the American dream was to work hard and then reap the benefits of your labor. In today's America, you are vilified if you are financially successful.

[Anonymous]

People spend their money differently. Some are taught that when you drive off the lot, your car depreciates greatly, and so a glaring sign to others that you do not manage your money properly if you drive a new car every few years. Some buy "less house" than they can afford so as to not put all their eggs in one basket. But still, consider what they are driving or living in, I suppose.

But I digress. Welcome to D.C. where everyone wants to be a swinging d*ck, but some are just not born well endowed.

To me, if you want to show you are well raised: learn how to treat others, be considerate of their time and attention, be reciprocal, mind your business, strive against yourself to be a better person, count only your OWN pennies, and assume nothing.

[Anonymous]

This is how stupid the population is. Resent those who are paying for you. Dumb f*cks.

[Anonymous]

I think on DCUM the warfare is less about money and more about time and effort invested in children (regardless of money). I.e. that big decision between career and staying at home. For most people in DC that decision is more about feelings of responsibility and self-worth, rather than about money.

[Anonymous]

Here's why...
I make $125k/yr, DH makes $175k/yr. Not shabby at all. Both of us came from rural lower middle class roots. Both of us paid our own way through college. But based on that fact, we are frugal. We put a lot into savings. We don't live beyond our means.
We see a lot of people living beyond their means, buying expensive clothes and new cars, and then turn around and make snide comments about our brand of stroller or the fact that my second child is wearing hand me downs.

I also know a lot of hard working folks that only make $50k/yr.

Just because big law makes $350k/yr doesn't mean they should treat others as if they aren't working hard.

[Anonymous]

As a low earner on DCUM (HHI 160K) I don't resent high earners directly. Only issue that riles me is the unaffordable housing which by some indirect way is because of all the high earners. My solution is to eventually move, but until then peace and love and all that.

[TheManWithAUsername]

Anonymous wrote:This is sort of a spinoff from the "who can afford a million dollar home?" thread, but also just DCUM in general. There always seems to be jealousy among those who don't earn high wages against those that do here on DCUM.

I don't have any comment on that in DCUM - haven't paid enough attention.

Anonymous wrote:I think this goes to a larger point and where we are in our country. Even as a liberal, I feel as if the class warfare in this country is out of control.

I don't buy "liberal" for a second. I never hear that phrase from anyone who didn't lift it straight from Faux news.

Where are the battles in this national class warfare? Or are you referring to the class war resulting in steadily increasing economic disparity over the last three decades?

Anonymous wrote:People don't just fall into money.

Many do. Of those who don't directly receive money, many more fall into the many benefits of a richer home: more stable home life, better nutrition, better education (public or private), cultural education (like grammar), etc., etc. I consider myself to have had a fairly privileged upbringing, and it was nothing compared to what most of my current friends had. I assume that you are trying to give those things to your kids, so you would agree that they matter.

Anonymous wrote:The vast majority (I think I read it was 90%) of wealthy and high income people in this country start off with very little and WORK hard.

Yeah...we'll need a cite for that.

There's a mix of factors. I agree that most high-paying jobs require a lot of work and sacrifice. That doesn't mean that they're equally available to everyone from birth.

[Anonymous]

Those poor rich people, constantly so put upon!

Here's a few things:
1) It's easier to be irresponsible on HHI or $250k than $150k, and much easier than $75k.
2) The rich don't deserve one bit of fellatio for being rich. It's not like they're creating jobs.
3) Some poor people and people in trouble are where they are because they're dumbasses, either in school, or through a string of bad decisions.

[Anonymous]

TheManWithAUsername wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is sort of a spinoff from the "who can afford a million dollar home?" thread, but also just DCUM in general. There always seems to be jealousy among those who don't earn high wages against those that do here on DCUM.

I don't have any comment on that in DCUM - haven't paid enough attention.

Anonymous wrote:I think this goes to a larger point and where we are in our country. Even as a liberal, I feel as if the class warfare in this country is out of control.

I don't buy "liberal" for a second. I never hear that phrase from anyone who didn't lift it straight from Faux news.

Where are the battles in this national class warfare? Or are you referring to the class war resulting in steadily increasing economic disparity over the last three decades?

Anonymous wrote:People don't just fall into money.

Many do. Of those who don't directly receive money, many more fall into the many benefits of a richer home: more stable home life, better nutrition, better education (public or private), cultural education (like grammar), etc., etc. I consider myself to have had a fairly privileged upbringing, and it was nothing compared to what most of my current friends had. I assume that you are trying to give those things to your kids, so you would agree that they matter.

Anonymous wrote:The vast majority (I think I read it was 90%) of wealthy and high income people in this country start off with very little and WORK hard.

Yeah...we'll need a cite for that.

There's a mix of factors. I agree that most high-paying jobs require a lot of work and sacrifice. That doesn't mean that they're equally available to everyone from birth.

The power of the internet:
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/01/14/the-decline-of-inherited-money/

Please try again.

[Anonymous]

PP - I dunno. I know plenty of SAHMs/WAHMs who don't pay attention to their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those poor rich people, constantly so put upon!

Here's a few things:
1) It's easier to be irresponsible on HHI or $250k than $150k, and much easier than $75k.
2) The rich don't deserve one bit of fellatio for being rich. It's not like they're creating jobs.
3) Some poor people and people in trouble are where they are because they're dumbasses, either in school, or through a string of bad decisions.

Who creates jobs?

[Anonymous]

18:23 My husband was raised lower middle class and I was raised lower class. We both worked our butts off to get an education and are now in the top 1% of wage earners. It all depends upon how much you want something, what kind of plan you have, and how flexible you are to change that plan when necessary. I know what it is like to be poor and I know what it is like to be rich. I have not ever nor do I now understand the jealousy and hatred people feel for those who have more than them.

[Anonymous]

9:52 - AGREED. You will never see so much ugliness as when someone percieves you have more than them!

Someone who is cocky just tells me they did not get their pot of gold, and boy are they pissed.

Welcome to D.C.