Do most of you not realize how out of touch and privileged you are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This. This And this.

Btw -- if everyone "beneath" you who didn't make those "smart choices" and "worked hard" like you supposedly did - had made the "smart choices" and "worked hard" where would you be? There is only room for so many at cushy top jobs.
And those who count marrying someone with an inheritance or a high paying job as why they're entitled to be better off than the lazy poor? Get a grip. You did nothing except be willing to sell yourself. You're not a superior individual.

LOL, there isn't a fixed amount of "room" for jobs. As history has shown, which you have failed to study, the pie is not fixed and is constantly expanding under a capitalist liberal society.

And yes, someone who married or inherited wealth is *BY DEFINITION* entitled to whatever economic benefits that came with that situation.

The "constant expansion" under capitalism needs to be fueled by equivalent growth in population or else where is the increased demand that leads to growth going to come from? Why do you think countries like Japan are so concerned about declining birth rates? Adding new suckers is the only way to keep the Ponzi scheme that is capitalism going.

Sure, there may be more cushy top level jobs as the economy grows, but there are also going to be more people competing for them, which is functionally identical to a fixed amount.

[Anonymous]

First generation American here. I outworked almost every single American I have worked with at the lower levels, until I reached middle management. Now I see here at this level Americans who are working as hard as me. America has a lot of problems, but its still the best experiment going. I've been all over the world, and you couldn't pay me to live in a polluted third world country as an elite, in dystopian China, or in racist and classist Europe, or unsafe South America. The only country barely approaching the good deal that is America is Canada, and its tiny. I hope OP gets dropped in the middle of ANY of these places and lives there for 3 months and see how she feels about America then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of us worked hard in school, spend years in college and graduate school and put in long hours at work. It isn't that hard of a formula.

Also, your anger is directed at people who are WORKING for money. Maybe you should redirect it to people who either aren't working and living off the system or those not working and living off trust funds.

Janitors, cleaning staff, garbage collectors, restaurant workers, laborers and the like also work hard, most probably physically harder than you could. Lots of working class people work 2 jobs to keep up and pay the rent.

1%ers don’t corner the market on “hard work.”

Seriously. All the white-collar jerkoffs who put their 12-hour days in from their climate-controlled office doing nonphysical labor beating their chest about how hard their work. And most of them got their cushy job because their parents bankrolled them through school and taught them all the unspoken rules of the white collar world and called in a favor to get them an internship or off the wait list - but absolutely refuse to acknowledge what a huge advantage that this has given them because if they admitted that there was ANY luck involved in their success it might damage their poor fragile egos. Better to put down those whose work is beneath the and cling to their beliefs that lower socioeconomic classes are all a bunch of unemployed slackers.

[Anonymous]

When I was a teenager, I read a book that said that if you ever want to be rich, you should never think badly of people who are rich. If you think that rich people are evil, unworthy, greedy, etc., then your subconscious mind will not allow you to become rich, ever, because it will associate rich with bad and will strongly resist for you to become bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First generation American here. I outworked almost every single American I have worked with at the lower levels, until I reached middle management. Now I see here at this level Americans who are working as hard as me. America has a lot of problems, but its still the best experiment going. I've been all over the world, and you couldn't pay me to live in a polluted third world country as an elite, in dystopian China, or in racist and classist Europe, or unsafe South America. The only country barely approaching the good deal that is America is Canada, and its tiny. I hope OP gets dropped in the middle of ANY of these places and lives there for 3 months and see how she feels about America then.

+ 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This. This And this.

Btw -- if everyone "beneath" you who didn't make those "smart choices" and "worked hard" like you supposedly did - had made the "smart choices" and "worked hard" where would you be? There is only room for so many at cushy top jobs.
And those who count marrying someone with an inheritance or a high paying job as why they're entitled to be better off than the lazy poor? Get a grip. You did nothing except be willing to sell yourself. You're not a superior individual.

LOL, there isn't a fixed amount of "room" for jobs. As history has shown, which you have failed to study, the pie is not fixed and is constantly expanding under a capitalist liberal society.

And yes, someone who married or inherited wealth is *BY DEFINITION* entitled to whatever economic benefits that came with that situation.

The "constant expansion" under capitalism needs to be fueled by equivalent growth in population or else where is the increased demand that leads to growth going to come from? Why do you think countries like Japan are so concerned about declining birth rates? Adding new suckers is the only way to keep the Ponzi scheme that is capitalism going.

Sure, there may be more cushy top level jobs as the economy grows, but there are also going to be more people competing for them, which is functionally identical to a fixed amount.

Roll with a planned economy and you will see a scheme that really rewards things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a teenager, I read a book that said that if you ever want to be rich, you should never think badly of people who are rich. If you think that rich people are evil, unworthy, greedy, etc., then your subconscious mind will not allow you to become rich, ever, because it will associate rich with bad and will strongly resist for you to become bad.

I believe this is true in regards to many things. A very good reminder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This. This And this.

Btw -- if everyone "beneath" you who didn't make those "smart choices" and "worked hard" like you supposedly did - had made the "smart choices" and "worked hard" where would you be? There is only room for so many at cushy top jobs.
And those who count marrying someone with an inheritance or a high paying job as why they're entitled to be better off than the lazy poor? Get a grip. You did nothing except be willing to sell yourself. You're not a superior individual.

LOL, there isn't a fixed amount of "room" for jobs. As history has shown, which you have failed to study, the pie is not fixed and is constantly expanding under a capitalist liberal society.

And yes, someone who married or inherited wealth is *BY DEFINITION* entitled to whatever economic benefits that came with that situation.

The "constant expansion" under capitalism needs to be fueled by equivalent growth in population or else where is the increased demand that leads to growth going to come from? Why do you think countries like Japan are so concerned about declining birth rates? Adding new suckers is the only way to keep the Ponzi scheme that is capitalism going.

Sure, there may be more cushy top level jobs as the economy grows, but there are also going to be more people competing for them, which is functionally identical to a fixed amount.

Roll with a planned economy and you will see a scheme that really rewards things.

No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of us worked hard in school, spend years in college and graduate school and put in long hours at work. It isn't that hard of a formula.

Also, your anger is directed at people who are WORKING for money. Maybe you should redirect it to people who either aren't working and living off the system or those not working and living off trust funds.

Janitors, cleaning staff, garbage collectors, restaurant workers, laborers and the like also work hard, most probably physically harder than you could. Lots of working class people work 2 jobs to keep up and pay the rent.

1%ers don’t corner the market on “hard work.”

Seriously. All the white-collar jerkoffs who put their 12-hour days in from their climate-controlled office doing nonphysical labor beating their chest about how hard their work. And most of them got their cushy job because their parents bankrolled them through school and taught them all the unspoken rules of the white collar world and called in a favor to get them an internship or off the wait list - but absolutely refuse to acknowledge what a huge advantage that this has given them because if they admitted that there was ANY luck involved in their success it might damage their poor fragile egos. Better to put down those whose work is beneath the and cling to their beliefs that lower socioeconomic classes are all a bunch of unemployed slackers.

So? Not sure of your point. There was no anger from PP. No one corners the market on hard work. physical labor is not better or worse. Everyone needs to do something to live. And I am sure there are many people who fit your definition. But the idea that all white-collar jerkoffs who put in their 12 hour days got there because someone did something for them is a world that existed in the distant past. Most biglaw associates for example come in with large debt. Many started with very humble starts. What they did do was do everything from high school, college, law school, and first jobs correctly. They also had luck. Do not underestimate luck but luck only works if you are ready to take advantage of it. Rich people aren't better than anyone else but they are rich -- a condition most would try to get to if they could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why should I apologize for my success?

I tithe, am extremely generous and provide hands on help to individuals in dire need. I’ve volunteered thousands of hours of my time - since I was a young teen.

I am just one generation removed from abject poverty. My father fled a treacherous home life via a college education and later, a career in the military.

My father set me on a course for success: the expectation that I would graduate from college (debt free), secure a well-paying career, make smart and prudent financial decisions save and invest.

Bought my first house at 29 - my family gave us a wedding gift of a nice down payment in lieu of a giant, fancy wedding reception. Sold the house to a builder, made a comfortable profit, turned around and reinvested in an larger, newer (but still modest) home. Was able to live frugally for over a decade so that I could be a SAHM.

Returned to work and my salary now putting DC through college, debt free.

In our community, we live quietly and humbly. I don’t have social media accounts, so I’m not posting about my charity or church work and most all of our family vacations are road trips to see relatives.

Again, not apologizing for anything I’ve obtained or even how we live-DH and I have strong work ethics and work very hard for what we have.

Your father may have been self-made, but you are not. Most people don't have family to give them a down-payment for a house (or a fancy, schmancy wedding, for that matter).
But you just go on believing you are exceptionally deserving.

[Anonymous]

America is a land of equal opportunity, not guaranteed equal outcomes.

We can and do strive to always be improving the former, but the latter is and will always remain true. There will always be those who do better. Even under that great communist peoples system in the USSR (ay comrades, ay?), some people knew how to get stuff done and the stuff they wanted and needed, and others were left staring at empty shelves.

America, where our 'poor' are the fattest people in the world. If it wasnt so sad it'd be laughable.

And it costs nothing to write whatever you want on here. Did you know I made $82 million last year? And have a golden airplane? It doesnt fly well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why should I apologize for my success?

I tithe, am extremely generous and provide hands on help to individuals in dire need. I’ve volunteered thousands of hours of my time - since I was a young teen.

I am just one generation removed from abject poverty. My father fled a treacherous home life via a college education and later, a career in the military.

My father set me on a course for success: the expectation that I would graduate from college (debt free), secure a well-paying career, make smart and prudent financial decisions save and invest.

Bought my first house at 29 - my family gave us a wedding gift of a nice down payment in lieu of a giant, fancy wedding reception. Sold the house to a builder, made a comfortable profit, turned around and reinvested in an larger, newer (but still modest) home. Was able to live frugally for over a decade so that I could be a SAHM.

Returned to work and my salary now putting DC through college, debt free.

In our community, we live quietly and humbly. I don’t have social media accounts, so I’m not posting about my charity or church work and most all of our family vacations are road trips to see relatives.

Again, not apologizing for anything I’ve obtained or even how we live-DH and I have strong work ethics and work very hard for what we have.

Your father may have been self-made, but you are not. Most people don't have family to give them a down-payment for a house (or a fancy, schmancy wedding, for that matter).
But you just go on believing you are exceptionally deserving.

Yeah, this is a perfect example of how most people who spout "I am self-made" are exceptionally clueless.

Also, first PP, no one is asking you to apologize for anything, just get your head out of your ass and recognize that you aren't that special, and didn't do it on your own. At all.

[Anonymous]

You all sound poor.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure the point of all this ranting.

I do understand how lucky and privileged I am. My parents were the first to go to college in their families. I had college paid for, I paid for my own law school. My biggest leg up, however, was my intelligence and upbringing in my parent's household, imperfect as it was. I learned how to think critically and I was raised with the expectation that I would go to college. I was born in the early 60s to a professional mom at a time when that was uncommon, that also was a privilege.

I live a nice UMC life.

What would OP like me to do with that, apologize? DH and I do work hard for what we have, my saying that does not mean I think other people do not also work hard. I also work hard to be kind and respectful to every person in every job and to teach my children to do the same. I support a social safety net in many forms. I do not support socialism.

Again, what is the point of this rant?

[Anonymous]

I am far from self made. I haven't inherited any money but had many legs up.

Reality check for those that think you are smarter, or work harder because you are rich. It's not true. There is no way in heck that I work HARDER than a entry level staffer at my firm; however, I do have significant risk in my role (financial) so I should get paid more. My firm, and frankly me, would be nothing without the hardworking jr staffers, ops, cleaning staff, etc.

The reason I am in the position I am in is because of my upbringing - UMC white guy from Potomac who attended private schools his whole life. It really doesn't get much easier than that to get a foot in the door. Get off your high horse people. It's ok to be proud that you are successful. I got a foot in the door, but I've built my business with minimal help and borrowed money to do so.