Quote:
Originally Posted by Snake Doctor
This is all very true.
It's easy for someone who has been successful and has alot of cash in the bank to look down their nose at the average middle class guy who can't seem to get ahead.
Everyone wants to blame people living beyond their means etc....and in certain cases that's true, but for the vast majority of the middle class it's not.
If you're really interested in this subject (I was) do a google or youtube search for Elizabeth Warren. She's a harvard economics professor who has done alot of research on bankruptcy and the middle class.
This whole "people are irresponsible" line is propaganda that's been generated by the banks and credit card companies. They take the most egregious cases of irresponsibility and try to make the public believe that everyone in bankruptcy behaved that way. That's how they were able to get congress to pass bankruptcy reform....which put alot more money in their pockets.
|
I think a lot of it isn't that a person can't get ahead, it is also that there are certain situations where personality comes into play.
If there are not people who are willing to work for companies then there are no companies. Everyone can't be self employed. If you make over 250K a year you are in the top 5% of wage earners in this country. It isn't that the other 95% are lazy and don't want to work, it is simply that capitalism is a pyramid. The more you make and the higher up you go the less opportunity exists. Those that do make the climb and understand it and are willing to do the risk and take the chances can grow. But most people are not wired that way. I have a good friend who makes a nice living at his job. He is very smart and the work he does for this company is in demand. He could probably make about 3-5 times as much if he started his own company. But he doesn't because he has two kids and one of them has a few minor health problems. He can't be without insurance and buying health insurance for a kid with a pre-existing condition is something that is almost impossible to do. So he stays at his job. They won't let him freelance on the side. In about five years his kid will be 18. If she goes to college he will still be able to cover her on his insurance. If not she will have to get a job and get her own. When that happens he is going to leave his company and work for himself because he can then afford the risk. In the meantime he is doing pretty good, but if a 200K medical bill fell on him he would be in some pretty dire straits. There are a lot of people out there who either can't strike out on their own, are not willing to take the risk, or just don't know how to do it.
I'm not for a second saying there are not people who take advantage of the system, but there are many people out there who have regular jobs and live within their means and they rely on things like car insurance, home owners insurance and health insurance to cover them in case of emergency. When those insurances don't work as planned things go south really fast.