Re: OT : what is middle class poverty?

Posted by jdemaris on January 11, 2007 at 06:25:07 from (69.67.230.150):

In Reply to: OT : what is middle class poverty? posted by Dave from MN on January 11, 2007 at 05:04:21:

Much of these labels are just relative terms. The "poorest" in this country live way above the perceived "middle class" in other countries.
My wife and I barely make 50K total per year. That is our choice and it's for two reasons. My wife runs an 1800s living-history museum and likes what she does - that means more to her than getting a career that she'd hate. She's got a PHd and could get a job tomorrow that pays four times what she makes now - but we'd be miserable. And me? I worked two-jobs, night and day for 30 years - and until recently, all my kids were grown and gone and making grandkids. Now - I've got a new three-year-old and I opted to stay home with him. That doesn't really mean we're home all the time - but it does mean he is with me all the time. So, I cut back on outside work a lot. This is all by personal choice - we are not "victims."
I heard recently on a financial "call-in" radio show - Bob Brinker to be exact. A guy called in, he and his wife are in their 20s, joint income of 120K per year and he was whining they can't get out of debt or save a down-payment for a house.
I find that hard to accept. Too many people want everything now. When they go broke - it's the government's fault.
My wife and I don't owe one penny to anything or anybody and have been that way for 20 years. Bought one new car in my life - in 1970 and will never do it again. Never had a car payment and mortgage was paid off long ago. We own four large rural properies scattered around New York State - all together a little over 600 acres - and our biggest expense-fear is taxes. We fend for ourselves - never hired a contractor or repairmen in my life to have anything done. Built two houses, built many barns. Fix our own cars, trucks, tractors. My wife makes most of her own clothes. We have never paid a cent for day-care - which is another issue. If someone wants to have kids - then be willing to take care of them - and pay for them. Don't order the taxpayers to take care of your kids.
Back to my complaints - we find it more difficult to live the way we want. That because of the whiners constantly asking government to pick up the slack - where they screw up. So, we sit back - do for ourselves - and spend money carefully. At the same time - the government forcibly takes more from us and gives it away to those who choose to spend money like idiots.
And yeah - I am generalizing here. There are some people caught in a bind that HAVE worked hard. But in this country - they are in the minority.
And also - I keep blaming the magical entitity known as "government" for things. I am fully aware that this "government" is just a bunch or people - no smarter or dumber than the rest of us. Heck, it is "us." But - they have the legal authority to force their collective will on us. Approach me on the street and take my wallet and you can be arrested. Pass a law and do it - and then it's all fine.

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