How do we narrow the income gap??

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I guess so. I was looking for a ray of hope from those here that taught me so much so much about so many things not related to boating, but I guess that isn't going to happen this time.

Being near the middle seems to mean that whatever happens with income redistribution probably won't affect me much anyway, but I see the growing inequality and I don't like where it may lead.
 
Re: How to we narrow the income gap??

billandamy said:
You wont get any answer I think you are looking for from me.

It is not my responsibility to bridge any gap in this, what I call the land of ultimate opportunity for anyone to better themselves and reach whatever goals they dream, set and go for with good old fashioned hard work and using that heavy round thing on their shoulders.

I may be a cold hearted SOB, but with few exceptions, people are where they are because they choose to be there.
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AMEN!!!!!!!:smt038
 
Waiting for someone else to bridge the income gap for everyone is THE problem. Bridge the gap yourself.

Studies of census data show that most of the folks at the bottom in one census are NOT there in the next census. They didn't DIE. They made more money and got into a higher bracket. Maybe many brackets higher.

I do have a problem with CEOs and other execs getting big pay packages while and/or after riding their companies into the ground. But, for public companies it's up to the stockholders to fix that.

However, look at government. Congress just gave themselves a raise after CAUSING the current economic melt down. Sure the Iraq war has cost $200Billion and two to four thousand US lives. Just ONE part of the bailout has cost us $700Billion, will go higher, as the stock market and our savings go south. So don't only complain about crooked CEOs.

Further census study shows that getting a job along with getting and staying married are the two single most important factors to getting into those higher income brackets and out of the bottom. Having kids later in life, and having fewer of them, is also a help.

Then there are the choices we make. Save or spend? Constantly getting new, or making do with functional stuff that's older? ALL the cable channel options? What's classified as 'poor' in the US is laughably well-to-do, when considering most of the people in the world.

AND, this is probably the only generation in the history of the world where the poorest folks are the FATTEST.

Unhappy with where you are in life? Fix it yourself. No one else will.

If you think government programs are the answer, just have a look at the current economic mess that was directly a result of government programs.
 
Great video Mike, It just too bad that there are so many people out there that dont get the concept of self reliance. Maybe they should focus on that instead of how can Big government help them.
 
AndersonAcres said:
Waiting for someone else to bridge the income gap for everyone is THE problem. Bridge the gap yourself.

Then there are the choices we make. Save or spend? Constantly getting new, or making do with functional stuff that's older? ALL the cable channel options? What's classified as 'poor' in the US is laughably well-to-do, when considering most of the people in the world.

Unhappy with where you are in life? Fix it yourself. No one else will.

If you think government programs are the answer, just have a look at the current economic mess that was directly a result of government programs.
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Exactly!

Mike - That was a great video! The part of about folks struggling to make ends meet is interesting. Is it because they truly are making low wages and have to be extremely careful - fixed incomes for example. Or - is it because they have purchased things which they shouldn't have been able to afford? Loans were extremely easy to get - so I know people who were driving cars which cost more than they made in a year - how the hell does that happen?
 
I'm not struggling at all Eric and I'm not sure where that perception continues to come from - must be the age and length of my boat! I'm all for smaller government and self-reliance. That is exactly why I posted this thread looking for options to the harebrained schemes that are about to be proposed in the president-elect's next speech.
 
I can only go by my little part in the world...you give small businesses incentives to hire people, or incentives to start a business, you end most welfare programs and turn them into work programs, and you help the educational system turn out better qualified students.

You also require English be the spoken language in this country, kick out any illegal immigrant you find, and keep the rest from coming in.

Thats a start, imo.
 
Just have a conversation with some elders if you want to feel good about where we are at in life. My grandparents used to have to work all summer to save enough money to buy a pair of boots for the winter. New clothes for kids? yeah if you consider your older siblings clothes new. Like the video said "It's not the high cost of living, It's the cost of living high".
 
Sorrento 25 said:
There is only so much money to go around, ...
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You can't be more wrong! If there were only a finite amount of money, or more broadly wealth, in this world, we'd still be back in the Stone Age. the fact is that wealth is created through work and thought and capital, which combine to be termed "productivity". Capital in the reinvestment of earnings. If it were a zero-sum game, then Lord help those of us who produce wealth, and protect us from the redistributionists!
 
billandamy said:
... and you help the educational system turn out better qualified students.

You also require English be the spoken language in this country, kick out any illegal immigrant you find, and keep the rest from coming in.QUOTE]

But please allow and encourage more educated legal immigrants in, at least until our education system can be brought up to speed to meet the need for smart workers.
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I read this somewhere.......

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--

We have the freedom to pursue happiness. Happiness is not a right, but the pursuit of it is. Freedom (liberty) is the essential element to pursue one's happiness.
 
Gary's comment surely would have been worth reading. Maybe not something I wanted to read though...

At least I have some ammo to use against the dems now.
 
The only Ammo you need is Jimmy Carter.
 
So, if I choose to take the risk of losing my house and savings by putting them up to get a loan expand my business and potentially increase my income by 500%, then all of my employees, who choose to be employees, not business owners themselves, should also have a 500% income growth if my plan succeeds?
 
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