Sick of the upper class bashing

[taximomfor4]

The last purchase I made was a "Doogie Dooley" to dump the dog crap I scoop up each day into--now there's a real luxury item.



Anne

Uhh, I don't know, Anne. We don't even HAVE a dog because if we did, we wouldn't be able to afford a Doogie Dooley...that would be a pure luxury it. We'd have to scoop our dog's doo with a spade, into a Walmart bag. Yep, you're DEFINITELY better off than us.

 

[ducklite]

What a minute..... the state helped you with insurance, right?

Why is it ok for you but everyone else needs to be responsible for themselves?

I bought into a major medical policy for my son that was sponsored by the state through BC/BS. Basically the state acted as the group plan sponsor and it allowed anyone with any income level to purchase a major medical policy for their kids. It was not state funded. The premium was paid directly to BC/BS, and it was only major medical. It didn't cover dental, prescriptions, well child visits, etc. Only hospitalization. Everything else I paid out of pocket. It seems that it would have been irresponsible to not do so.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Uhh, I don't know, Anne. We don't even HAVE a dog because if we did, we wouldn't be able to afford a Doogie Dooley...that would be a pure luxury it. We'd have to scoop our dog's doo with a spade, into a Walmart bag. Yep, you're DEFINITELY better off than us.

The only reason I have Doggy Dooley is that I don't buy enough "stuff" to have three plastic grocery bags a day to pick up poop with. After I depleted every bag I had, plus the stockpiles of co-workers and a few friends, I decided that drastic measures needed to be taken.

 

[aplejax76]

Is there a reason that he can't work a second job? WOrking p/t at UPS 15 hours a week gives you full time benefits. I'm not saying it's something everyone can do--but it seems that a lot of people saying they can't aren't really looking at every option. I am sure that some people fall through the cracks. But my guess is that many of them think that life should be one job, weekends set aside for family, etc.

BTW--I was a single mom as well, and for years I had no insurance for me but was able to scrape together what was $25 (15-20 years ago) to buy into the state program for DS. For my health care I went to a crappy community clinic in a crappy part of town that charged sliding scale fees. They also had a pharmacy with sliding scale costs on prescriptions.

Do you have any idea how condescending this sounds?

Why do you base everything on how you did it? Just because it worked for you doesn't mean it works for everyone.

 

[ducklite]

Do you have any idea how condscending this sounds?

Why because I worked my butt off and don't feel that taxpayers should support people who can't be bothered to do so? Then YOU cover them.

Why do you base everything on how you did it? Just because it worked for you doesn't mean it works for everyone.

Of course it won't. The point is that I didn't sit on my butt and collect welfare, food stamps, WIC, etc., I worked, I learned new skills, and I made a better life for myself. Last I knew that was the American dream.

Anne

 

[Disney_Dreaming]

I don't have a problem with the upper class but I do think that some take life for granted.

 

[talulabelle]

This is a McMansion around here

Cookie cutter house taking up most of the property. Usually slapped together in a neighborhood full of the same house in different colors, with no separation between yards so it looks like a condo complex. The one pictured has landscaping - normally they run out of money before putting it in. They are also usually on main roads.

Call me crazy, but spending a minimum of $750,000 on a cookie cutter, shoddily slapped together home, with no yard, lulled to sleep each night by the noise of traffic, and having to fight traffic to get out of the driveway each morning is not something I would aspire to - or brag about having.

yep, that is what I am talking about cookie cutter too. Those stupid "fake" gables in the front. Those crack me up. Those houses are going to be so dated looking in 20 years. I can just picture someone describing a house and saying "It looks like it was built in the late '90s or early 2000's , because it has those weird triangles in front that serve no real purpose" They will look dated like the Brady Bruch type of '60s modern houses look so dated today.
They are usually full of cheap wall to wall carpet, and fake tile floor in the kitchen, cause they can't afford any better for so much square footage. SOme of them are so rambling , there are these weird rooms that serve no purpose, or they have no furniture in them because the owners spent all the money on the house, and can't afford furniture. They usually are slight on the landscaping , again, because they ran out of money. No charm. No taste. But nice and big. That's McMansion.

 

[aplejax76]

Why because I worked my butt off and don't feel that taxpayers should support people who can't be bothered to do so? Then YOU cover them.




Of course it won't. The point is that I didn't sit on my butt and collect welfare, food stamps, WIC, etc., I worked, I learned new skills, and I made a better life for myself. Last I knew that was the American dream.

Anne

Goodness gracious... Could you get a little more dramatic?

I will happily help the less forunate.

 

[MagicalMom]

Yeah I know that's why I cited Wikipedia! LOL I didn't have time to look any further but it seems low to me too!

Hey now, let me pretend I'm rich for a few minutes.

 

[akhenaten]

IMHO "Class" has nothing to do with money..........

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Actually, I find just the opposite to be true. Those living paycheck-to-paycheck (or worse) seem to be ragged on the most.

I agree, and I cringe when I see someone has started a thread about carrying credit card debt, and has a trip to WDW planned. YIKES!!!!!

I really don't see any upper class bashing going on here. Maybe I skip over those threads.

 

[ducklite]

Goodness gracious... Could you get a little more dramatic?

I will happily help the less forunate.

We also happily help the less fortunate. We donate to charities that help people. But that's our choice, and we specifically donate to organizations who offer a hand up, not a hand out.

Our government is broken. We pay enormously obscene amounts in taxes to a social services system that's terribly broken. Until it's fixed I don't want to pour any more moeny into it than I already am.

I don't know what's so "dramatic" about that.

Anne

 

[powellrj]

I find it really odd that there are more people making under 16,000 than over 100,000. That class must be made up largely by students.

when you take into consideration that many of these are retirees living on pensions and SS, I can believe it. Many live in homes that are paid for, and have savings that can supplement what is considered income.

I had no idea what a doggy dooley was so I googled it.

Here is a link if you are interested.

http://www.doggiedooley.com/

 

[perdidobay]

IMHO "Class" has nothing to do with money..........

I agree.

That said, I see alot of bashing on both sides of the issue.

and the way some people are going on and on about McMansions, is a little over the top, imho.

 

[PghLybrt]

We also happily help the less fortunate. We donate to charities that help people. But that's our choice, and we specifically donate to organizations who offer a hand up, not a hand out.

Our government is broken. We pay enormously obscene amounts in taxes to a social services system that's terribly broken. Until it's fixed I don't want to pour any more moeny into it than I already am.

I don't know what's so "dramatic" about that.

Anne

Some people will never have the same luck that you had. They will not live in a place that has full benifits in a job that they just got in a week. They have no way to move from where they are to a new place. I think it is wonderful that you could but truly there are people that cannot do what you have done. WHat if your child had been a child of needs? WHat would have you done then? I am sorry but the more and more i read your posts I get a sense that now that you have broken out of poverty you just want to snub your nose at those that are stuck there. I begrudge no one acess to health care, food or shelter.

 

[ducklite]

when you take into consideration that many of these are retirees living on pensions and SS, I can believe it. Many live in homes that are paid for, and have savings that can supplement what is considered income.

I agree--someone in a low cost of living area with a paid for home could comfortably live on $15,000 a year. My great aunt's home was paid for and her property taxes were about $600 a year (this was about five years ago), and I'm sure she didn't have much more than $15K a year coming in--probably a bit less actually. She lived in a small village and never drove, took the bus when she needed to get somewhere she couldn't walk to, and had no problem making ends meet on her fixed income.

I had no idea what a doggy dooley was so I googled it.

Here is a link if you are interested.

http://www.doggiedooley.com/

Whoa! I paid a LOT less than that for mine!

 

[aplejax76]

We also happily help the less fortunate. We donate to charities that help people. But that's our choice, and we specifically donate to organizations who offer a hand up, not a hand out.

Our government is broken. We pay enormously obscene amounts in taxes to a social services system that's terribly broken. Until it's fixed I don't want to pour any more moeny into it than I already am.

I don't know what's so "dramatic" about that.

Anne

The dramatic part is you equating someone needing help with a SAHM with upteen children who sits on her butt all day waiting for the welfare check.

That's not the norm.

There is no middle ground with you.

 

[hydster]

The dramatic part is you equating someone needing help with a SAHM with upteen children who sits on her butt all day waiting for the welfare check.

That's not the norm.

There is no middle ground with you.

Nah just 4 kids

 

[bigmerle1966]

I guess that would put us in upper middle, but I find it hard to believe that only 15% of people fall there. Really, how uncommon is it for someone to be making 50,000 married to someone making 50,000? It is household incomes right?

I find it really odd that there are more people making under 16,000 than over 100,000. That class must be made up largely by students.

Not odd at all. A person making minimum wage who works full time around here would only make about $14,000 a year. And then there are people who only work part time, like students , retirees and moms who work part time jobs while the kids are in school, etc.


And OP I think the bashing probably mainly comes about because of those that do the "Well I" am better than you because I have more money. Truely "upper class" people do not flaunt the money. Money does not make class, think Donald Trump.

 

[ducklite]

Some people will never have the same luck that you had. They will not live in a place that has full benifits in a job that they just got in a week.

I did some research and chose an area with a hot economy that the possibility of having a decent job quickly was high. I didn't move there because I had friends or family in the area.

They have no way to move from where they are to a new place.

When yuo have nothing to move, moving is pretty easy.

I think it is wonderful that you could but truly there are people that cannot do what you have done. WHat if your child had been a child of needs?

Um, he was! He was a special ed kid with multiple issues.

WHat would have you done then?

The same thing I did. It seems that you are judging me without knowing all the facts, something many accuse me of.

I am sorry but the more and more i read your posts I get a sense that now that you have broken out of poverty you just want to snub your nose at those that are stuck there. I begrudge no one acess to health care, food or shelter.

The only ones I begrudge are the ones who won't look at the big picture--work an second job, do what it takes to make a positive change in their life. The ones who become complacent or think that they "deserve" a handout. I've said several times that I have no problem with giving people who are working to make positive changes in their lives a hand up.

I also believe that Head Start and school lunch programs as well as CHIP's programs are wonderful. My problem is with those would feel that they shouldn't have to work a second job to support their family because they shouldn't ahve to work a second job, or won't take a job because it's "beneath them," and then expect a bailout from the taxpayers.