-It seems the worst crime you can commit in this country is being poor.

I've found it's almost the best way to pay for a higher education. All the aid is based on that.

Just be poor....or really rich. In between is hard.

Okay....I'm being a little sarcastic but after the taxes I've paid while paying for a private school education and college for 3 kids...still working on the youngest one.

It adds up. Not calling it "theft" but it sure feels like it at times.

Cash is king.

-It doesn't matter how close to a big city you are. If you're in the county as opposed to a Town or City, you're on your own.

I grew up in rural Kansas. For my entire childhood, our address was "rural route 2" until my folks moved into a town with an actual street address.

What do you mean by "on your own"?

-Having said that I'm not sure I could have done that if I was starting out in today's economy.

I agree that today's economy presents unique challenges to youngsters.

But the steps to avoid the pitfalls of debt are the same steps you took (live within my means...say no to a few trips..)

It's a huge challenge but the choices (good and bad) are still the same.

-You think people in this economy who are struggling or doing so because they're taking too many vacations??

no. That's not what I said.

-How does one "live within their means" when they're not being paid a living wage?

I don't have an answer on how to get poor people to stop being poor.

I simply said the steps to avoid unnecessary debt are the same as they were.

The challenges are real, no doubt and are increasing all the time.

I have 25 and 23 year old daughters living in 2 of the biggest cities in the US. They're managing professional jobs and paying rent and all their expenses.

You want to ask them your stupid questions?

23

I can add, moron.

You haven't posted anything worth responding to, really.

IF your kids are making minimum wage and spending it on starbucks and avocado toast, then...well....your kids are fucked. Truly fucked.

Primarily for having nothing more than minimum skills. Honestly, I can't think of anybody who can only make federal minimum wage.

Next, if after only having barely enough skills to earn only the minimum wage.....they aren't entitled to starbucks or avocado toast.

I know 18 year old idiots who are training for tech jobs that will pay $30/hour when they are out.

My 18 year old is making $22/hr working construction this summer. In Kansas, BTW.

Here is a rough guideline to avoid earning anything near the federal minimum wage

1. Be sober
2. show up on time
3. have a drivers license

Those 3 will assure you of making triple the minimum wage even if you possess no other real skills. I'm guessing you're going to fall short on some of those?

Clownshack...seriously...do you know a single person making the minimum wage....let's assume it's the California minimum wage?

-Poor people are poor by design.

Based on how we define "poor" then yes, it's by design.

We distribute income on a bell curve and the bottom 20% are poor. or whatever % we choose to define it.

There is no mathematical way to escape it.

-"kids need to learn how to live within their means like I did!

Obviously, you're attempting hyperbole and sarcasm with that but you accidentally got it right.

Kids need to learn to live within their means, even if the world isn't delivering them the economic justice they feel entitled to.

I completely understand the flaw of the cost of higher education that results in a job that makes it very difficult to service that student loan debt and be able to afford rent, transportation, etc.

But despite that.....they still have to take the same steps I took back when I had student loans and had to afford rent, a car, and my starbucks and avocado toast. LOL

-In the 1950s, a man could care for their family of 4 with a single income earning minimum wage.

I know. Then we went off the rails and started crazy things that screwed over that minimum skilled man.

like civil rights, the ERA, etc....you know.....things that leveled the playing field. Then we asked that minimum skilled man to compete with men from other countries for the same job.

And now that same minimum skilled man can't care for his family on minimum wage.

Can we dispense with the whining about that and move on to what's realistic?

-So I'm not sure why you have advice for poor people

I stated it clearly I don't have advice for poor people. I have advice for youngsters who are trying to navigate the real world they are living in.

"Quite the opposite.
Minimum wage needs to be a living wage again."

Geez....you're really screwed up.

Kids do indeed need to learn to live within their means.

Because there is no making the minimum wage a living wage again.

There is no way that's going to happen.

So, since that's the way it is....why don't you try and be part of the solution instead of bitching like a little wimp you're not getting your way.

I assume you have no children so we're all grateful you're not out there screwing up another generation of clownshacks.

-There's no "living within your means" when you're not being paid a living wage.

Again, do you know anyone who fits this description?

Other than yourself, perhaps?

-The fact that you consider what I'm saying to be "whining"

What do you call it? You're literally complaining about how a man with skills so low that they are able to earn only minimum wage and that wage can't support a family with it.

I call it whining.

You call it whatever you want. But everyone is going to ignore you except to belittle you like I am right now.

"the reason why politicians feel like it's totally fine screwing over minimum wage workers."

Can a man in California support a family on minimum wage?

I guessing no......and that's largely in part because not even Democrats in California care all that much for minimum wage workers.

-Apathy is also whats killing America.

True but your absolute ignorance of how our economy works isn't part of any solution.

48

Is English a language you speak? I don't know what the fuck you're even saying.

Wow, nobody can read nor do even basic math here.

well, no wonder you're all pissed about being broke.

If I were illiterate and unable to calculate anything, I'd be pissed as well.

I'm not trolling.

I'm not missing a barn.

You're not even able to discuss anything. Just complain and whine about the circumstances.

I know how much minimum wage is. I know how much rent is. Stop revealing your ignorance, for Christs sakes.

I can try to make point.....for the 5th time.

Again.......try and understand this...

"I agree that today's economy presents unique challenges to youngsters.
But the steps to avoid the pitfalls of debt are the same steps you took (live within my means...say no to a few trips..)
It's a huge challenge but the choices (good and bad) are still the same."

The above post was a response to QCP's comment about his youth and the steps he took to get out of his debt. Saying no to things.

I can say the same thing to a youngster TODAY that finds him or herself in the same situation.

I didn't say shit about trying to raise a family on minimum wage, which is so fucking ludicrous, you should all be embarrassed you went that direction.

Jesus...are you all minimum skilled losers making minimum wage? Is this just your way to admit it? Or, you reared children like just described? Minimum skilled workers who can't make it today?

I'm not chastising a young person for busting their ass trying to get by today. I can see it firsthand with my own kids. Except the minimum skilled part, of course.

-You can't live within your means if you're not getting paid a living wage.

I don't have advice for folks being paid less than a living wage.

I also don't have advice for kids in the foster care system.

I'll tell you what...I'll leave you kids to scream about minimum wage and foster care.

I was talking about how kids in their 20s with a real job can get benefit from denying themselves some creature comforts that can wait a while longer. To push back on their desire to indulge until they knock out some debt.

Not to disparage minimum wage workers or foster care kid.

Geez......

-Your parents were well off

high school education and an 8th grade education.

sharecropped. Never had any money and died with a very small net worth.

But they gave a shit about me and there was always food on the table.

So...yeah, I had that.

-Unless I'm wrong, you didn't do anything to advance yourself an economic bracket.

Well, I did advance myself an economic bracket.

so, who did it for me if I didn't do it?

You want to make this personal? fine

What have YOU done to help yourself? Did you and Idaho girl date while you were both in foster care? Wait...nevermind...she's a girl.

-Which is why I'm adamantly pro abortion.

LOL.....why don't you just spew out the advantage I have that's unavailable to you.

There are 2. Am I right? compared to you, I have 2 advantages.

Advantages that piss you off.

-So, this "explosion in household debt" is entirely because of "creature comforts" according to you.

Wrong again, moronrobot. I'm not doing any such thing.

Do you get paid to be wrong here? It's as if you're incentivized to be so wrong.

"Why?
The problem isn't people aren't working hard enough."

I didn't say anything about how hard they are working.

You're suggesting kids spend more than they make, go into deep debt and enjoy vacations, nice cars, and just pay the minimum on their credit card, student loans, and just worry about tomorrow...tomorrow.

And why? Because.........fucking billionaires.

wow....just wow.

69

No shit? You just thought of that? People need to be paid more?

that's the solution? "250 million people just need more money" - clownshart, economist for the DR

Thanks...I didn't know you were looking out for me there, little fella.

I just need..............more money

Seriously though.....while that's a very good suggestion.......

I've noticed all you do here on this place is scream and bitch and moan about the environment. An environment there is very little you can do about changing. Voting is about it.

Never at all about how someone can actually improve their lives, outside of how they vote.

Everything else.....any individual action....all worthless and meaningless to you.

Instead, just scream about the billionaire while you piss away your life and opportunities.

-is my argument a pipe dream?

You aren't even interested in being able to afford the pipe.

-In your view what is a "living wage" and should it exist?

I don't know what you're talking about. exist in what context?

I didn't insert that term here...I don't rely on it nor use it ever.

And you don't give a shit what I think about it anyway so why ask?

"The wealthy are just buying themselves bigger and bigger yachts. And with their leftover money, they're building rocket ships to Mars."

So....enjoy another latte?

-LEARN TO CODE

How'd that work out for you?

82

The truth is people like you keep swimming in a pool of self-loathing for accomplishing nothing, while chastising people who you know have accomplished something and have made better choices.

It's a stupid perspective, but one you've been groomed to accept as reality.

"Raise taxes."

Again, an environmental change vs a common sense action item a 25 year old can deploy.

But it's all lost on you, isn't it?

You're broke and it's the billionaire's fault, along with myself apparently....that you're broke.

But keep on with your pipeless dream.

"Meanwhile, millions of Americans are suffering because of Republican policies."

So.....have another Latte. It'll help with the suffering.

-Are unemployment aid, regulated costs and better wages essentially pipe dreams?

Expecting the Federal government to increase the federal minimum wage to a point where You can support a family of 4 is a pipe dream.

And not educating your kids to know how to deal with the environment they are going to face is irresponsible and wrong.

But I wouldn't be surprised if neither you nor clownshack, nor speaksoftly have raised any kids.

Or at least did a good job of it.

So there's a silver lining.

-It's not on a 25-year-old to fix decades of Republican tax cuts for the wealthy.

No, it's on them to make good choices. Not pout day and night about republican tax cuts for the wealthy. To get off their asses and accomplish what they can in the environment they have to face.

I'm not arguing about the environment they face. I'm saying "so the fuck what" and insist they get through it.

but that's a message for kids who aren't lazy, who made good choices and don't expect a free ride like you apparently do.

92

Go back to conspiracy theories, moronrobot

-Has anyone looked at the size of those houses they lived in? The cheap cars with no amenities they drove? A lot of them built their own home and there were no granite counter tops, central A/C or Jacuzzi type tubs.

Not to mention, their employer didn't consider hiring a woman or a minority for their job much less sending that job to Vietnam.

"Thanks for the meanist explanation possible."

FT

-So, to get the job don't be a woman or minority

That was the formula in the 50s, you know...that era of time you and clown are so fond of.

-Do you have any gay people in your family?

awful deflection. You need to square yourself with the fact you're an outcast in your family probably because you are a looney bird conspiracy theorist nobody can stand.

not because you're gay.

There are gay people in my family. They are quite accepted.

I know your persecution complex prevents you from believing that.

-Like the shitty life choice to be born to broke uneducated parents?

how'd that work out for you?