Wealth allows one distractions from the ugly world. Enough money to be spent on happiness is not to be denied.
I have observed that the wealthy feel sorry for themselves a great deal.
- Thread starter VintageBetter
- Start date
VintageBetter
Senior Member
There are a few wealthy people who are fair. That is true. In-and-Out Burger. In-N-Out Burger - Wikipedia. Family owned private company and they have always started their workers out at typically $3 an hour (an extra $120 a week compared to other fast food jobs) higher than the minimum wage. They also pay their managers in the 6-figures after they get to certain level.
AND, somehow, they keep the food, which is quality food made from fresh ingredients, cheap! Even their beverages are less expensive that what the larger chains are charging, and free hot chocolate for kids.
This is a company that is doing a lot of things right. WHY is what they are doing not taught in business schools globally and instilled into brains as a model? IDK. IDK why evil and mayhem are glorified in business these days and basic human decency is spit upon. Or ignored.
Last edited:
VintageBetter
Senior Member
I was "rich" when I was married - middle class, actually. Not actually rich. But rich back then compared to how I am now.
Was I happy? Not happy walking on eggshells around him every day. Not happy not being able to speak my mind on any number of topics lest he ridicule or criticize me. I was not happy always having to be silent because that's what he wanted. That's actually when much of the physical DV happened - when I stopped being silent. And I sure was not happy with that house we owned. There were two others we saw that I preferred, I thought we should have kept looking, but he was all enthusiastic about that one so we bought it. I hated the layout, wasn't crazy about the kitchen (which he then made uglier), and so many other parts of that house I strongly disliked.
But, he was happy, so there ya go. It was always about him. It wasn't a good house for the kids either - not a great area. We could have done better, especially if we'd started out with a condo. But it was all about him.
I have had many years in which I have been much poorer since when I was married but you know what? I like my own company. I would rather be poor and with my own pleasant self ALONE than ever be partnered with anyone ever again whose life mission is to HURT me.
Last edited:
VintageBetter
Senior Member
I have to wonder about the wealth of that reporter when he/she was growing up. Why did he/she choose that family to interview? Were they secretly mocking the family?A week ago, if I were to have answered this post, I would have said I hadn't noticed but, then I read about the guy who owns 5 pie shops.
A TV news channel interviewed "everyday families" about how inflation has impacted their finances. One couple sat in their kitchen as they explained how inflation rates are biting into their takeaway budget. You can imagine the reaction of viewers as they took in the large kitchen with two seating areas, kitchen island, expensive fixtures and fittings and the Le Cruset cast iron Dutch oven sitting on the shiny 6 burner stove behind them as the husband explained that "you have a large pool of money which comes in every month and normally you would set a bit aside and that's what we'll have for holidays or takeaways, but a large part of that has gone".
Seriously, we have just had a winter where people were worried about turning on their heating and this guy was worried about the cost of takeaways and whether they would have to take less holidays
Of course, this is just one couple and they do not represent all wealthy people so, all I can say is that, yes, at least one wealthy couple are, apparently, feeling very sorry for themselves
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 83
It is not for me to judge, it is for me to examine myself in an unclouded mirror.
My wife does
She pays for those purses by the pound at Goodwill
Last edited:
VintageBetter
Senior Member
If it is not for us to judge, and my mean judgement I mean ourself too, then society falls apart.
Have you not heard of a Grand Jury? What Is a Grand Jury and How Does It Work?
It's a group of every day people gathered together to make a JUDGEMENT about the possible misdeeds of a person or company.
I hate that lie, "It's not for me to judge." Oh B...sh.. ! Was your coffee excellent this morning or only mediocre? Judgment made. What color shirt are you wearing? Blue because you like blue? JUDGEMENT MADE.
Is it a nice day to you because it's sunny or a nice day because it's rainy and you like the rain? JUDGEMENT MADE.
You judge all day long, just like the rest of us.
I don't think money can buy happiness. We can be rich and still married to someone who doesn't love us, or have a painful disease, or worry about our children or not be able to have children.
On the other hand there certainly isn't any happiness in being pregnant and not having enough food to eat so you worry constantly if the baby will be alright, not having money for medical care, not having enough money to leave an abusive spouse, living in a place so old and crumbling you can never get it to look clean, plumbing that doesn't work well, no TV or books to distract yourself, no car to get to a job, no money for college to get a better paying job.
Poverty is not always just a matter of bad choices, it can mean being stuck in a dreary situation, and that isn't very conducive to happiness.
On the other hand there certainly isn't any happiness in being pregnant and not having enough food to eat so you worry constantly if the baby will be alright, not having money for medical care, not having enough money to leave an abusive spouse, living in a place so old and crumbling you can never get it to look clean, plumbing that doesn't work well, no TV or books to distract yourself, no car to get to a job, no money for college to get a better paying job.
Poverty is not always just a matter of bad choices, it can mean being stuck in a dreary situation, and that isn't very conducive to happiness.
VintageBetter
Senior Member
Add to that he fact that sometimes, people just don't know how to get out of their bad situation. They need advice. They need counselors. In many times of life they cannot afford to pay private help and there simply is very little PUBLICLY FUNDED help available.
Now we have the Internet, but even some young people do not know how to form search terms to get the answers they need online.
Plus, much BAD information is online too, and people will get deceived by that.
Example: I'm sucha liberal I think we need a system of FREE lawyers for the poor - free lawyers for every kind of case. I don't mean Legal Aid. It is generally only staffed by paralegals and they are not allowed to inform customers of the law. They can only teach procedures and forms to file.
But truly, if society really wants to "level the playing field", give the poor free access to lawyers so they can actually fight the rich.
But, the wealthy in charge of society, that's not what they really want. Just like no one really wanted slavery to end in the South so the rich figured out a system of workarounds in the South that lasted for over 100 years after 1865.
I agree with you in regards to judgement, I freely admit I'm judgemental, there's no reason to deny it. That doesn't mean I lack empathy or understanding.
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 83
If we spent as much energy examining ourselves as we do examining others, there might actually be a measurable improvement in the world.
Because the idea of avoiding traits like greed and arrogance is better than the idea of hating the wealthy.
Brookswood
Senior Member
I remember years ago reading about a baseball player who had a multi-million dollar contract. His comment abouty something going on with the team was “I am being treated like a dog”. Yea. Right.
Brookswood
Senior Member
that opens up a discussion on why the income is supposedly ‘unearned’. But, that is way off the topic, and deserves a thread in itself.
Last edited:
Trish
VIP OAP
I don't think they were the only family chosen. He was asked a question and there is no reason to think he didn't give an honest answer although, he would have probably been well advised not to. I think the producers would have been delighted, it certainly got both the viewers and the media attention.
When I read your thread title, it made me think of that interview
Last edited:
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
I have been there... no money except enough to buy baby food....really struggling, living solely on potatoes and eggs because that was all I could afford for me..while my then husband was in the Navy away at sea..earning a pittance, which is how the UK reward their fighting forces...
he didn't starve, he ate well on board ship for months away at sea.. .. my baby didn't starve.. but I was so underweight they wouldn't allow me to donate blood..
I had no idea for the first 3 years of our marriage where a clothes shop or a shoe shop was anywhere near where we lived , because I never had enough money to buy shoes or clothes.. or in fact enough money to even get a bus to the shops...
I couldn't get a job because there was no-one who could look after my child.. I couldn't afford any babysitting service.. .. we lived alone, far from my family. My husband was at sea up to 7 months of the year, if it wasn't for the fact that I lived on a Naval Base..in MQ's.. and my neighbours were all in the same boat, (unintentional pun) and we looked out for each other and would meet in each others homes every day with our children, .. I would have gone stark raving mad with hunger and loneliness
Last edited:
I have a Roth IRA and the money I contributed was taxed prior to the contributions.
If you only look at the IRS rules it appears like the Roth IRAs are vehicles for modest future tax savings (avoiding capital gains taxes) for working people who have no more than moderate incomes, but in reality rich people who have enough money to retire in their 30s and 40s are using the Roth IRAs to game the system to avoid paying capital gains taxes on millions of dollars.
I find that very annoying, and even more galling when they advise each other to leave enough in their 401ks that they can use as 'income' to qualify for the highest health care subsidies.
Remy
Well-known Member
- Location
- California, USA
I don't know any wealthy people. No matter what, some people could never be satisfied.
I don't think I'm asking for much, but I'm not getting that.
I don't think I'm asking for much, but I'm not getting that.
Mr. Ed
Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
- Location
- Central NY
You mean like certain politicians?
Mr. Ed
Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
- Location
- Central NY
poverty
Paladin1950
Still love 50's & 60's music!
- Location
- Mohawk Valley, NY
The most generous people I have ever met were those that didn't have a lot of money. The most stingiest people I have ever met were those who were wealthy.
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
I grew up in a family of want. But perhaps we define "happiness" differently. Sure, having money means you can go abroad, buy cars, and whatever else takes your fancy. This, I consider, is a surface happiness. You can be happy in the moment, and that moment might be a minute, an hour, or a year. However, on reflection of the truth of human existence, none of that matters, imo.
As they say, we come into this world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. Too many things we do for the sake of "happiness" are simply distractions, or momentary pleasures. When I saw this thread, my reaction was one of the ultimate happiness, rather than whether one can afford to feed themselves today, or pay their bills. That, it seems to me, is simply feeding the machine we've created.
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
This reminds me of something. I see a lot of crazy conspiracy theories online, how a cabal of rich folk are controlling the world etc, and how corporations are manipulating us all. Now, I've never sat on a board of any of the major companies, but I've worked with banks, insurance companies, internet hosting, oil, and shipping among others. Multi billion dollar businesses. I can tell you, from my experience, that none of them really know what they're doing. Or rather, they stumble and fumble along. The idea the have a master plan is hilarious. Hell, I'm surprised some of them manage to get through the day.
AT&T just got hacked, and 77m or so accounts details have been posted online. The details include name, address, SSN, etc. Everything a fraudster needs. And you might look at that and think those master hackers have broken into a super secure platform to get the info. Now, I'm not involved with AT&T at all, but these things don't surprise me at all. Not one bit. I expect a consultant of any salt would visit their data center and tear the damn thing apart in no time.
Such is my faith in corporate.
Mobilman44
Member
Back in the early '80s, I was helping out at a charitable drug abuse organization - generally recognized as legitimate.
During the two years I helped out there, we had a couple of fund drives and I stood (with others dressed appropriately with legible ID cards) soliciting at busy area intersections. I soon noticed something striking. In general (repeat, not all - but a high percentage) folks in high end cars (esp. Mercedes, Cadillac, BMW, & Porsche) totally ignored us or made nasty comments. Not funny, but I remember thinking how some might be coming to seek our help with their kids some day.
Yet, many of the folks in the less expensive vehicles donated and even thanked us for the job we were doing.
During the two years I helped out there, we had a couple of fund drives and I stood (with others dressed appropriately with legible ID cards) soliciting at busy area intersections. I soon noticed something striking. In general (repeat, not all - but a high percentage) folks in high end cars (esp. Mercedes, Cadillac, BMW, & Porsche) totally ignored us or made nasty comments. Not funny, but I remember thinking how some might be coming to seek our help with their kids some day.
Yet, many of the folks in the less expensive vehicles donated and even thanked us for the job we were doing.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
that is the same all over the world. Those with the least are often the most likely to be the first to help another person or people....
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
I have seen a lot of drug abuse in the City of London. It wasn't uncommon for Cocaine to be part of the after work socializing. If you include alcohol as a drug, then the number of people working drunk - however mildly - is off the charts.