Starvation Wages

I know many who started off with the proverbial silver spoon and ended up without a pot to pee in

Reply to
clare
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There is more than one gets from parents, than just the money.

All money that I earned is mine, but,I could not get to where I am, without their influence etc.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus30897

Oh hell yes. The number of those is countless.

"The socialist movement takes great pains to circulate frequently new labels for its ideally constructed state. Each worn-out label is replaced by another which raises hopes of an ultimate solution of the insoluble basic problem of Socialism, until it becomes obvious that nothing has been changed but the name. The most recent slogan is "State Capitalism."[Fascism] It is not commonly realized that this covers nothing more than what used to be called Planned Economy and State Socialism, and that State Capitalism, Planned Economy, and State Socialism diverge only in non-essentials from the "classic" ideal of egalitarian Socialism. - Ludwig von Mises (1922)

Reply to
Gunner Asch

You're one. You grew up with affluent left-wing parents who allegedly marched with Dr. King. *Now* look at you!

Reply to
Homer Stille Cummings

You'd be surprised how many. They didn't have to work for it, they didn't know the value of it, and the partied it all away, snorted it up their nose, or otherwise wasted it ALL.

The third generation of family businesses usually fails.

Look at Millard Air. Hardworking grandfather and father, and the kid,(look up Devin Millard) richer than all getout when his dad dies, is now likely to spend the rest of his lousy life in jail - over a pickup truck. The business is gone.

Reply to
clare

Ditto. My parents encouraged me to read and nurtured my innate curiosity, while passing on their excellent sense of right and wrong. I'm a much better person for it and I thank them for it repeatedly.

I did have some financial help through the years ($500 here, $1k there) and they let me buy their rental house from them at zero interest.

Reply to
Larry Jaques

"Dirt to dirt in three generations."

Although if Grandfather made sufficient money, it may take more than one generation to piss it away.

tschus pyotr

-- pyotr filipivich "With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."

Reply to
pyotr filipivich

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Some "anecdotal evidence" of the decline/reduction in the US middle class and its economic impact.

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Reply to
F. George McDuffee

Although the above has been dismissed by several posters, one of the characteristics of a third world economy is the large unofficial or underground economy and increasing use of barter.

The following article seems to indicate a large and growing unofficial or underground economy in the US.

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Reply to
F. George McDuffee

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And yet more indication of how falling wages and the resulting elimination of the middle class is leading to a socio-economic "death spiral."

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Reply to
F. George McDuffee

Interesting. Thanks!

Gunner

"The socialist movement takes great pains to circulate frequently new labels for its ideally constructed state. Each worn-out label is replaced by another which raises hopes of an ultimate solution of the insoluble basic problem of Socialism, until it becomes obvious that nothing has been changed but the name. The most recent slogan is "State Capitalism."[Fascism] It is not commonly realized that this covers nothing more than what used to be called Planned Economy and State Socialism, and that State Capitalism, Planned Economy, and State Socialism diverge only in non-essentials from the "classic" ideal of egalitarian Socialism. - Ludwig von Mises (1922)

Reply to
Gunner Asch

Only recently, I realized that there are very many people who are working "unofficially". They are paid in cash and transact in cash. Examples are small time buyers and sellers, purveyors of scrap metal, household services like lawn and babysitting etc.

The reasons why they do it are as follows:

1) Illegal aliens (who need to eat like everyone else) 2) People on unemployment who supplement their unemployment money with cash income 3) People on disability 4) Tax cheats

Even though those people choose to stay "under the radar", they, for the most part, contribute to the economy and our well being.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus32615

You just found this out? The Underground Economy has been building for decades and has broadened widely since 2007 and the start of the Great Depression 2.

Gunner

"The socialist movement takes great pains to circulate frequently new labels for its ideally constructed state. Each worn-out label is replaced by another which raises hopes of an ultimate solution of the insoluble basic problem of Socialism, until it becomes obvious that nothing has been changed but the name. The most recent slogan is "State Capitalism."[Fascism] It is not commonly realized that this covers nothing more than what used to be called Planned Economy and State Socialism, and that State Capitalism, Planned Economy, and State Socialism diverge only in non-essentials from the "classic" ideal of egalitarian Socialism. - Ludwig von Mises (1922)

Reply to
Gunner Asch

I was not thinking much about that before, when I was a computer guy only.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus32615

Tax cheats are leeches, pure and simple.

Reply to
PrecisionmachinisT

I have received several emails on this. Be reminded that it was the relative size or fraction of the urban areas population that was middle class, not the absolute size of the middle class population or the urban area that seemed to have an effect.

Grandma had two adages which encapsulated these findings:

(1) Birds of a feather flock together; and (2) You become like the people you associate with.

If a higher fraction of the areas population, where you live, is middle class, the more likely you are to associate with and absorb middle class values and social skills from your peers, and the more likely it is your parents are at least lower middle class if you are living in a middle class enclave.

Technically this appears to be a predictive and not a causal factor.

Reply to
F. George McDuffee

Want to see how bad the economy is?

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"The socialist movement takes great pains to circulate frequently new labels for its ideally constructed state. Each worn-out label is replaced by another which raises hopes of an ultimate solution of the insoluble basic problem of Socialism, until it becomes obvious that nothing has been changed but the name. The most recent slogan is "State Capitalism."[Fascism] It is not commonly realized that this covers nothing more than what used to be called Planned Economy and State Socialism, and that State Capitalism, Planned Economy, and State Socialism diverge only in non-essentials from the "classic" ideal of egalitarian Socialism. - Ludwig von Mises (1922)

Reply to
Gunner Asch

I believe that statement is somewhat misleading.

I've lived in Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia during various periods during their development and while there is a certain amount of barter it isn't carried out in an "underground" or "evasion of official" sense. If you are a rice growing farmer and have a neighbor who raises chickens it only makes sense to trade a kilo of rice for a dozen eggs rather then go the long way round and sell your rice to get cash and pay the cash to your neighbor for his eggs which will provide him with sufficient money to buy some rice. But you can be sure that the value of rice and eggs is established by the prices in the open market.

I might also comment that this barter system is not really increasing, other then as a side effect of an increase in population.

Reply to
John B.

These boats will cost you 10x to get them to working condition...

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Reply to
Ignoramus32615

Really? They all appear to be in working condition. Do they need some TLC? probably.

I bought this a few weeks ago for $200

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No issues with the boat other than it needed to be polished out. Cost $5 for the polish and 30 minutes to do it. The included trailer..that cost $45 for bearings and caps and grease seals. But the boat was quite nice. Sails very nicely.

As for the first 2 boats listed...what was wrong with them? Do you know about either of them? Or are you simply guessing?

A buddy of mine bought for $1000..a 42' Morgan. He bought it from a widow and after having it inspected and outfitted...has curcumnavigated the planet over a 5 yr period of time. Outfitting included a new freshwater maker, copious amounts of food, a hidden weapons locker and a bigger water tank. And thats just about it

Are there boats on that Yahoo group that need a lot of work? Yes there are. Are there boats on that Yahoo group that need the furniture polished only? Yes there are. Id snag the first one..but I dont have the money for monthly slip fees and will have to stay with a trailerable swing keel boat. Im looking at a Venture 17 along with a Contender...both for a grand total of $400 and include (1) trailer. The Venture 17 needs 1.5 sheets of 3/8 marine plywood to refit the cabin..and the Contender needs (1) sail ($125)

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Venture 17 cabin restoration

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The sister to my current Ensenada 20

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FJ sailing

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Like my AMF Force 5

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Laser (almost a Force 5)

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And of course..we have a worlds record....

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And another one

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And of course..the Sail Rocket...65.45 knots in 25 knots of wind..

74.55 mph

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"The socialist movement takes great pains to circulate frequently new labels for its ideally constructed state. Each worn-out label is replaced by another which raises hopes of an ultimate solution of the insoluble basic problem of Socialism, until it becomes obvious that nothing has been changed but the name. The most recent slogan is "State Capitalism."[Fascism] It is not commonly realized that this covers nothing more than what used to be called Planned Economy and State Socialism, and that State Capitalism, Planned Economy, and State Socialism diverge only in non-essentials from the "classic" ideal of egalitarian Socialism. - Ludwig von Mises (1922)

Reply to
Gunner Asch

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