Because They've Earned It

[Shocker]

Also, I'd be interested in seeing what the data shows for the missing 8.9%. The chart shows growth for the bottom 90%, and the top 1.1% only...

Originally Posted by Shocker

Also, I'd be interested in seeing what the data shows for the missing 8.9%. The chart shows growth for the bottom 90%, and the top 1.1% only...

Only National Security knows for sure, and they ain't talkin'.

[Flint]

ha ha ha I seriously may create some bullshit charts to post, when you're least expecting it, just to see UT go to work de-bunking them.

[Undertoad]

Working on this, it's really hard to find specific data on personal income broken down by income sector, but what I've found so far suggests that this chart is either built to be specifically misleading or entirely incorrect.

The Census Bureau has some detail on household income through 2001 and the raw data does not like what this chart suggests.

[lumberjim]

remember, 57% of internet statistics are made up.

[DanaC]

working harder makes you more money. working smarter or better makes a lot more money

Some of the hardest working people get paid some of the lowest wages.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Some of the hardest working people get paid some of the lowest wages.

i know. in fact, i would posit that most of the hardest workers make the least. to me, working hard, and being honest is admirable. working hard, and smart, and better than your competitors (for jobs or in business) is more admirable.

I'd rather work hard for $30,000/yr than rely on state support, but if i have the ability to make $300,000/yr by working harder and smarter? pay me.



ps. i don;t make $300,000



yet

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

i know. in fact, i would posit that most of the hardest workers make the least. to me, working hard, and being honest is admirable. working hard, and smart, and better than your competitors (for jobs or in business) is more admirable.

I'd rather work hard for $30,000/yr than rely on state support, but if i have the ability to make $300,000/yr by working harder and smarter? pay me.

But, here again is the attitude that if you make less money you do not work hard and smart.

Also, there is an underlying theme in other's posts that says, basically, that success is defined by wealth.

SO not true, and such a sad way to view what life is all about.

[Shocker]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Also, there is an underlying theme in other's posts that says, basically, that success is defined by wealth.

SO not true, and such a sad way to view what life is all about.

I think they are only refering to the amount of someone's economic success, but yeah there are lots of different ways you can view success.

As far as how hard you work tied to how much you make, it is unfortunate that people that can work hard, tiring, and difficult jobs are not making more for their efforts. I know that it can seem frustrating sometimes, and the reasoning behind it is complicated at best. Financial compensation isn't just tied to what your job is, but also how effectively you do it, how easy you are to replace, how much time and money the company already has invested in you, the level of your skills, your drive to learn new skills to expand your usefulness to the company, whether you can lead, innovate, adaptablilty to change, etc....

[DanaC]

It isn't always a matter of choice though. Some people simply do not have access to the opportunities which wuold allow them to earn $300,000 a year.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by DanaC

It isn't always a matter of choice though. Some people simply do not have access to the opportunities which wuold allow them to earn $300,000 a year.

in the US, at least, everyone has access to the opportunity. many do not have the vision to see it, the intelligence, skill, luck, etc. I have the opportunity to make that kind of dough.....i just haven't realized it yet.

[farfromhome]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

in the US, at least, everyone has access to the opportunity. many do not have the vision to see it, the intelligence, skill, luck, etc. I have the opportunity to make that kind of dough.....i just haven't realized it yet.

I wanted to find a hole in your logic, but couldn't. But I sense no empathy. No concern for those being left behind. There's millions of us former blue collar workers who used to make a living wage who are (not) now. People who like being active. Like working with their hands. But through the rapidly changing demographics of the global economy are finding choices narrowed to an extremely uncomfortable margin.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by farfromhome

I wanted to find a hole in your logic, but couldn't. But I sense no empathy. No concern for those being left behind. There's millions of us former blue collar workers who used to make a living wage who are (not) now. People who like being active. Like working with their hands. But through the rapidly changing demographics of the global economy are finding choices narrowed to an extremely uncomfortable margin.

what? rapidly changing demographics?

i think what you were saying is that there are people that have lost blue collar jobs because companies have moved their manufacturing outside of the country? well, yeah. that's true. these people did not aspire to be factory workers, though. they did not go to school to learn how to join a union and get paid too much for menial, mindless labor. they got jobs. it was enough. they made a living. bills got paid. everybody's working for the weekend.

who ever told them that they were entitled to an income commensurate with a middle class standard of living for doing a job that could be performed by lower class talent? the jobs that have been outsourced are those that CAN be. trades and skilled labor are as secure as ever, if not more. In my personal experience, i have had difficulty getting a plumber, an hvac service, a general contractor....... it seems like the 'blue' collar worker has a gun to the head of the 'white' collar worker when it comes to service that the 'white' collar worker needs to have done. and they are very well paid for having the skill and knowledge that they have to do the work they do.

you ask if there is room for those that don;t have the dog eat dog mentality? sure. at the bottom, there's plenty of room. this is a free country. do what you want.

if you are happy eating, breathing and sleeping for 80 or so years, it doesn't require a whole lot of effort in america. if you want more, you'll have to earn it.

remember. in other countries, not having the dog eat dog mentality means that you will probably get eaten.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

the jobs that have been outsourced are those that CAN be.

The only jobs that can't be outsourced are service-oriented ones, but they could be done some day by vending machines or other robots. Government and military jobs (and associated contractors) are pretty safe, too.

[farfromhome]

In other words...Is there room left for the people who don't have the dog eat dog mentality?