Quote:
Originally Posted by PiKA2001
The economy may want you to spend but it doesn't force you to spend. That's your choice. There are households with an income of $30,000 that are financially better off debt to income than households with an income of $80,000. Why is that? < hypothetical question.
Yes the TV looks bad IMHO, because there are households that are self-supporting and responsible enough to pay their own bills and because of that have never been able to afford such flashy luxuries. I'm sure they find it disheartening to find out people in the same income bracket as them get all this "help" while they live modestly.
I make a decent living (for myself), put in a good amount to my 401k and savings, donated $3,000 this year to AIDS Research Alliance and the West Texas Food Bank but guess what????? I still canceled my cable this year prepared ALL of my lunches at home and I've never been able to afford* a TV like the one in the picture. Not everyone spends as stupidly as you insinuate.
-If you expect tax payers to foot your food bill because you'd rather spend your money on alcohol, tobacco or drugs, IMHO that IS unethical.
*Just cuz you can pay for something doesn't mean you can afford it.
|
N of 1 is not good enough to wipe away the evidence of gross American excess. Yes, you are a good person and save your money like a good boy. Excellent! The vast majority of Americans don't and haven't. Most Americans who are ready to retire have little money with which to retire. Most Americans carry more debt on their credit cards than they will ever be able to pay off, especially as they only pay the minimum off each month. You take the average American and put them in the unemployment line for a few months, and I'd like to see how great they look. Are they irresponsible? Duh. Is it wide spread? Absolutely. So, they're tax money is paying for the idiotic decisions they are making that have already caught up with people less fortunate than them. Don't forget that the ones collecting benefits were probably paying taxes before they fell on hard times, too.