My Beautiful Dictatorship!

[phillyidol]

Now I'm pissed off. Cars that cost as much as it is to build a house? Houses (mostly California and New York) That cost millions and millions of dollars? Do you know how cheap it is to build a house? When I see a new Hollywood mansion I picture a poor kid that has to deliver the news paper there. See what I mean? Nobody in this world should have so much more than everyone else.People go without health care and others shop on Rodeo Drive! People are homeless and others live like royalty. What makes it worse is when the rich are smug like Paris Hilton and her kind. They should be taken out and...have everything taken away. Alright, I 'm going to have my coffee now but later I will rant the other way against welfare. The world is out of control and needs me to fix it!

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[WolverineSyr]

Oh philly, if they're hungry, there's a surplus of delicious food made in China. Let them eat chinese.
[;)]

[hexicon]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br> Ans while I'm on a rant...I think it is sick that anyone have a really expensive car. It makes me sick to see some people starving in the world and others driving cars that are so much money it could feed them for years. Fuck you expensive cars! Thats it, I'm starting a thread!

[/quote]

Hey Philly (to reply to your post in the other thread), I agree.

Don't get me wrong, I like nice things and am at least as greedy and materialistic as the next person. But I just don't "get" really expensive cars. Why not just pin some $$ to your arm if you need to show people how much money you have? Yes, up to a certain point you get what you pay for, but I don't get $80,000 or $100,000 for a car. A $25,000 car will get you there just as well. It's kind of like these people believe the dumb blonde joke, you know, the one where the pilot tells the blonde to go back to her seat in coach because first class isn't going to Hawaii.

(Me, I drive a Subarau. I realize that may confuse some people. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/fashi ... ref=slogin )

So, I gotta add: I've grown apart from one of my childhood friends for many reasons. I wouldn't buy an SUV myself but when someone is schlepping around kids, car seats, sports equipment, etc., I can understand why they would want one. But she doesn't buy a Ford Explorer--she has to buy a Hummer, a big one! What is with that? Why is it necessary to have a military-style and -size vehicle to haul zitty little tweens and their hockey sticks? [?][?]

It was the last straw for us--maybe that makes me the superficial one but I knew I could never be seen in it!

[Frau_Blucher]

A good hummer shouldn't be underestimated.

[marie3]

Philly, hubby and I talk about this topic all the time. Seems like a waste to spend so much money on cars when so many people are truely needy.
I feel your pain Philly. [:p]

And, I have friends who own two Hummers, his and hers of course. I am sure they are cool to drive, but they are so damn big and the gas bill must be huge. I used to hate to park my conversion van. Forget about finding parking for that big old hummer.

[coop41]

[quote]Originally posted by phillyidol
[br]Now I'm pissed off. Cars that cost as much as it is to build a house? Houses (mostly California and New York) That cost millions and millions of dollars? Do you know how cheap it is to build a house? When I see a new Hollywood mansion I picture a poor kid that has to deliver the news paper there. See what I mean? Nobody in this world should have so much more than everyone else.People go without health care and others shop on Rodeo Drive! People are homeless and others live like royalty. What makes it worse is when the rich are smug like Paris Hilton and her kind. They should be taken out and...have everything taken away. Alright, I 'm going to have my coffee now but later I will rant the other way against welfare. The world is out of control and needs me to fix it!

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[/quote]


Can I have the 22"'s from your SUV?

[KYYX4ever]

philly, I am with you. LIke marie also stated, the Mr. and I and some of our other friends talk about this too. Not everyone who drives those too-huge cars is a jerk, but why the need to spend oodles of money on something that doesn't even last long anyway ? The way they build many of these cars nowadays, anyway.

But part of it is that over the last decade, Americans' disposable income (defined as excess income that is saved after all monthly bills and other financial obligations have been paid) has mushroomed so high that people can afford to buy increasingly more and higher-priced goods. Coupled with the fact that Americans' saving rates are sooooo low, it's a recipe for [i]spend, spend, spend, and get the most out of it[/i].

IMO, these folks are going to be in a for shock when they retire, b/c they never learned to save and will find that their retirement lacks $$ !

Look, don't get me wrong. People can spend their money however they want to. It's a very personal choice that should not be regulated. It's an important component of capitalism. But it shouldn't be an all-or-nothing system ! Alongside this freedom should come responsibility on how to save and invest. Why isn't this being taught more ? Slow down folks, and spend more wisely...on things that really matter ! It's like that commercial that says "....after you're gone, you will not be remembered for your Lexus or your diamond Rolex (insert other status item here)...you will not be remembered for the things you [i]had[/i]...you will be remembered for the things you [i]did[/i].

Argh ! So frustrating !

[enzfan]

Phillyidol or PhillyMarx?[:)]

[phillyidol]

Well maybe. We know that communism does not work. We know socialism in theory is cool but in reality it sucks. I totally love this country don't get me wrong. But people abuse the system both ways..the rich and others. Is there such a thing as a democracy with an absolute ruler? I think that democracy is the best way but should have very very strict rules and they should be enforced. Put a cap on how much money could be made or better yet, how much you make must be balanced out with social work!You have multi millions? You must also contribute to society besides with your taxes.
How much money do you need? Jeez the ultra rich do not even understand how the un-rich live. It really makes me sick.
Education should be free. And how far you go should be based on grades not money. Ivy League? Please! No school should be any better than the other. People are equal right?
Jobs should be guaranteed.NO WELFARE! Jobs and education first. If a single mom is pregnant and needs help that is different. What I hate is multi generation families living in housing provided by the government at huge discount, while also getting welfare and ssi. You do not give people any reason to get a job by providing everything for them.
I believe in equality across the board, nobody better than anyone else.The only way that would happen is through revolution because too many people would object and imo they do not think of the whole.

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[phillyidol]

I'm sorry Marie, I was busy ranting. You guys talk about it because we think alike. Thats why we get along so well. You guys are my buds.

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[DreamRedux]

[quote][i]Originally posted by KYYX4ever[/i]
<br>philly, I am with you.[/quote]
Me too!

[quote][i]Originally posted by KYYX4ever[/i]
<br>But part of it is that over the last decade, Americans' disposable income (defined as excess income that is saved after all monthly bills and other financial obligations have been paid) has mushroomed so high that people can afford to buy increasingly more and higher-priced goods. Coupled with the fact that Americans' saving rates are sooooo low, it's a recipe for [i]spend, spend, spend, and get the most out of it[/i]. [/quote]
It's my understanding that what has mushroomed is not disposable income, but access to, and free use of, CREDIT. I heard a statistic somewhere that Americans' average savings is somewhere in the NEGATIVE range (is that possible!!!).

So Americans are digging themselves into insurmountable debt to fund superficial wants. Lovely. [xx(]

[phillyidol]

Me and the wife have a new plan. Now that we don't need a baby sitter, we will put that money towards the cards.It will take a long while but once they are clear we will be VERY careful with them.

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[shovelbum]

[quote][i]Originally posted by DreamRedux[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by KYYX4ever[/i]
<br>philly, I am with you.[/quote]
Me too!

[quote][i]Originally posted by KYYX4ever[/i]
<br>But part of it is that over the last decade, Americans' disposable income (defined as excess income that is saved after all monthly bills and other financial obligations have been paid) has mushroomed so high that people can afford to buy increasingly more and higher-priced goods. Coupled with the fact that Americans' saving rates are sooooo low, it's a recipe for [i]spend, spend, spend, and get the most out of it[/i]. [/quote]
It's my understanding that what has mushroomed is not disposable income, but access to, and free use of, CREDIT. I heard a statistic somewhere that Americans' average savings is somewhere in the NEGATIVE range (is that possible!!!).

So Americans are digging themselves into insurmountable debt to fund superficial wants. Lovely. [xx(]
[/quote]

DR, I agree with you, too. I think it is access to credit that has made people ABLE to spend spend spend.

It is advertising and "social status" that makes people want want want.

I've seen no evidence of people's disposable income "mushrooming". Other than that I agree with KYYX, too. [;)]

"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." ~Robert Heinlein

[KYYX4ever]

yes, "access to credit" would be more accurate.

[SMoKaLoTaPoT]

So heres a retirement song!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4357915058458d/
Most folks won't know retirement like our parents did!!!