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Originally Posted by magictoy
Someone who came from a similar background. Someone who realizes that you don't improve the situation by tearing down the successful people, but by helping the ones who are willing to improve themselves. Someone who has seen a yearly influx of Canadians into my area, because these Canadians have a maximum income allowed by their government. I am forced to assume that their employees get an unpaid vacation for months every year, when their boss reaches the limit of what his business is allowed to earn.
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What I'm proposing isn't 'tearing down successful people', it's allowing people to be super rich instead of ultra, ridiculous, insane rich. If you can't live comfortably on maybe $20 million per year, then you have a serious problem and should speak to a professional. I doubt I could even spend $20 million per year.
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Originally Posted by magictoy
Oh, and by the way, I am not condescending to you; in fact, I admire people with a history like the one you provided. Especially if they were, unlike you, surrounded by people who received the government dole. "Free" money from the government seems to be the biggest spirit/ambition killer of all.
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I didn't think you were condescending to me, but I do think that anyone who reads your post who is stuck in a minimum wage job (operative word: stuck) could be pretty hurt. I did have to pay back about $45k in loans (the interest KILLS you), though.
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Originally Posted by magictoy
I DON'T admire the people who blame everyone else for their own lack of initiative. On the other hand, I find your opinion that so many are incapable of helping themselves, well, condescending. You did it; why are so many others inferior to you?
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Had I not been lucky enough to have access to scolarships, I would still only be making $24,000 a year or so, which is extreemly difficult to survive on in the SF bay area. While I would be dong everything in my power to get more money and become more successful, I still could end up dirt poor. Success isn't just from self, it also relies on outside souces. Even the most successful and driven person would still be starving in certian situations. What some people don't understand is that these situations exist all over the world, not just in 3rd world countries. A friend of mine came over from France about 5 or 6 years ago and still has yet to find a comfortable living situation, and I know that he has done everything he can. He couldn't afford a state or private college, so he had to go to a JC to get his AA. he had maybe a 3.83 graduating from HS and close to that in college, but he still only makes like $10 per hour. That's not enough. He applied to the same scholarships as I did coming out of HS, but the luck of the draw (and you do have to be lucky to get scholarships) favored me, and not him for some reason. Do I see him as inferior to me? God no. I respect him a great deal. Why wouldn't I respect someone who puts fourth a great effort? Isn't the effort what one should respect instead of the reslut?
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Originally Posted by magictoy
So do you recommend doing what you did, or would things have worked out better if you had just sat back and asked for another 50 cents per hour? Did the Marketing Director and CEO work "smarter" than you did? Did they spend years doing your job in order to learn the business?
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Do I reccomend doing what I did? Sure, but don't always expect the same results. A good GPA and a scholarship isn't a guerentee of financial stability or a career. Did my superiors work smarter than I did? Well that depends on what you mean by smarter. Were they willing to lie, cheat, and steal to make a buck for the company? Yep. The CEO made millions before it was discovered that he was cheating the stockholders (the CEO of The Mobile Solution was also the CEO of Worldcom). It sucks, too, because Bernard was like Santa Clause in person. Right now, he's out on bail while he tries to appeal.
Let's examine for a moment my french friend vs. Bernard. My french buddy is an honest, hard working man who deserves all the success in the world, but has been denied that. Bernard is someone who lied and cheated to make millions and doesn't deserve one dime, but he made and still has millions.
Maybe it's not fair to judge a person on his or her bank account.
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Originally Posted by magictoy
So have I. Well, technically, I had a jar of peanut butter. No sympathy points for you here.
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I wasn't going for sympathy. I wasn't convinced that you understood how the people that you basically ridicule live.
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Originally Posted by magictoy
Let's take your concept a little further. Next time you walk into a McDonald's, or some other "crap" job, take a look at the manager. Do they look like a rich college kid, or like someone who learned the business from the bottom for a few years, and then got promoted? I'd be willing to bet they make more than minimum wage, too. Of course, it's much easier to ask the government for more money than to pay dues like the manager did.
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Actually I tried to get a job at McDonalds before. I didn't get the job. Do you know why? I'm white as snow and I'm not related to anyone who works there. Had I been a Mexican related to one of the workers, I would have gotten the job.
Let's take your concept somewhere else. Go to your local mall and look in the cell phone kiosks (like where I used to work), look at the manager who makes minimum wage + a tiny amount for commission. Does he or she look like someone who is trying to be successful?
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Originally Posted by magictoy
Sounds like you didn't check out the military. Or grants. Or student loans. Or a great many other ways to pay for college, many of them provided by taxes and donations from greedy people.
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I'm not eligible for the military because of a severe heart condition. I did have student loans (student loans arte a busniess, btw, like banking). They made quite a bit of money off me from the interest. The reason that someone might think that the rich pay for the military escapes me. They pay less taxes, they only make up a small percentage of out population.
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Originally Posted by magictoy
That's where we differ. I believe if you work, study, and try, you will not remain in a minimum wage job. And if you were starving on the street, I'd try to get you a job. Buying food is a very short-term solution, even if it makes the buyer feel good and superior for a few days.
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So you believe that everyone who has a crappy job deserves it?
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Originally Posted by magictoy
For the most part. "With" is a relative term. So is "location." Maybe I should have said "My parents are with me."
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Well if you work hard enough, then you can afford to buy them a house.