85% of job loss in manufacturing due to automation; only 13% due to trade

[bshole]

We aren't born into rigid castes here in the U.S., and you do have everything you need to no longer be poor.

Not true, a highly trained professional like myself makes as much as a minimum wage worker from the mid-60s in comparative terms. It shows. I live paycheck to paycheck. I am one sickness away from complete devastation. The only way out is to be born to a rich family or be an enormously gifted entrepreneur, both conditions are an accident of birth which you have no control of. Upward mobility based on hard work alone is a thing of the past. It no longer exists.

 

[agent00f]

Oh, I was unaware that being in the military was a "government assistance program." I guess you would have preferred if I assumed tens of thousands dollars worth of student loans (also a "government assistance program") or not attended school (another "government assistance program") or live in the wilds of Alaska without roads ("government assitance") in order to criticize the Great Society welfare state and its results. Sorta like me complaining that if you take a tax exemption that you shouldn't complain about the marginal rates paid by the 1%.

You were literally paid by the taxpayer funded employer of last resort for doing little of productive value. A program which cost as much as all other discretionary spending combined, and something like order of magnitude more than "welfare". You are the postchild of welfare royalty, but you're white so it doesn't count.

I got onto this by watching an episode of the Andy Griffith show. Andy was talking about selling his house (which appears larger than mine) for around $3,000. I was like HOLY SHIT, that house would go for $300,00 now, a 100 FOLD increase. The average salary back then was $5K so the average salary should now be $500,000 to match the buying power. This demonstrates how and why housing of the future will be all rentals except for the upper middle class and wealthy. The trend will not reverse absent massive changes in society.

And to think the natives were giving away all this land to build on for free. God they were dumb.

 

[First]

LOL, that's funny stuff. "What living like a poor person is" - well it sucks. You typically feel that you lack any choices or agency in your own life, often get fatalistic about things, start internalizing the "you can't do it" voice in your head. And you know what? All that is bullshit. We aren't born into rigid castes here in the U.S., and you do have everything you need to no longer be poor. You may never be Bill Gates rich, but you sure as hell won't be poor. But that requires certain sacrifices. Like motivating yourself to do things you dislike. Perseverance to keep on pushing though when gratification isn't immediate. Refusing to take the easy path that says "hey, you're a poor schmuck from (fill in bad place here) and you'll never make it in this world because of (racism/classism/whatever) so just take the government dole and be happy. Basically what the poor need is to not be infantilized by people like you and told what they can't do because of "systematic racism" or whatever other bullcr@p excuse.

Interesting that you mention "poors" being fatalistic yet don't show the least bit of curiosity about why. Systemic racism and housing discrimination? *Best glenn voice* Nah man that's bullcr@p. Gee, thanks for the insight yah military welfare reject.

 

[bshole]

And to think the natives were giving away all this land to build on for free. God they were dumb.

It is my understanding that they were given beads, baubles and whiskey for that land. That does not meet my definition of free.

 

[ivwshane]

Lol! The small government and personal responsibility guy thinks the military isn't a government assistance program?! The US military is the largest welfare program in the world and this hypocrite has the gall to complain about government programs after he himself took advantage of the largest government assistance program?

 

[agent00f]

It is my understanding that they were given beads, baubles and whiskey for that land. That does not meet my definition of free.

Don't forget the walking ticket to oklahoma. They even get welfare and casinos now.

 

[dainthomas]

Don't forget the walking ticket to oklahoma. They even get welfare and casinos now.

With complementary blankets!