quote:

Originally posted by zookeeper It seems like each time I turn on the TV there is another show about rich people and the lives they lead. Seeing these degenerates spend and spend, knowing that they have reached the point of perpetual wealth (meaning they can't go bankrupt, too much money compounding)and how clueless they are about how the world and life works. I believe the US is headed for 2 classes, 1 on the top and 1 on the bottom...no one in the middle. Now I know why the Russian Czars' head was cut off. Wealth stays in certain circles and the rest of us have to fight for a smaller chunk of the pie. I'm tired of paying taxes.

well, shame on me for posting while angry, let me clarify...

I think the root of my flame was to say, "Why are we, as Americans, wasting our time watching this garbage on TV?" ie:Simple Life, Osbournes, Growing up Gotti etc.

I don't really care what other people do for their entertainment, but it irks me that so many of us are interested in rich degenerates.

I don't own a big screen TV. Maybe that's my problem



Forgive my post in haste.

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka Please. While I agree that there are plenty of products(and advertisements for said products) which the average Joe really doesn't need, it's not as if someone is holding a gun to Joe's head and making him buy that useless baconwave or vat of Oxy Clean.

Obviously no ones forcing them. You should pay more attention to what I wrote.

quote:

Originally posted by shaolin_Z while its true that everyone is responsible for their financial activities,

quote:

Originally posted by zookeeper It seems like each time I turn on the TV there is another show about rich people and the lives they lead. Seeing these degenerates spend and spend, knowing that they have reached the point of perpetual wealth (meaning they can't go bankrupt, too much money compounding)and how clueless they are about how the world and life works. I believe the US is headed for 2 classes, 1 on the top and 1 on the bottom...no one in the middle. Now I know why the Russian Czars' head was cut off. Wealth stays in certain circles and the rest of us have to fight for a smaller chunk of the pie. I'm tired of paying taxes.

While T.V. does a good job of keeping the lower class American psyche in a tar pit of vicariously living through the wealthy, that's just one aspect.

We can blame the educational system as well.
Ask yourself, do wealthy people have jobs? No. Why is that? Because they own businesses.
Early education doesn't promote this, nor do they promote basic personal financial responsibility.
What's the first thing a student, after years of going without, wants to do after they find a job and start earning some cash flow?
Buy consumables.
That's not a bad thing, its just that they are lead to believe that they can afford all those desirables with the help of a crutch called debt.

T.V. is easy to blame because it's in front of everyone.
Personal finances are in the skeleton's closet only to be pointed at by (ironically) credit companies and banks that tell us that credit debt. and personal savings is at an all-time low.

It really is up to us to learn to take care of ourselves in the end.
...and yes...pick up a book!

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

To contend things said earlier, if the 'poor' wised up and used their money wisely, the 'rich' would see their wealth evaporate

___________________
if i had a hammer...

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Originally posted by Pheobius To contend things said earlier, if the 'poor' wised up and used their money wisely, the 'rich' would see their wealth evaporate

that is so true. which is why there really arent any programs that would educate ppl and teach them financial responsibility.

quote:

Originally posted by shaolin_Z that is so true. which is why there really arent any programs that would educate ppl and teach them financial responsibility.

Why not? That sounds like an assumption that the "rich" are somehow guardians of common sense!

It is really inherited wealth at the root of my rant, I have worked very hard to aquire my wealth, It's just not fair that someone gets a free ride.

I'm sure my views would change if I won the lottery...

quote:

Originally posted by zookeeper It is really inherited wealth at the root of my rant, I have worked very hard to aquire my wealth, It's just not fair that someone gets a free ride. I'm sure my views would change if I won the lottery...

Only 1% of the wealthy inherit their money.
It's a change in wealth thinking that's needed; winning the lottery is a mind-state of the non-wealthy.
Actually winning the lottery will not solve the problem as it's statistically shown that those that have won (a lottery) are back to their original state (or worse) after about 5 years. They didn't know how to handle money when they had none and still don't after the huge windfall.
Unfortunately, coming across huge amounts of cash doesn't make someone automatically financially responsible.

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

A good point,

"You can take the trash out of the trailer, but you can't take the trailer out of the trash."

A prime example would be Britney Spears, J Lo, or a very bankrupt MC Hammer. "Mo money, Mo problems" Biggie Smalls.


However, my main point is WHY ARE WE FASCINATED WITH THESE PEOPLE!!! I come home from work and my wife is watching "Gastineu Girls (sp)" After only a few minutes I am physically sick from seeing these people take on a days' activities and being so ignorant. Perhaps it makes us feel better to know that we, average Joes', are smarter than they.

Paris and Nicole get caught in a combine...now that I would watch.


If you come across huge sums of money, wealth becomes self perpetuating ie: compounding interest, hence unable to go bust, no matter how financially irresponsible. Jessica Simpson, for example, shows a total lack of fiscal repsonsiblity, however she has so much wealth that it is mathematically impossible to become "poor".

...and 1% controls 90% of all wealth.

Last edited by zookeeper on Mar-29-2005 at 06:05

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka Why not? That sounds like an assumption that the "rich" are somehow guardians of common sense!

the rich understand how money works, they're not guardians of common sense.

and, unfortunately, common sense isn't very common. especially when it comes to financial matter. and thats where advertisement plays a role too. transfering more wealth from the poor/middle class to the rich.
alot of adds are pretty manipulative and create an exagerated value of products in the potential consumers mind. and that the whole purpose of adds, is to sell stuff. and frankly, most advertisers don't really care about how they advertise as long as it gets money out of your pockets, and as much of it as possible.

The rich do not always understand how money works, they hire people to figure it out for them.

Advertisments do usually target the 18-24 demographic with all that
"disposable income".

As for investing in the stock market...now there's a place to get richjust ask the people who owned Enron, Tyco, Kodak, Xerox, internet and tech stocks...and the blue chip that burned me good...GLOBAL CROSSING!

Most of the high level executives got away with little or no financial damage to themselves, leaving us, who invest for retirement holding the bag.

Last edited by zookeeper on Mar-29-2005 at 18:00