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Absurd Alhazred posted:They're voting for cloture now. X-post from the US thread, but this isn't so bad at all:  At least they're talking. With the bipartisan vote on Jill Pryor it almost looks like there's hope.
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Sep 8, 2014 23:48
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SedanChair posted:As usual you are not at all a waste of breath. Calm down
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Sep 8, 2014 23:52
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Cheekio posted:X-post from the US thread, but this isn't so bad at all: They have invoked cloture. Why is this OK Senators talking about ISIS? 
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Sep 8, 2014 23:52
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Cheekio posted:The Florida man who broke the 10 hour pay it forward streak at starbucks just lightened my morning. The modicum of altruistic joy other people were feeling was just too much for him to bear. "I had to put an end to it". Over 82 dollars a day for food for an adult and two kids you did it, I got mad okay and then it segues into "discretionary expenses" after the 200k in taxes and exorbitant food fees and the mortgage payments on your million dollar house I can't handle the rest of this your club dues your new car every 4 years holy loving poo poo Minera fucked around with this message at 09:49 on Sep 9, 2014 |
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Sep 9, 2014 09:47
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Forget spending $25,000 on two vacations a year ( ), most people would want to know how someone manages two vacations a year period.
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Sep 9, 2014 09:52
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a package of kraft macaroni and cheese is like, 99 cents, and is used at the start of the video to represent being broke what happened to the other 79 dollars in the food budget, did it go into 3 filet mignon steaks and caviar to complement the mac n cheese?
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Sep 9, 2014 09:55
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Sep 9, 2014 10:37
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I know you are all very excited to hear about the Royal opening of the Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2014-09-08-royal-opening-dickson-poon-university-oxford-china-centre Dickson Poon: a real stand-up guy
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Sep 9, 2014 13:21
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Minrad posted:a package of kraft macaroni and cheese is like, 99 cents, and is used at the start of the video to represent being broke Seriously my mom fed a family of four on $100 a week, what the hell are these people eating?
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Sep 9, 2014 13:39
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Did that food budget include the amount allocated for eating out regularly, or was that separate?
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Sep 9, 2014 13:40
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It was a very simplistic "x amount of dollars per year for food" so I guess it was included? I really can't recommend the video enough, it's pretty short and dumb as all hell. "After I finish enjoying all the luxuries of a rich person and investing in my retirement I have no money!" type of stuff. I really have to wonder what the hell else they think people need money for after they get all that? Doom fortress? Private army? Literal slaves?
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Sep 9, 2014 13:44
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I watched it earlier, but was a bit distracted. 30k a year for groceries, plus another 10k for "dining out / entertainment". Jesus.
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Sep 9, 2014 13:50
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Don't forget the multi-thousand dollar club membership! Anyone with an ounce of financial discipline could retire in less than a decade of earning that much money.
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Sep 9, 2014 14:06
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paragon1 posted:It was a very simplistic "x amount of dollars per year for food" so I guess it was included? It's just most telling because it shows how utterly incapable that sort of wealthy are of understanding true want, true need, and true poverty. It's like they don't comprehend the difference between not being able to afford everything you could possibly want, and not being able to afford things you actually need.
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Sep 9, 2014 14:18
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paragon1 posted:Don't forget the multi-thousand dollar club membership! I wonder what kind of opinions those people would have of a black man making 1/10th their salary, having trouble balancing food and rent expenses, and who likes to buy a pair of Nikes now and then. I tingle with pleasure to consider it.  I tingle!
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Sep 9, 2014 14:34
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Kooloo limpah?
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Sep 9, 2014 14:37
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Here let me help you with that: "How dare that peasant enjoy even the simplest of pleasures? Such indulgent waste!" *adds diamond encrusted golden skull to stack* "Oh if only I didn't pay so much in taxes, I could hire some help to do this for me!"
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Sep 9, 2014 14:39
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To be fair, I don't think the people who do the content on WSJ are actually on the 400k level of wealth themselves. So the article should be considered as irrelevant as when a white teenager from a gated community blogs about systematic oppression on tumblr.
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Sep 9, 2014 14:43
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Oh look Fox and Friends taking the right lessons from the Ray Rice video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh7Qhc_LX18
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Sep 9, 2014 14:48
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Randler posted:To be fair, I don't think the people who do the content on WSJ are actually on the 400k level of wealth themselves. So the article should be considered as irrelevant as when a white teenager from a gated community blogs about systematic oppression on tumblr. Speaking of, searching for "stupid maid" on Twitter is a good way to get a headache
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Sep 9, 2014 15:15
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Wasn't there a blog or a tumblr that reposted pics from the internet accounts of the children of unbelievably wealthy parents? That's the kind of poo poo we need to stir up a true socialist revolution.
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Sep 9, 2014 15:19
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zoux posted:Wasn't there a blog or a tumblr that reposted pics from the internet accounts of the children of unbelievably wealthy parents? That's the kind of poo poo we need to stir up a true socialist revolution. http://richkidsofinstagram.tumblr.com
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Sep 9, 2014 15:21
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These privileged pricks our future upper management and CEOs aren't they?
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Sep 9, 2014 15:24
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We might as well be nice to them on the hope that one of them commits class treason and actually gives a drat about people when they are inevitably in power. I mean if you made fun of FDR on the internet in 1900 he may have turned out completely different.
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Sep 9, 2014 15:26
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DemeaninDemon posted:These privileged pricks our future upper management and CEOs aren't they? They'll become C levels on their own merit, don't worry. That's what we're calling nepotism these days, right? Merit?
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Sep 9, 2014 15:27
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Having complete financial security does open you up to some higher level existential angst that most of us could only dream about.
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Sep 9, 2014 15:28
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Reminds of the time Obama said that they couldn't afford having Michelle Obama stay at home, because as a poor public servant he was only making 160,000 USD as a senator per year.
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Sep 9, 2014 15:28
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George is gettin upset...
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Sep 9, 2014 15:28
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I'm almost disappointed this guy didn't "accidentally" show his Amex number.
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Sep 9, 2014 15:31
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Jerry Manderbilt posted:I'm almost disappointed this guy didn't "accidentally" show his Amex number. I'm jealous he has chip and pin cards. I would love my debit/credit cards to come that way.
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Sep 9, 2014 15:39
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My Imaginary GF posted:Yes it is. Have you considered joining the military for VA benefits? Don't they make you swear an oath that you aren't a communist to be employed by the United States government? Don't think I'd be able to do that with a straight face
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Sep 9, 2014 16:21
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Randler posted:To be fair, I don't think the people who do the content on WSJ are actually on the 400k level of wealth themselves. So the article should be considered as irrelevant as when a white teenager from a gated community blogs about systematic oppression on tumblr. Well, lets break down the numbers and look at how hosed up modern life can be. Family of 5, married, two earners Max Roth: 4k/pp, 8k/yr Monthly budget: 3 children, aged 5, 3, and 1. Cost for 2 day-cares, $1400/mo Decide to rent in a city, avoid owning a vehicle Midwest - Chicago - 4 br/2ba apt. in neighborhood with decent to good schools and close to public transit (L): You're looking at $2100 to $3500/mo rent without utilities; $250/mo for telecommunications (3 phones), home internet, basic cable; $150-600/mo other utilities, depending upon building age and seasonal weather, apartment fees, 'green' efficiency (higher capital and rent costs, lower long-term expenditures) So far, you're at $3,900/mo costs. Add groceries for family of 5 that are moderately healthy, lowball $1,000/mo at city prices and not-poo poo quality, including eating out budget for networking/lunch/one weekend a month parents going out, and you're at $4,900/mo. Add the IRA costs of $666/mo, $5,566/mo. Times 12, $66,792/year minimum cost to raise family in a city. Add three 529 plans spread over 18 years purchased at birth ($450/credit hour, 15credits/semester, 8 semesters: $54,000 over 18 years [216 months] gives $250/mo times 3 for $750/mo for $9,000/yr), and you've got $75,792 minimum yearly expenses. Let's presume the family is average and carries the average student loan debt in Illinois of $28,028/each for a total debt of $56,056. Let's assume they came from families with a high enough EFC that they only have to carry the average loan burden, however, they carry it at unsubsidized rates of 6.8%. Minimum monthly payments are $646 and must be met while working above all other expenses, for a yearly cost of $7,752 to add to the minimum yearly for a new sum of $83,544. Add in two unlimited use monthly CTA passes at $100/per pass for another $2,400/yr expense and we're up to $85,944/yr expenses. Let's give one spouse a job at Argonne labs as a chemist, a decent starting career path with average benefits. Travel from the city to Westmont via Metra along the BNSF, and let's give the spouse a permanent disability registered with Illinois' DDHS for a reduced monthly fare rate of $87.50, or $1,050/year. We're up to $86,994 in minimum expenses a year. Now let's look at income. Assume the spouse working at Argonne has a BS in OChem and plans to pursue a PhD in 3 years. For now, they're working a 9-5 at Argonne for $10.50/hr gross, $840/bi-weekly gross pay, 3 federal allowances, for a bi-weekly pay of $727.82 net, $1,455.64/month net pay, and $17,467.68/year net pay. Now, take that out from mandatory expenses - $86,994-$17,467.68=$69,526.32 net annual income at a very minimum that the other spouse has to earn net yearly, or $5,793.86/monthly net salary. I'll give the spouse a good job to show how tight things are. Now, let's assume the spouse has a basic EE BS and managed to find a union electrician job at Metra. Due to family connections and working as a precinct captain, they're hired as an Electrician/DC/Lead at $92,000.55/yr gross, or $3,833.36/bi-monthly gross salary, add 3 exemptions, filing as married, exemption from Medicare and FICA due to enrollment in National Railroad Retirement amd Railroad Health and Welness, and you've got $2,982.81/bi-weekly net pay for $5,965.62/net monthly takehome pay. Add the spouses' net monthly pay together and you've got $7,421.26 net monthly pay, $89,055.12 combined net annual income, or for yearly gross income, ($92,000.50 + $20,160) $112,160.5. $89,055.12 - $86,994 = $2,061.12 annual income in excess of annual expenses. We could remove the IRA payments and have $10,061.12/year annual income in excess of expenses; however, with a 1-in-5 job-related fatality rate over 30 years of employment on a railroad, doing so imposes a significant risk on the family, as railroad survivor's benefits don't match yearly salary. So, $10,061.12/year for a married couple filing jointly, 3 children, without retirement savings outside of railroad retirement. We could add itemized expenses and tax allowances due to one spouse's disability status; average yearly medication costs with insurance, average medical co-pays, put it on the other spouses' FlexSpend account, point is there isn't much wiggle-room even on a combined net income of $89,055.12 before income taxes. Estimated annual tax liability before itemized deductions? $9,786, assuming $8,000/yr is put into IRAs. Let's add the Illinois Disability Credit of $2,000 and calculate the costs for three, 529 plan payments at $9,000/yr for itemized deductions, giving a total of $21,400 annual itemized deductions. Estimates tax liability: $7,536. Oops, looks like those IRA contributions push the family into -$5,474.88 annual income. Hm, better cut the IRA contribs; tax liability of $9,536, for annual income of ($10,061.12 - $9,536)... $525.12 net annual income. On a combined annual gross salary of $112,160.50. Its not hard to see how individuals falling into this bracket can be persuaded to vote Republican. They're doing everything right, saving, itemizing their taxes, filing themselves, and they have no wiggle-room to do anything. Lose a job? You're hosed. Suffer an accident at work? You're hosed. Kid gets sick? You're hosed. The best you can hope for is nothing bad happening for those 22 years until your children are out and employed with less debt than you. It gets worse the higher-up in income you go, as you get squeezed with additional costs which are practical requirements to maintain employment. Even if the one spouse goes for their PhD and is fully funded, thats 8 years without a full-time income, with loans filling in the gap, and then additional required expenses at their new job; even if they manage to find a career with their PhD which pays on-par with the other spouse, those types of jobs often have "suggested" (mandatory if you want to stay longer than a year) board memberships required of their staff and "suggested" club memberships. Those fees can ammount to $40,000 to $180,000/year just to maintain a job for one individual which pays a net annual salary between $90,000 and $350,000. No mortgage, no equity building, as the family needs the mobility and can't afford the debt burden. Tl;dr, everyones squeezed. Some more than others. If you have $5,000/yr for an accountant, theres ways to be less squeezed than others by playing around with taxes, employment, contracts and whatnot. The solution isn't to say that the complaints are unfounded, the solution is to listen and ensure everyone has a guaranteed minimum income. Surely, our nation is not only wealthy enough to afford it, we're in such financial binds that its the only realistic option for reducing income inequality.
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Sep 9, 2014 16:30
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Whoops I discovered the truth! Anita Sarkeesian.
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Sep 9, 2014 16:44
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Randler posted:Reminds of the time Obama said that they couldn't afford having Michelle Obama stay at home, because as a poor public servant he was only making 160,000 USD as a senator per year. People don't know how much he makes and it's less likely to be turned into a manufactured scandal than saying that Michelle doesn't want to and he's perfectly fine with her decision.
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Sep 9, 2014 16:54
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rscott posted:Don't they make you swear an oath that you aren't a communist to be employed by the United States government? Don't think I'd be able to do that with a straight face iirc its a pledge saying you haven't belonged to any groups planning a violent overthrow of the government so as long as you didn't sign up with one of the wackier groups you'll be fine. Also its only california that bothers with the oath anymore.
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Sep 9, 2014 16:58
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1337JiveTurkey posted:People don't know how much he makes and it's less likely to be turned into a manufactured scandal than saying that Michelle doesn't want to and he's perfectly fine with her decision. 160k living in Hyde Park doesn't leave any wiggle-room, even with state benefits. See my example above, assuming you want your kids to have a better life than you.
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Sep 9, 2014 17:01
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Why Reddit sucks: some scientific evidencequote:(1) People who write low quality posts are more likely to write again when they get negative attention. Furthermore, the quality of their posts deteriorates. This goes beyond the simple adage that you shouldn’t feed the trolls by giving them attention. The evidence suggests that negative feedback can perhaps actually create trolls. It also suggests that people getting negative feedback are more likely to give others negative feedback, too, spreading the infection.
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Sep 9, 2014 17:03
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The Amergin Posting Strategy.
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Sep 9, 2014 17:03
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Stop posting, Joe.
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Sep 9, 2014 17:16
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zoux posted:Whoops I discovered the truth! We really need a :soclose:
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Sep 9, 2014 17:17
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