Why don't you do the math before you tell these kids to not borrow money-- or get a job!

I propose that even someone who makes only minimum wage and brings home a ~12k/year salary is already making a huge sum of money that people in real poverty in third world countries can only dream of.

The poorest Americans have access to a standard of living that is unheard of in human history. It is true that we have experienced a fair amount of inflation in the past 20-30 years, but the costs of so many things has drop so significantly that even though the wages have actually DROPPED when corrected for inflation that money really goes much farther then it ever did.

Poor Americans used to be lucky if they owned a refrigerator and a telephone line. Now they have microwave ovens, HD television, smart phones, dishwashers, air-conditioning, all kinds of electronics, fuel injected v8's, video games etc.

I have almost zero sympathy for college students who are in debt because they choose to study BULLSHIT. They are lucky to have a minimum wage job.

Also the idea that the system is responsible for creating their job is ludicrous. This is America, land of the innovator and entrepreneur, and our system makes EVERY effort to support the American entrepreneur, especially when it comes to the global market place.

I'm in school for math and physics, and I have to turn down a job offer or opportunity for work about every three or four months, and I never send out applications. If you have real skills and abilities employers will SEEK YOU OUT. Some skills and abilities are more in demand then others, and many of my peers KNOW they are aren't learning anything, in fact they actively FIGHT against learning, and when they do learn something they drink it out of their minds asap.

Can a person REALLY find a clean, decent, and safe rental today for $600 . . . in this area, that price would get you a filthy, rundown piece of crap in gang territory.

I propose that even someone who makes only minimum wage and brings home a ~12k/year salary is already making a huge sum of money that people in real poverty in third world countries can only dream of.

The poorest Americans have access to a standard of living that is unheard of in human history. It is true that we have experienced a fair amount of inflation in the past 20-30 years, but the costs of so many things has drop so significantly that even though the wages have actually DROPPED when corrected for inflation that money really goes much farther then it ever did.

Poor Americans used to be lucky if they owned a refrigerator and a telephone line. Now they have microwave ovens, HD television, smart phones, dishwashers, air-conditioning, all kinds of electronics, fuel injected v8's, video games etc.

I have almost zero sympathy for college students who are in debt because they choose to study BULLSHIT. They are lucky to have a minimum wage job.

Also the idea that the system is responsible for creating their job is ludicrous. This is America, land of the innovator and entrepreneur, and our system makes EVERY effort to support the American entrepreneur, especially when it comes to the global market place.

I'm in school for math and physics, and I have to turn down a job offer or opportunity for work about every three or four months, and I never send out applications. If you have real skills and abilities employers will SEEK YOU OUT. Some skills and abilities are more in demand then others, and many of my peers KNOW they are aren't learning anything, in fact they actively FIGHT against learning, and when they do learn something they drink it out of their minds asap.

Yours has to be one of the dumbest, most apathetic posts on this thread.

So people making $12K a year are supposed to be grateful for that because some damn third-world country would consider it a grand amount of money?!

OMG.

You are wrong, wrong, wrong about being the "land of the innovator and entrepreneur" . . . what is wrong with you people for thinking that everyone can just invent something or start their own business?!

America has outsourced itself right out of the market and citizens willing to work are suffering because of it. The gap between the haves and have nots is getting bigger and bigger and some of you just can't recognize and acknowledge that.

And whoopity-do for you that you are going to college - do you know how many good kids will NEVER get that chance?

Too bad they don't teach courses in compassion and sensitivity . . . there are a number of people on this thread who badly need those teachings.

In some places, yes. People get so bound to where they live. There is a huge difference in places. Here, you can rent an entire house for 600 a month. You can buy a house for 20K - a really nice place for 100K. So you don't need to make as much... And no - it is not a ghetto. Look around!

You are correct that the gap between the wealthy and the poor in America has increased to an extreme degree. However the standard of living for the poorest Americans has increased dramatically.

America is still the largest economy in the world, and personally I don't want Americans doing factory manufacturing anyway. If you want a job pressing little plastic bits together move to Singapore.

I never said that everyone can be a successful entrepreneur. If everyone were successful, then success would be meaningless.

I'm extremely proud and happy to be in college and I work very hard to make decent grades in the most difficult classes my school offers. I go to a state school and the tuition is EXTREMELY cheap for the opportunities afforded. MANY of my peers take the easiest track possible and expect to be rewarded for half-assing everything while refusing to learn basic math or even how to spell.

In America you are rewarded for working SMART, not hard, any one can work hard, and that is simply not enough. It is assumed that you will work hard.

I have taken out some loans along the way but I have also worked part-time to feed my self as well. I'm looking forward to making loan payments because its an opportunity to improve my credit score. I'm very comfortable with my debt because I know that it will be trivial to pay off.

I say the bums who want easy jobs with high pay are the insensitive and compassion-less ones. People in third world counties are literally starving to death, with out a pot to piss in. They NEED the cheap factory jobs, while people here just WANT them. The out sourcing of manufacturing is a good thing, do you want your mp3 player to cost 1000$?

You are correct that the gap between the wealthy and the poor in America has increased to an extreme degree. However the standard of living for the poorest Americans has increased dramatically.

America is still the largest economy in the world, and personally I don't want Americans doing factory manufacturing anyway. If you want a job pressing little plastic bits together move to Singapore.

I never said that everyone can be a successful entrepreneur. If everyone were successful, then success would be meaningless.

I'm extremely proud and happy to be in college and I work very hard to make decent grades in the most difficult classes my school offers. I go to a state school and the tuition is EXTREMELY cheap for the opportunities afforded. MANY of my peers take the easiest track possible and expect to be rewarded for half-assing everything while refusing to learn basic math or even how to spell.

In America you are rewarded for working SMART, not hard, any one can work hard, and that is simply not enough. It is assumed that you will work hard.

I have taken out some loans along the way but I have also worked part-time to feed my self as well. I'm looking forward to making loan payments because its an opportunity to improve my credit score. I'm very comfortable with my debt because I know that it will be trivial to pay off.

I say the bums who want easy jobs with high pay are the insensitive and compassion-less ones. People in third world counties are literally starving to death, with out a pot to piss in. They NEED the cheap factory jobs, while people here just WANT them. The out sourcing of manufacturing is a good thing, do you want your mp3 player to cost 1000$?

You are correct that the gap between the wealthy and the poor in America has increased to an extreme degree. However the standard of living for the poorest Americans has increased dramatically.

America is still the largest economy in the world, and personally I don't want Americans doing factory manufacturing anyway. If you want a job pressing little plastic bits together move to Singapore.

I never said that everyone can be a successful entrepreneur. If everyone were successful, then success would be meaningless.

I'm extremely proud and happy to be in college and I work very hard to make decent grades in the most difficult classes my school offers. I go to a state school and the tuition is EXTREMELY cheap for the opportunities afforded. MANY of my peers take the easiest track possible and expect to be rewarded for half-assing everything while refusing to learn basic math or even how to spell.

In America you are rewarded for working SMART, not hard, any one can work hard, and that is simply not enough. It is assumed that you will work hard.

I have taken out some loans along the way but I have also worked part-time to feed my self as well. I'm looking forward to making loan payments because its an opportunity to improve my credit score. I'm very comfortable with my debt because I know that it will be trivial to pay off.

I say the bums who want easy jobs with high pay are the insensitive and compassion-less ones. People in third world counties are literally starving to death, with out a pot to piss in. They NEED the cheap factory jobs, while people here just WANT them. The out sourcing of manufacturing is a good thing, do you want your mp3 player to cost 1000$?

Tell me something, do you have neighbors? Got anything you can trade or do for them? Are many of your neighbors unemployed? How about pooling resources....help each other write resumes and get to job interviews. Create your own community. Military families learn to share like this, what is your excuse?

Why do good kids need a college education? It's another one of those things the marketers have created demand for that is really not necessary. The mind set that everyone needs a university education is a very new one. I can't imagine how the earth has survived so long without everyone having a college experience.

Proof.

2011 . . . a house for $20K? Can imagine what that looks like.

Tell me something, do you have neighbors? Got anything you can trade or do for them? Are many of your neighbors unemployed? How about pooling resources....help each other write resumes and get to job interviews. Create your own community. Military families learn to share like this, what is your excuse?

Why do good kids need a college education? It's another one of those things the marketers have created demand for that is really not necessary. The mind set that everyone needs a university education is a very new one. I can't imagine how the earth has survived so long without everyone having a college experience.

Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

There has been a lot of pain in the past. It looks to me like you're going to get the chance to go through it all again.

Tell me something, do you have neighbors? Got anything you can trade or do for them? Are many of your neighbors unemployed? How about pooling resources....help each other write resumes and get to job interviews. Create your own community. Military families learn to share like this, what is your excuse?

Why do good kids need a college education? It's another one of those things the marketers have created demand for that is really not necessary. The mind set that everyone needs a university education is a very new one. I can't imagine how the earth has survived so long without everyone having a college experience.

How about this?
[link to roanoke.re.adicio.com]

You are insinuating this is personal to me - I am merely participating here because I have great empathy for how difficult it is for millions of people and I know that getting jobs and making money is NOT as easy as some ignorant posters here make it out to be.

I will not take the time to answer your post other than to say if you have followed my previous posts, you know my position on this. The only time I refer to college educations is to those who brag and boast about being in college or having gone to college and I point out quite rightly that not everyone has that particular "opportunity".

For the record, I believe in the bartering system - too bad people don't do that nowadays.

How about this?
[link to roanoke.re.adicio.com]

Sorry but that proves nothing - other than that it is "available" . . . but

What shape is the house in? Foundation? Plumbing? Wiring? Insulation? Attic? Basement? What is the neighborhood like? What are the crime rates in the area? What jobs are available within a 5-10 mile radius?

Just because a house is "available" for sale for a low price does NOT mean it would be a sound financial move for anyone.

Ah see? It's not good enough that you were shown a good looking house for the required amount.

I suppose it would depend if having a roof over your head was the priority...again, your excuse for not excepting what is offered is based on your need for EXTRA's. The roof over your head thing just aint enough.

In some places, yes. People get so bound to where they live. There is a huge difference in places. Here, you can rent an entire house for 600 a month. You can buy a house for 20K - a really nice place for 100K. So you don't need to make as much... And no - it is not a ghetto. Look around!

Ah see? It's not good enough that you were shown a good looking house for the required amount.

I suppose it would depend if having a roof over your head was the priority...again, your excuse for not excepting what is offered is based on your need for EXTRA's. The roof over your head thing just aint enough.

Proof.

2011 . . . a house for $20K? Can imagine what that looks like.

Go to realtor.com and type in Scranton PA or Wilkes Barre PA or Pittston PA or Kingston PA or Nanticoke PA or Wyoming PA - and many more towns in the area. No - they are not McMansions, but you can get a roof over your head, and maybe even pay cash or pay it off fast. No Mortgage - save, and move up from there.

You couldn't answer my valid points about the house, so you resort to this tactic?

First, whether it's a "good looking" house is a matter of personal preference and perspective. Imo, it looks questionable in a questionable area.

So let me get this straight . . . the mindset should be - in AMERICA - the MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD - that it's enough to "just have a roof" even if it's a piece of structurally unsound crap in a dangerous neighborhood . . . yes, that's a measure of personal success in the great land we call America.

Go to realtor.com and type in Scranton PA or Wilkes Barre PA or Pittston PA or Kingston PA or Nanticoke PA or Wyoming PA - and many more towns in the area. No - they are not McMansions, but you can get a roof over your head, and maybe even pay cash or pay it off fast. No Mortgage - save, and move up from there.

Who the hell do you think runs the government? CORPORATE INTERESTS...