Rich Lifestyle

[LakeSurfer 10]

Where I live, nobody would say anything so foolish. If their kids did, then those parents would reign them in quickly. I'm guessing that's why I had such a different take on it. I would feel indignant if someone pointed to something we had (like a boat) and said that it had fallen in our lap (without recognition of the other sacrifices we make in order to have it). But to balance that out, in a very real sense, it DID fall in our lap. Like I said, I know plenty of folks who work at least as hard as I do, and are not as fortunate. So now I'm stuck and torn about how to express it - maybe it's like this: "Work your a$$ off like it all depends on you, and give thanks like it all depends on grace."

 

This is exactly right.

[LakeSurfer 10]

True: my guess is that Bongo's frustration is not with just the kid's post (and you are correct these are just kids and you should not worry what kids think/say and getting them out on the lake probably would change the way they feel). My guess is that Bongo feels that this is now a common theme in our society and is worried where that will take us.

Edited June 12, 2012 by LakeSurfer

[DrNate 426]

Well put superdtf!

[truekaotik 458]

maybe it's like this: "Work your a$$ off like it all depends on you, and give thanks like it all depends on grace."

Ummmm. End of thread.... Summed it up...

[DarksideR 1,679]

I know that I'm more fortunate than some and less fortunate than others. I work hard for what I have but cannot deny that luck played a role, as did a helping hand from my father. He helped get me the job that eventually led me to the job I have now. I make a really respectable wage. Better than most people I know. I live in a modest house, drive modest vehicles and yes... I also have a boat. Which, compared to many on here, is a modest boat. But it's much nicer than a lot of the boats I see at the lake. So, to some people, I may look like I'm rich, and to others... not so much. Truth be told, I feel like I'm doing alright, but we live paycheck to paycheck and have most of these things because I was lucky enough to buy my house at the bottom of an uphill climb in the housing market here. I guess what I'm trying to say is, like beauty, a persons wealth is in the eye of the beholder.

And try not to trouble yourself on how others view you. That's their own problem.

 

Ps. Not sure I understand Lakes comment on Obama. But it sounds like you don't want your tax money to go to helping people less fortunate. I'm not trying to take a shot at you here. Just hoping to understand it better. Maybe this isn't the place for that conversation?

Now I'm rambling.

[LakeSurfer 10]

Ps. Not sure I understand Lakes comment on Obama. But it sounds like you don't want your tax money to go to helping people less fortunate. I'm not trying to take a shot at you here. Just hoping to understand it better. Maybe this isn't the place for that conversation?

Now I'm rambling.

 

I am not sure why you think I dont want my tax money to go to helping the less fortunate. What I said is I dont want a Socialist state or a state in which the people expect the government to take care of them. This has proven time and time again not to work. You can look at Soviet Union and Cuba to see how Communism played out and you can look at France and Greece to see how Socialism is playing out. Heck, look at some of the U.S. states. California, New Jersey and New York are all broke due mainly to a social welfare system that is to burdensome. Besides being broke, these three states also share something in common, all three of these states rank in the top 5 in tax burden (state tax revenue as % of income).

 

I can go on and on about this. Reality is that from a financial perspective, I believe a nanny state is just not sustainable in the long run. History has proven this time and tie again.

 

Note: if you can not tell, I am not exactly left leaning. It does not mean I dont want to help people. It just means I believe the government is already taking a sh*t load of money from me. So if the government wants to pay for some new this or that, then the government needs to cut cost somewhere else to pay for it. Just like what I would do in my own house or what any good company would do.

Edited June 13, 2012 by LakeSurfer

[PayCheck 20]

i dont mind when people think im wealthy or rich or more fortunate. my parents arent loaded with money, but we have enough for a nice boat. it bothers me when people make judgmental comments like your sons friends do, but only when theyre trying to tease me about having a boat. i dont know why its okay to make fun of me for it, my dad also works insane hours for his job, and is only on the boat with us like 25% of the time due to work. it fine if people would say "nice boat! looks like fun" or something playful like that. just cant stand people putting me in the snotty rich boy category and making almost rude comments like your sons friend, im not trying to show off everything i have, i enjoy posting pictures of my boat. there isnt a need for comments like that. but i do see where theyre coming from, just not the reasoning to be rude about my boat. im also 16, and i get the same crap as your son for some reason

[cjohnson 33]

I'm not sure how this post became about politics. lol

 

I've been on both sides of this. Growing up our family didn't have much. We had food on the table, a roof over our head and got to go on a small vacation once a year. I had friends with cottages and boats that admittedly I was jealous of. I don't think I ever said anything rude to them thanks to how my parents brought me up. They were also amazing people that invited me out for weekends which I appreciated more than I could express.

 

I'm guessing your son's friends are jealous and thinking think it's unfair that your son didn't work for anything he's been given which is probably true. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing or that he's done anything wrong. He was just lucky enough to be born into a good family. It's not right for your son's friends to to say anything to him but they are kids after all.

 

Right now I've got most of the luxuries I always wanted as a kid. I've worked pretty hard but, in reality, most of it isn't a result of what I've done either. My parents raised me well and paid for my education, a lot of things in school came relatively easy to me and I live in one of the most wealthy cities in North America. I work in an industry with some of the richest people in the world and when I look around most of my coworkers come from very affluent families. Someone who was born into a family living in the projects would have a hard time getting to where I am. Someone born starving in Africa wouldn't have a chance to get what any of us have.

 

I'm not trying to diminish the fact that a lot of people worked hard for what they have but we should be conscious of the fact that we are fortunate to live in countries where we can have boats, multiple houses and are able put food on the table every day.

 

A teacher in an HR course once said that human nature is internalize good things that happen to us and externalize bad things that happen to us - our good fortune is because of what we've done and bad things are because of things we couldn't control. Others don't necessarily see things this way.

 

I think we should be thankful for what we've been given and not worry about what others think.

Edited June 13, 2012 by cjohnson

[harlobra 24]

Just tell them what I tell my kids "life's unfair, deal with it"

[bobback 3]

You should post back that if you were rich you'd be rolling in an Enzo, instead you're slumming it in a Falcon...haha!

 

Just kids being kids these days.

[DarksideR 1,679]

Sorry lake, when I hear people bash Obama, it's usually about the healthcare system. I don't know if any country has a great healthcare system. Our Canadian "free" healthcare has its good and bad points. But anyway.

I just find it kinda laughable just how much America spends on its military. I know it's important, but come on.

[LakeSurfer 10]

Sorry lake, when I hear people bash Obama, it's usually about the healthcare system. I don't know if any country has a great healthcare system. Our Canadian "free" healthcare has its good and bad points. But anyway.

I just find it kinda laughable just how much America spends on its military. I know it's important, but come on.

 

Obamacare: Sucks and does not address the rising healthcare cost at all (just take a look at how out of control Medicaid and Medicare expenses are). I do believe that the U.S. does need to provide some type of healthcare but this is not it. To be honest, I really dont care for the Canadian healthcare system either.

 

U.S. Military: Reality is that if the U.S. quits trying to police the world and starts spending less on its military, other countries will have to spend more on theirs. I would guess that Canada would be one of those.

[LakeSurfer 10]

double post

Edited June 14, 2012 by LakeSurfer

[DarksideR 1,679]

Without a doubt, if it weren't for the mighty American military, Canada would definitely need to step up ours. Doesn't change my opinion that too much is spent on your military and too little on the educational system and healthcare. From what I see, your country is moving backwards to a time where only wealthy people were educated. I'm sure I'm blowing it out of proportion.

[DarksideR 1,679]

Good thing you guys are all rich! Eh? Lol. And now were back on the actual topic of the thread

[RhuntIII 555]

I don't give a damn what people say about me! Who cares! I believe in working hard and playing hard. "Save at least 10% Lil Fella and put it away" Is what my grandfather preached to me. It was hard to put away that 10% starting off at 5 bucks an hour. Boy that has paid off now. I love the rich life style and I love the boats. I feel having the most fun and having my family (the three kids that wont sleep through the night) has made me the richest man in the world.

 

I'll stay humble and say, "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!"

[CTMILKMAN 0]

Every day this country looses that 1950s workman mentality that you work hard and build a fortune/family over time. Now everything is about instant gratification and standing around with your hand out asking people to just give you something.

 

I couldn't agree more!! As someone who has busted his hump for a long time to get where I am, you can bet you last gallon of fuel in the boat that I am bringing up my kids to work for everything they get. My 11 yr old son wanted an iTouch for his birthday & was upset when we told him that it was too expensive. Instead we told him that he could let the family know that he was saving for one and that instead of getting him a present they could help him reach his goal. Well after his birthday and a few chores later, I was more than happy to take him to the store to pick one out. Not only did he learn a little about the value of a dollar, but he has taken better care of that than any of his other toys.

[duramat 462]

 

I couldn't agree more!! As someone who has busted his hump for a long time to get where I am, you can bet you last gallon of fuel in the boat that I am bringing up my kids to work for everything they get. My 11 yr old son wanted an iTouch for his birthday & was upset when we told him that it was too expensive. Instead we told him that he could let the family know that he was saving for one and that instead of getting him a present they could help him reach his goal. Well after his birthday and a few chores later, I was more than happy to take him to the store to pick one out. Not only did he learn a little about the value of a dollar, but he has taken better care of that than any of his other toys.

 

Awesome! My daughter is saving her babysitting money for an i-touch as well, she's about 1/4 of the way there. Im ready to call the farmers with orchards and see if they need any kids with strong backs and weak minds LOL

[LakeSurfer 10]

Without a doubt, if it weren't for the mighty American military, Canada would definitely need to step up ours. Doesn't change my opinion that too much is spent on your military and too little on the educational system and healthcare. From what I see, your country is moving backwards to a time where only wealthy people were educated. I'm sure I'm blowing it out of proportion.

 

I am going to bow out before I say something I might regret. But it is always great to get input on how our country should be run from our friends from the North.

Edited June 14, 2012 by LakeSurfer

[DarksideR 1,679]

I figured that might strike a nerve. And for that, I apologize. I'm not trying to put your country down, or say that the government is doing a better job here in Canada. Many of us are getting fed up with how expensive it is to live here. We are taxed to death and everything costs at least 20% more money even before the damn tax! The housing market is out of control. Nobody starting out today can afford even the most modest house within a two hour drive of the city. I envy the value you Americans get for your dollar, but what is the real cost? You mentioned the 1950's mentality getting left behind. It started getting left behind when the corporations started making every bloody thing over seas. Less and less "good paying" jobs for the working class. I see more and more adults working jobs that used to be filled by kids and teenagers. There's no such thing as a paper boy anymore. It's adults driving around in cars delivering newspapers, or working at home depot. All this for higher profits. Is there any justification for a 29.5 million dollar salary for one man? Because he's a CEO?