How America Killed Its Middle Class

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I felt like a total idiot the day I spent just over a half a years pay on a frigging car and signed a seven year loan to get it.

But, she is sweet......

Dave

7 year car loans.

I remember back in the day they were all 24 or 36 months.

[BlueStreak]

But, my point is; Some people like to point at the way we live as evidence that we have it better than previous generations did. But, we really don't. It's an illusion supported by heavy debt and multiple incomes. If we all just worked a single job per household and accrued no debt, the place would look like a Guatemalan slum. And, I'm afraid, all too soon it soon will, regardless.

That's the root of it.

Dave

[Bigerik]

And the kids miss out on having a parent home during the day.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Someone's already been done got at SS.

Your boy Reagan got some of it back in the 80's when he got Social Security "reform" passed. They raised my full retirement age from 65 to 66.

But I went ahead and started my Social Security at 65 like I was supposed to.

As a result I only got 93.33% of what I should have gotten.

I'm keeping tabs on what the missing 6.67% would be.

That's what the right wingers owe me, and when the revolution comes l plan on collecting. Heaven help the bastards if they can't pay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3bhh8fqYs

[piece-itpete]

Tom the Dems I grew up around were anything but girly men, union types mostly. Some hippie types too but even they were different then.

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

I appreciate that Pete.

Even though I don't agree with you on anything except soul sucking developments and in addition am pretty much an atheist.

I mean what the Hell, it can't hurt.

LOL! But yeah, couldn't hurt. Cheers.

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I felt like a total idiot the day I spent just over a half a years pay on a frigging car and signed a seven year loan to get it.

But, she is sweet......

Dave

I've signed car loans for much lesser cars than the BlueStreak! I try not to though, and haven't for holy moly well over ten years now. I'm getting tired of working on them and am considering the signing again.

Pete

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Tom the Dems I grew up around were anything but girly men, union types mostly. Some hippie types too but even they were different then.




LOL! But yeah, couldn't hurt. Cheers.



I've signed car loans for much lesser cars than the BlueStreak! I try not to though, and haven't for holy moly well over ten years now. I'm getting tired of working on them and am considering the signing again.

Pete

Yeah, that damn truck needs more ball joints now, the waterpump is seeping and it's time to change the timing chain. I can do most of that myself. But, who in the hell wants to spend his days off doing that? It cost me $170 last month for a tow and new ignition coil. That's not even the whole cost of it, 'cuz I lost six hours of work because of it.

Dave

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

- if you spend 4 years working on a social services degree I applaud, but don't expect me to pay for it.

That's really short-sighted, Pete. I'm all for tax-supported colleges and universities as well as tax supported training in the trades because an educated and skilled populace is a plus for the entire nation.

My dad got his civil engineering degree with help from the GI bill. That is earned btw.

I went to college on the GI Bill too. So what? Not everyone can take advantage of that and, even if they could, do you support universal military service?

Next time I drive by a college and look at all the new cars in the lot the last thing I'll do is feel sorry for their college debt.

Pretty broad brush there, cowpoke!

John

[icenine]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Tom the Dems I grew up around were anything but girly men, union types mostly. Some hippie types too but even they were different then.




LOL! But yeah, couldn't hurt. Cheers.



I've signed car loans for much lesser cars than the BlueStreak! I try not to though, and haven't for holy moly well over ten years now. I'm getting tired of working on them and am considering the signing again.

Pete

used Honda under 50,000 miles at half the cost of new one on the lot.
My CRV just hit 271,000 and it had 70,000 when I bought in 2006.

that is worth a long car note if you have to do it

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by bhunter

How exactly has the middle class been harmed? Deterioration of the middle class relative to what? It's obvious that they're living longer and have a greater proportion of disposable income than they once had. Do you really think that the return of factory workers that have been replaced by overseas labor would be good for all Americans? The significant demographic shift, largely caused by the 1960s immigration policy, is also salient wrt the measure of middle class status. The more lower waged immigrants brought in will necessarily lower the measure of income on average. The immigration demographics, BTW, is also what the democrat intelligensia continue to cite as the eventual demise of the GOP.

Why Brent. You left out that it was all those untrained wimmin driving down wages too.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Next time I drive by a college and look at all the new cars in the lot the last thing I'll do is feel sorry for their college debt.

Pete

What college are you driving by?

Must be some expensive private one where all the kids of rich Republicans go.

I live near a college myself.

Most of what I see for student cars are old beaters that you can buy off of craigslist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4sALru9IJk&feature=kp