<p>No one gets where they are without extremely hard work, especially the super-rich and the famous. Those who were born into wealth (the second generation) tend to either squander it or are just not able to maintain the hard work standard, in my experience.</p>
<p>Heck, college presidents at good sized schools are top 1% and the winning big sports school coaches make more than them. Do many thongs very well and you’ll be a top one percenter.</p>
<p>“Regardless, I’m with Razorsharp - who cares what anyone else earns or has? I’m not jealous of them although I do view them as a learning opportunity - if I want a higher income some of their attributes might be worth emulating.”</p>
<p>Agreed. I never think because someone might earn more than me, that they are taking away my income. I just would like to know how they do it, so perhaps I can get some great ideas! Probably over half the people I know are over 1%, and the vast amount of them got endless amounts of education, training, and work their butts off. Though I don’t like the concept of the shrinking middle class at all, I don’t think people who make a high income have an impact on that.</p>
<p>blankmind, you are just a troublemaker now, aren’t you :)</p>
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Your parents must be so proud.</p>
<p>*No one gets where they are without extremely hard work, especially the super-rich and the famous. Those who were born into wealth (the second generation) tend to either squander it or are just not able to maintain the hard work standard, in my experience. *</p>
<p>Shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves…</p>
<p>Let’s make it equal …and become Soviet Union? Isn’t it so attractive when EVERYBODY is equally poor? I am sure all americans will just love it. It is not that hard, make progressive tax much more progressive, say 99% at the very top (of course, these people will immediatelytake thier business somewhere else) and give tax “rebate” checks to those who has never paid it or paid very small tax. The less they paid, the more “rebate” they get. According to my math, it will work just fine.</p>
<p>I don’t envy the rich, I don’t pity the poor.</p>
<p>I focus on the things I have, not the things I don’t. People can do whatever they want with their money, it’s theirs and they are free to squander it all or give it all to their children. </p>
<p>The OP statement is very sad, especially during this time of the year. </p>
<p>The OP will never find happiness, because he/she will never be better than anyone, not with an attitude like that - how terrible.</p>
<p>When I die, the amount of money in my bank account won’t define me. I want to be remembered as a good husband, good father, and a good neighbor. I want my wife to know she was always loved and cherished and my kids to know I did the best I could to teach them positive lessons and good morals. The best gift I can give them isn’t money, but the tools to live a good life.</p>
<p>No one is better than anyone, not by birth, but some people do have better character and make better decisions in life. </p>
<p>The OP is a lost soul, I sincerely hope God sends this person an opportunity to change their life.</p>
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<p>Well said. (Holds up glass a la dinner scene in* Titanic*) “Here’s to making it count.” :)</p>
<p>I do want to be remembered as one who provided lots of financial support to my family (among other things). My kids have already expressed great appreciation for that (again among other things) and always compare their financial situation to what it could have been without my support (again among other types of support). I hope that my grandkids could say the same (again among their other memories of me). Yes, happiness is not possible when one is not provided for financially (among other things, again). I do believe very strongly in my paycheck and pray every day that it is there for me at next pay period as there are very many unfortunate ones who do not have it…and I have been in the same position 9 times (between jobs). There is nothing glamorous about being poor for me. Others might have different opinion, which is fine, whatever you choose to believe, it is your business, no argument.</p>
<p>As a kid, I attended a funeral for a man who was very wealthy. He was well-known for being powerful in the local community and it was no secret he was “rich.”</p>
<p>According to my father, he was also a jerk who mistreated people.</p>
<p>No one was cried at his funeral. Nobody was going to miss him.</p>
<p>My grandfather was a coal miner and a welder. No wealth, no power. Treated people well, was a good husband and father, and believed, “It’s not what you do, but how well you do it” is what’s important. He use to say, “If your gonna shovel crap for a living, shovel crap better than the guy next to you.”</p>
<p>Lot’s of people cried at his funeral.</p>
<p>Doesn’t the growing concentration of wealth in a small percentage of the US population and the shrinking middle class imply that hard work and education DO NOT “pay off” for most people in a reasonably equitable way? Doesn’t it imply that something in our society and/or economy is structured to produce that result and structured against the economic interests of the majority?</p>
<p>I really do not care if my funeral attended or not or my grave ever visited, I hope nobody cries, as I am having very nice life and death is inevitable part of it. I know that every time kids’ friends mentioned that they are still paying college loans, I will be remembered (among other not so tangible memories). But even this is not so important to me in comparison to my own awesome satisfaction of being able to provide. Having this feeling while I am alive and actually could feel. I do not think I can feel anything while in a box few feet under the ground.</p>
<p>Consolation - hard work ALWAYS pays off, no exception.</p>
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<p>Steamed? Not at all. I’m extremely proud of my parents. I feel very lucky that four of the most ethical people I know are my parents and my in-laws. We are faithfully following in their footsteps in terms of money; supporting our son through his education and then giving him the gift of building his own life from scratch. </p>
<p>I also do not suffer from class envy. We earn substantially less than we could by choice yet are still very fortunate financially. I do suffer from fears of what gutting the middle class is doing to my country, I do suffer from anger over businesses increasingly shifting the costs of doing business onto tax payers (one example being health insurance) and I suffer from downright rage that the safety net continues to be chopped at in this country under some twisted, insane version of the American value of independence.</p>
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<p>Define “pays off.”</p>
<p>What’s wrong with being competitive? Why do you think people run in the Olympics?</p>
<p>^ Nothing is wrong with being competitive, it’s a great quality to have.</p>
<p>The problem is that you are saying that if you make more money than someone else, it means you are “better.” Which is false and sad.</p>
<p>It just means you have more money, nothing more.</p>
<h2>I really do not care if my funeral attended or not or my grave ever visited, I hope nobody cries, as I am having very nice life and death is inevitable part of it. I know that every time kids’ friends mentioned that they are still paying college loans, I will be remembered (among other not so tangible memories). ~ MiamiDAP</h2>
<p>It goes both ways. I paid for my own school, and I’m glad I did. I think I value it more than some people who had it paid for, I certainly don’t take it for granted.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with being competitive, but I’m concerned when someone who writes</p>
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<p>has also posted about being treated for depression. OP, I do sincerely hope that you are working with a mental health professional.</p>
<h2>Define “pays off.” ~ Pugmadkate</h2>
<p>Either way, working hard makes you a better person and builds better character.</p>
<p>It may not always directly lead to more income, because sometimes that is out of a persons control, but the lessons and values remain.</p>