[jonasdatum]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class

I want to get paid, but I know I must work smarter and harder for it. Social networking, education, work experience, and risk. We are all competing, that is life all over the universe, adapt or be steped on.

Comments, suggestions, related issues...

[BanditFlyer]

Wow! I guess it depends a lot on the region you live in. What you have listed as middle class would be listed as working class in Silicon Valley.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by BanditFlyer

Wow! I guess it depends a lot on the region you live in. What you have listed as middle class would be listed as working class in Silicon Valley.

What I listed was based on the above wikipedia article. I should have indicated that in the poll, sorry. Please read the article. LOL, Silicon Valley, I already know you have a BA/BS or hihger (probably two BS or Masters). Please tell us of your great educational power and economic success. I already know my weakness, but there are so many that can learn from the great strengths you posess.

[lotuseclat79]

If you want to get paid highly, aim for starting your own business and/or becoming an expert consultant at something that is highly in demand. Choose wisely.

Determine your life's goals in three boxes: education, career or work, and retirement. Education should be lifelong, and neverending - be curious and enjoy learning new things. Career and work can drag you down if it is not something you love doing. Find what you love to do, and make it your life's work Retirement is for when you may think you have given up - never retire - enjoy life to the fullest, but don't over do it. Do long range planning because that will allow you to retire. Never give up! Retire as early as you can to enjoy life, but don't wait to retire to enjoy life.

Learn to generate multiple streams of income.

Design your life - because no one else will be motivated to do it for you - only you can do it for yourself.

Know yourself and those with whom you surround yourself. Find a life mate - it will keep you going for the long run and stablize you. Love, be happy, prosper and have a family - leave a better world behind when you leave it.

-- Tom

P.S. Many people are successful financially, but alas are also unhappy in life, so, in reality - your social class is just another variable which can go up or down or stay the same. It doesn't change the person you are inside - so, do work on that during your journey in life - you'll be glad you did, and so will the people around you (pssst, remember the golden rule).

[Shamou]

Good stuff Tom... where did you copy it from...???

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[Shamou]

Good thread jonasdatum...

Sorry I cannot post anything in it 'cause I'll have a whole lot of rednecks on my butt saying that I'm preaching self-help again...

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[izme]

I am of no certain class...I don't feel like rating myself off of others...Class is purely a cultural construction of sorts...A way to put one above or below in the pecking order of financial prowess etc...Aren't all of us middle class in America according to the press? I make really good money...doesn't mean that I'm better...just better off

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by izme

I am of no certain class...I don't feel like rating myself off of others...Class is purely a cultural construction of sorts...A way to put one above or below in the pecking order of financial prowess etc...Aren't all of us middle class in America according to the press? I make really good money...doesn't mean that I'm better...just better off

".... Cultural construct...." A man after my own hart, lol after my own hart! I try not to restrict myself to social constructs. When I go to work and eat my mixed vegetable for breakfast, with yogurt and fruit - doesn't bother me. People often respond "dinner for breakfast?" Cultural construct, one of the weaknesses human societies as a whole; as I stated on another thread recently "... humans often do what they want to do not what they should..."

However for the sake of the discussion where would you place yourself in society? I NEVER SAID THAT IT MAKES YOU BETTER; it does make you better off and that is part of the discussion. Those who have more education and/or training make more money. That is as old as humans and money. A soldier, a doctor, a carpenter, etc skill and knowledge equal more money and more opportunity.

Give you a small example I had a medical appointment the other day. I plan on getting a number of update vaccinations, among them are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Left, the doctor said, and “we don’t carry it you aren't going outside the country, so you really need them." LOL, I am scheduled to start the Hepatitis A vaccination in a few months. As for the Hepatitis B, I'll be checking out other locations. If I had a private doctor, this wouldn't be a big deal.

At my job I meet people from all over the world; but don't get medical insurance and I can't afford it. Since I am of a lower social-economic I am expected expose myself needlessly. Not the first time I've met this doctor, and believe that he would have suggested this to any other person. Poverty equals weakness; I barely qualify as a working class man, but what resources I have will be utilized to improve my standing on all fronts.

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by Shamou

Good stuff Tom... where did you copy it from...???

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Off the top of my head. I balance a book on my head all day long - for posture.

-- Tom

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Off the top of my head. I balance a book on my head all day long - for posture.

-- Tom

Bwahahaha... good one Tom...

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[Wiskycoo]

Originally Posted by BanditFlyer

Wow! I guess it depends a lot on the region you live in. What you have listed as middle class would be listed as working class in Silicon Valley.

...and the same would have been seen as 'upper class' where I am.

The poverty line, I think, in my town is something like $9,000...I'm not sure though.
Most of the landowners, lawyers, teachers, doctors, nurses, police and firemen in my town make what is termed 'middle class' on this poll, and as far as I am concerned they aren't 'middle case' so to speak.

I think its hard these days to make a poll like that just on the ground that each town/city these days has a different cost of living.

[Stoner]

Originally Posted by Shamou

Good thread jonasdatum...

Sorry I cannot post anything in it 'cause I'll have a whole lot of rednecks on my butt saying that I'm preaching self-help again...

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Good for them

[Skivvywaver]

Originally Posted by Stoner

Good for them

Yeah, rednecks rule.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Stoner

Good for them

Yup... a bright bunch...

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[Wiskycoo]

Lmao!