the economy is doing just great

[dante1]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/most-americans-cant-afford-a-500-emergency-expense/

[guitarjosh]

of course not but that is a huge number. not too long ago I read an article that claimed even more Americans would be under great stress if they had an unexpected $400 or $500 bill. Yeah, that size unexpected bill will cause great angst for a huge number of Americans. Working Americans.

That's hardly an indictment of the economy or capitalism. What are their spending habits? People with high incomes can still live paycheck to paycheck.

[dante1]

That's hardly an indictment of the economy or capitalism. What are their spending habits? People with high incomes can still live paycheck to paycheck.

did you read the article, wait did I even post it. lol. If I did and you did the numbers are crazy josh. if I didn't I will.

[RoyBacon]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/most-am...gency-expense/

Great article besides the typos. It's also from January 12, 2017.

The findings shed light on how many households continue to struggle with their basic finances more than seven years after the official end to the recession. Despite steady job growth during the Obama administration, wages have been slow to recover, with the typical American household still earning 2.4 percent below what they brought home in 1999, when income peaked.

That's the problem with the Obama economy and before. Inflation was higher than wage growth. No more.

[dante1]

some of these people earn 75,000 a year, that isn't the poverty level. Not great but not starving.


In our country with our resources, I question an economic system in which millions of people live in poverty, and millions of working Americans are having serious problems. it is not the people it is the system. and my proof is that 5 out 6 of the happiest countres rely on more socialism than we do. those are my facts.

[guitarjosh]

some of these people earn 75,000 a year, that isn't the poverty level. Not great but not starving.


In our country with our resources, I question an economic system in which millions of people live in poverty, and millions of working Americans are having serious problems. it is not the people it is the system. and my proof is that 5 out 6 of the happiest countres rely on more socialism than we do. those are my facts.

It's not poverty, but it also doesn't tell you their expenses. $75,000 annually is a little over $6,000 a month. If you buy a mcmansion, expensive car, expensive clothes, eat at expensive restaurants, etc, you're going to be living paycheck to paycheck.

Most of what is called poverty is a moving target. It isn't a lifestyle, it is a mathematical formula that compares people together. Take the average income, divide that by 2, and there is your poverty line. Everyone below that number is in poverty, despite the fact that they might live better than people that were wealthy or middle class did several decades ago. If you work full time in America, you have about a 3% chance of living in poverty. My proof is that most of the countries that are less happy than America rely more on socialism that we do. Those are the facts.

[dante1]

It's not poverty, but it also doesn't tell you their expenses. $75,000 annually is a little over $6,000 a month. If you buy a mcmansion, expensive car, expensive clothes, eat at expensive restaurants, etc, you're going to be living paycheck to paycheck.

Most of what is called poverty is a moving target. It isn't a lifestyle, it is a mathematical formula that compares people together. Take the average income, divide that by 2, and there is your poverty line. Everyone below that number is in poverty, despite the fact that they might live better than people that were wealthy or middle class did several decades ago. If you work full time in America, you have about a 3% chance of living in poverty. My proof is that most of the countries that are less happy than America rely more on socialism that we do. Those are the facts.

"if" again

josh we will never agree on one subject and that is economic systems, we can save a ton of annoyance by avoiding that topic. I can't convine you and you can't convince me.

it always ends up with he said, he said. nobody learns anything, nobody is motivated to change. It is a useless endeavor between us.

[dante1]

and tell that poverty story to mothers that have children going to bed hungry every night.

[guitarjosh]

"if" again

josh we will never agree on one subject and that is economic systems, we can save a ton of annoyance by avoiding that topic. I can't convine you and you can't convince me.

it always ends up with he said, he said. nobody learns anything, nobody is motivated to change. It is a useless endeavor between us.

Dante, there's nothing wrong with saying if and asking questions. You can't just assume that all people that live paycheck to paycheck have low incomes. I can be convinced, but there needs to be more than just something like you posted. Disparities don't automatically mean discrimination. People saying they can't afford a surprise $500 bill doesn't mean we need to change the whole economic system. You have to look at other variables to have a full understanding of what is going on.

[dante1]

Dante, there's nothing wrong with saying if and asking questions. You can't just assume that all people that live paycheck to paycheck have low incomes. I can be convinced, but there needs to be more than just something like you posted. Disparities don't automatically mean discrimination. People saying they can't afford a surprise $500 bill doesn't mean we need to change the whole economic system. You have to look at other variables to have a full understanding of what is going on.

I am not looking to change the economic system, I am a capitalist. I have degrees that prove my beliefs, I just evolved into believing capitalism with adjustments is the best economic system. I have proof. Poverty is poverty when children are food poor that is poverty.

[guitarjosh]

I am not looking to change the economic system, I am a capitalist. I have degrees that prove my beliefs, I just evolved into believing capitalism with adjustments is the best economic system. I have proof. Poverty is poverty when children are food poor that is poverty.

That doesn't mean the system needs to be adjusted. People make bad decisions all the time, and the people who have made good decisions shouldn't be punished.