I find this particularly poignant in my own case today. Like so many others, I'm in the last third of my life - the most economically productive years for both myself and my employer. And yet... I've developed an almost unbreakable habit of work and investing. I don't spend it, as I've no desire to. I take a lot of satisfaction checking in on the size of The Pile that will ultimately end up with my sons, I'm sure. People say "You should take trips and enjoy life!" But I AM enjoying life - it's just better with A Pile. And that's my choice. People who envy The Pile don't see what the decades of sacrifice (and risk) it took to make that Pile - they just want The Pile.
Over the years, I've had conversations with those who detest and despise those who desire to be wealthy, saying that "the simple life" is better. (Of course, they want a "simple life" for everyone, not just themselves!) My retort: Well, if poverty is your goal, then I wish you success! Just leave me out of it.
Yeah. People who say "you don't need that much money" have enough to sustain the level of lifestyle they are accustomed to.
It's akin to the George Carlin bit where everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac. Anyone who has more money than you is living an unnecessarily expensive life.
My circle of friends is entering that stage of life where "save" becomes "spend," where "future" becomes "present." It's a major shift in mind-set, especially when incorporating the retirement decision.
And, yeah, it has also occurred to me that this anti-Boomer sentiment has as part of its root system the simple desire to deprive people of their life savings, after they've accumulated them.
I couldn't resist. Was caught up recently in an online conversation with someone claiming corporations are the problem. Let me quote our conversation (you may or may not agree with all I said):
============================
Him: We need to start talking about unbridled capitalism.
Taken to its extreme, we get corporate greed that imports Indians to replace American workers.
That is not a free market.
Same applies to companies that destroy competition with predatory practices.
Teddy R. set them straight.
-------
Me: You're confusing "unbridled capitalism" with crony corporatism.
-------
Him :Call it whatever you like.
-------
Corporations are destroying our country for short term profits in a race to the bottom.
-------
Me: No, the government is destroying our country. Corporations wouldn't exist if they didn't provide some form of value.
-------
Him: True, but the corporations are the ones bribing them to destroy us.
Corporations used to be run by people with a conscience.
People who cared about their neighbors.
Today it is mainly just a race to the bottom.
It is up to government to rein them in.
But they are all paid off.
-------
Me: Actually, the federal government has no constitutional authority to "rein them in." And that's the root of the problem. The federal government has usurped power never granted it by the Constitution, and we the people have allowed it (for well over a century or century and half). If the federal government wasn't involved in "regulating" business, the corporations would have no one to bribe for favors, subsidies, and other benefits that enable the "race to the bottom," as you put it.
All corporations exist for profit (except for "non-profits," which is a whole other pandora's box of lies). That has always been the case. But government hasn't always been involved and paving the way for corporate corruption.
-------
Him: Teddy Roosevelt was the last President to deal with unlimited corporate power.
-------
Today, the situation is totally out of balance.
If you can't see that, then you are clinging to outmoded ideas for reasons that are akin to religion.
'Non-profits' should be taxed at corporate rates.
-------
Me: Ah...the Constitution = "outmoded ideas." Got it.
-------
Him: Our Constitution is a noble idea but it is just a series of guidelines.
Our system depends on the good will of Congress, judges and juries in order to function rationally.
Not what we get today.
We have far too many people who are willing to subvert good will for selfish reasons.
============================
I can't bring myself to respond any longer to this level of ignorance.
My reply would be, "you believe that corporations are buying government bureaucrats and politicians off, but you want to give *more* power to the government? Who do you think those bureaucrats and politicians are going to be more responsive to with their newfound power?"
I find this particularly poignant in my own case today. Like so many others, I'm in the last third of my life - the most economically productive years for both myself and my employer. And yet... I've developed an almost unbreakable habit of work and investing. I don't spend it, as I've no desire to. I take a lot of satisfaction checking in on the size of The Pile that will ultimately end up with my sons, I'm sure. People say "You should take trips and enjoy life!" But I AM enjoying life - it's just better with A Pile. And that's my choice. People who envy The Pile don't see what the decades of sacrifice (and risk) it took to make that Pile - they just want The Pile.
Over the years, I've had conversations with those who detest and despise those who desire to be wealthy, saying that "the simple life" is better. (Of course, they want a "simple life" for everyone, not just themselves!) My retort: Well, if poverty is your goal, then I wish you success! Just leave me out of it.
Yeah. People who say "you don't need that much money" have enough to sustain the level of lifestyle they are accustomed to.
It's akin to the George Carlin bit where everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac. Anyone who has more money than you is living an unnecessarily expensive life.
They're just rationalizing their greed and envy.
My circle of friends is entering that stage of life where "save" becomes "spend," where "future" becomes "present." It's a major shift in mind-set, especially when incorporating the retirement decision.
And, yeah, it has also occurred to me that this anti-Boomer sentiment has as part of its root system the simple desire to deprive people of their life savings, after they've accumulated them.
Now that I can, I find that very very often, I don’t really want. Lifelong habits of modest living are hard to break.
Oh, but those *evil* corporations...they're destroying the country! <sarc>
Greedy! Greedy corporations!
I couldn't resist. Was caught up recently in an online conversation with someone claiming corporations are the problem. Let me quote our conversation (you may or may not agree with all I said):
============================
Him: We need to start talking about unbridled capitalism.
Taken to its extreme, we get corporate greed that imports Indians to replace American workers.
That is not a free market.
Same applies to companies that destroy competition with predatory practices.
Teddy R. set them straight.
-------
Me: You're confusing "unbridled capitalism" with crony corporatism.
-------
Him :Call it whatever you like.
-------
Corporations are destroying our country for short term profits in a race to the bottom.
-------
Me: No, the government is destroying our country. Corporations wouldn't exist if they didn't provide some form of value.
-------
Him: True, but the corporations are the ones bribing them to destroy us.
Corporations used to be run by people with a conscience.
People who cared about their neighbors.
Today it is mainly just a race to the bottom.
It is up to government to rein them in.
But they are all paid off.
-------
Me: Actually, the federal government has no constitutional authority to "rein them in." And that's the root of the problem. The federal government has usurped power never granted it by the Constitution, and we the people have allowed it (for well over a century or century and half). If the federal government wasn't involved in "regulating" business, the corporations would have no one to bribe for favors, subsidies, and other benefits that enable the "race to the bottom," as you put it.
All corporations exist for profit (except for "non-profits," which is a whole other pandora's box of lies). That has always been the case. But government hasn't always been involved and paving the way for corporate corruption.
-------
Him: Teddy Roosevelt was the last President to deal with unlimited corporate power.
-------
Today, the situation is totally out of balance.
If you can't see that, then you are clinging to outmoded ideas for reasons that are akin to religion.
'Non-profits' should be taxed at corporate rates.
-------
Me: Ah...the Constitution = "outmoded ideas." Got it.
-------
Him: Our Constitution is a noble idea but it is just a series of guidelines.
Our system depends on the good will of Congress, judges and juries in order to function rationally.
Not what we get today.
We have far too many people who are willing to subvert good will for selfish reasons.
============================
I can't bring myself to respond any longer to this level of ignorance.
Might as well beat your head against a cinder block wall.
My reply would be, "you believe that corporations are buying government bureaucrats and politicians off, but you want to give *more* power to the government? Who do you think those bureaucrats and politicians are going to be more responsive to with their newfound power?"
Don’t know where to start with that.
Here’s one: “corporations used to be run by people with consciences” - oh, really? See Gilded Age Robber Barons”
And “the Constitution is just a series of guidelines”. Funny, I was taught it’s the supreme law of the land.
Guy’s a dolt and not worth arguing with.
After motorhoming around Europe this past year, I can see how places like Italy are not productive.
Albania was a breath of fresh air, but it looks like Soros is about to destroy that.