Probably the most political I've ever been on this blog

I know almost nothing about these "Occupy Wall Street" protests that are going on. What I think I've gathered is that this movement is made up of mostly left-side-of-the-aisle people who think companies and Tea Partiers are bad, and taxing the rich (and everyone else who's not one of them) is good. I haven't really figured out exactly what they're protesting or what they wish to accomplish.

Anyway, I came across THIS site yesterday where people who support this movement are encouraged to write down their woeful tales of debt and unemployment, and then take a picture of themselves holding up their handwritten story. Together, these people consider themselves the 99% of our population who are apparently the "have-nots" who are sick of being trampled on by the "haves."

Here are some copied-and-pasted examples (in italics), with a few of the responses that ran through my head as I read them (forgive my snarkiness):


“I was kicked out of my parent’s house when I turned 18. I lived with a friend for a year or so while I could get my feet under me. I joined our nation’s Navy, but they kicked me out too. Now I live in my best friend’s mother’s basement because I can’t afford to survive on my own  I have a job and go to school full time, but my job pays less than I need and school causes me to miss out on hours I so desperately need. I have a mountain of debt, no credit, and no one cares.”
It's not cruel for parents to expect their 18-year olds to move out, move on, get a job, and begin their own life. The Navy, to my knowledge, doesn't kick people out willy-nilly. If it had been an unfair discharge, you surely would have noted that (which leads me to believe you did something to deserve it). I'm sorry that "no one cares." I truly am. I think it's terribly sad that not everyone has a network of friends and family upon whom they can count when times are tough. But if you (or this movement you're so in love with) think it's the fault of Republicans, or capitalism, or really any other idea you don't happen to like, I'd say you've got a tough case to make.


"I have anorexia. Pretty soon I will be unable to work. My husband has an amazing job and luckily my health issues will be covered. The only problem is he hates working there. He is unhappy and unable to change anything because of my mental condition. I wish I could help. I wish everyone wasn't so scared. Why is it so hard for humanity to help each other?"
I'm sorry you have anorexia. What's the connection between having anorexia and not being able to work "pretty soon" (or is there one)? Your husband, frankly, sounds kind of picky to me. An "amazing job" that he doesn't enjoy is better than no job at all. Millions of people would, I'm sure, be happy to trade you places.


“my 27 year old brother was laid off from his job in construction, and was promised that they would let him come back. They lied. he sat at home all day, every day, because he was sure they would let him come back. he went on unemployment for the time being (about a year), and then got a call saying that he wasnt going to be let back in to the company. now he works at my county’s fairgrounds getting paid $12.00 an hour, and he lives with my parents and myself because he can’t afford to live on his own and my parents cant afford to live without him."
Sounds like kind of a jerk of a company. However, let me point out that it's not terribly responsible of your brother to sit "at home all day, every day" on the hope that the company he used to work for was honest and upright. And $12.00 an hour? Wow, that's less than $5/hour more than minimum wage! You're brother's getting so screwed. I can't believe he's not living on the streets at that wage. We should definitely raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour (oh wait... if we did that, the fairgrounds wouldn't hire him at all because they couldn't justify paying him that much... if only there weren't consequences for our actions!).


"In 2008, I had a job that paid $50,000/year and had great benefits -- even a pension. For the next three years, I was mostly unemployed; getting short-term temporary positions. Now, I've got a 'permanent' position: $10/hour, no benefits and only three days a week."
So... how did you go from making $50k a year to unemployed? Surely it was an unfair move by your employer. But, why didn't you tell us about that? Now I'm left to wonder whether or not you had your own hand in it. And why didn't you save anything when you were doing so well? Carpe Diem, eh?


"I am 3 months from a BA in global management. But, it won't be enough. I have to go into more debt to get a Masters, & pray I find a job then."
Stupid country. Forcing you to attend more school and go into more debt. You've practically got a gun to your head, haven't you? And what happens when you've got your Masters, more debt, and still can't get a job? Man, if only we made President Obama into a dictator. Surely he would help you reach your dream of becoming a... global manager?


"30k in debt for student loans for a degree I will never use."
Again, I feel terrible that the "system" pointed an AK-47 at your head and forced you to go to school, and forced you into a major that you either didn't want or wasn't useful. How is this someone else's fault? What if I complained that Toyota sold me a perfectly good Camry that I'll never drive. Is that Toyota's fault, or am I just stupid?


"College (check) Job (check) Grad School (check) Marriage (check) House (check) Kids (no check) I made responsible decisions, but that only led to debt. How will my husband and I ever afford children, when we already live check to check??"
And here we go again. How do you define "responsible?" If you're so far in debt, what are you doing buying a house? Is it responsible for me to buy a yacht because that's what all my friends are doing, or because I think it'll be nice to have, if I don't have the money to pay for it?


"Us? Three years of wedded bliss. Me? Laid off from a job I loved in a voicemail with no explanation? (Unemployment never came through either). Now I work 50 hours a week and barely make $25,000. Oh, and I drive 35 min to get there. Him? Working full time and going to school full time. I came from a rags to riches family, but my parents make $350,000 more than I do at least. Luxuries include a home, birth control and heat. Not to mention the ability to barely pay off our student loans (which are still accumulating). Welcome to the American Dream. BUT, I AM STILL LUCKY!"
Your parents seem to have plenty of money with which they can help you. But you'd rather require the rest of the country to help you instead with their tax dollars, right?

Drugs

Just thought it was interesting. That's all.

Charitable giving

Saw this on the Mint.com blog. Kinda interesting, I suppose. Sorry that it cuts off on the sides. For the whole thing, click HERE.

budget planner – Mint.com

Help me out here.

The NFL released the complete 2009 schedule about five minutes ago. The Cowboys will be playing here in Denver against the Broncos on Sunday, October 4th.

I have established the "Jake Really Wants to See the Cowboys Play" Fund in order to raise enough money to buy a couple of tickets (I'm sure Elizabeth would like to join me).

You can send your non-tax-deductible gifts to:

Jake Rohde

"Jake Really Wants to See the Cowboys Play"

1715 E Girard Place #1015B

Englewood, CO  80113

I'm not kidding. Please send money.

Riches

For those of you who subscribe to this blog in a reader, or for those of you who don't scroll down every time you visit, I'm pointing out that I added a link along the side to the Global Rich List. It's kind of cool. You put in your annual income and it tells you where you rank among everyone in the world in wealth.

Just so you know, I am officially the 798,928,823 richest person in the world.