What, back when I lived in the boonies. The guy that did the septic systems was like a millionaire. Yeah he was knee deep in shiet but laughed all the way to the bank.

As for the gas station attendants, fast food clerks, lawn guys? Well I did those jobs as well as even being a janitor at night scrubbing toilets. In fact, if it wasn't for those jobs I don't think I would be where I am today. See working those jobs kept accerting to myself that I need to stay in school and get that piece of paper for $$$.

Now if they stay with those jobs because they are comfortable and happy doing them well what the f@ck should I have to be involved if they can't pay the bills. That should give them the kick in the pants to get their asses in gear to better themselves.

 

Thats funny, cause i WORK in NH and I live in NH and my GF works IN NH and lives IN NH, but i guess i depend on mass??? and im originally from CT so i dont feel bad calling massholes massholes!

But u do make a good point about the staties, cops up here are insane. and so are the rediuclously low speed limits in some spots.

anywho, in my opinion there are way more cons to living in mass vs. NH thats why i chose the later. but to each his own!

 

Steve, looking down upon people for advancing themselves and thinking that their jobs, while maybe not physically demanding are less "work" is a strange way of seeing things. For example, lawyers. These guys (though not always my favorite) have studied very hard in school to advance themselves. then, many of them take on jobs with the DA, working for a small salary and having to take on tremendous case loads and work well into the night. Do they hold a jack hammer or scrub a toilet? No. But you are not going to tell me that th guy mopping fries and milk shakes off the floor at Burger King works harder. So, why punish someone for clawing to get ahead and give handouts to some schmuck who is complacent enough in his janetorial job to never go to school or try to get ahead.

And don't give me the money shit for school. There is so much financial aid available that ANYONE can go to school these days. But, the guy would probably have to work and go to school at the same time like I am doing now. If he doesn't want to, that's his problem. Don't punish me becuase I make good money by taxing my ass off and giving it to lazy people.

 

we'll never see eye to eye on this

 

Some jobs are physically demanding and some are mentally demanding. Also, as already pointed out many jobs require a grueling period of education/internship prior to officially being on the job.

I really don't think it's fair to say one person in a particular job works harder than another just because of the job they have. There are definitely people in this world that work harder than others but that has to do with laziness not the job you have.

 

I'm going to try this......though I know I'll be sorry.

OK, not everyone is made to make 100K a year, and to those of you who do, congratulations to you as I know you worked hard to get there. Though it does not please you, some of you and your buddies who make 100K a year, will see a percentage of your tax dollars being paid out to help the guy I call the "Average Joe", and others, as well.

"Average Joe" has the average job. Service industry, food industry, clerical support, bank teller, who knows. Some of these jobs are low paying, some not so low paying, but they certainly aren't earning 100K a year even if both parties in a couple work. They are lucky to be earning 50K if both parties are working. Average Joe is being squeezed all over the place. Huge increases in the costs to heat their home, huge increase in gas prices, health insurance premium at work almost if not totally unaffordable. How would you like to earn $15.00-$20.00 as a mechanic and spend $190.00/week for a family plan for insurance? Welcome to working for small business.

If they have insurance, due to rising costs, they are now they are hit with bigger deductibles, and co-pays, thus they are feeling the squeeze even more. Have you seen the cost of a gallon of milk and a box of cereal lately? Can you imagine how they feel when they go grocery shopping? I'm sure it's not a fun trip for them.

Go back to school you say? My hat is off to anyone who goes back to school. I have regretted myself that I never did. As far as the Average Joes, heading back to school, yes, some can, but no some can't. No child care, no $ to put up the $ until loan money comes in, or even still, it's possible they don't have the brain power to tackle college. Contrary to what many believe not everyone is meant to be a college graduate, and the percentage of those who start college AND graduate is not as high as one might think.

Do Average Joes make bad decisions, financially speaking? Sure, we all do. Maybe, Average Joe's wife's birth control failed and now she's pregnant and can't work her minimum wage job, or the family members that used to help out with child care can't do it any more, so she can't work, as she can't afford the high cost of daycare. Do you know how many WORKING folks are just one paycheck away from financial disaster? Living paycheck to paycheck is no fun. Trust me, I did this myself when my son was small.

So if Average Joe, WHO IS WORKING, needs a bit of help with paying for groceries or heating his home, am I going to bitch if some of my tax dollars goes his way? No way.

There is a difference between the scum bums who won't work and don't work and the ones who do work and need a hand. I'd like to pick and choose who my tax dollars help, and I much prefer that my $ goes to help those who are trying to help themselves, but that's not the way life works....

A little compassion for the Average Joes is not a bad thing. There are more of them out there who ARE working, than you would think.

 

BRAVO!!

 

There is a local woman out here who runs a food pantry/homeless shelter. For many years, she paid for it all from her own pocket, including the rent on her shelter. Now the organization has grown (much to her dismay) large enough that she's become incorporated as a 501

 

Everyone has made very valid points. I think we should agree that . . .

-there are people who need and deserve financial assistance and that there is certainly a segment of the population who take advantage of the system

-there are people in EVERY profession who work hard whether it be mentally or physically and others who don't the profession has nothing to do with it only the person's desire to work hard

-people work hard for what they have and it's very demotivating that the more you work and earn the more you are taxed. Knowing that even a dollar of that money can go to people who don't deserve it can be very irritating. Especially if you are in a profession where you have spent significant dollars on education and/or have gone through a grueling internship/apprenticeship.