Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%

[Zero Sum 305]

What, you think I just walked into the last page of the thread and started posting? I did read the thread, every single post. And I stand by my comment. The only difference between a rich man and a poor man is the ambition to become rich. That is as black and white as it gets. Just because the first thing someone tries to do to get rich fails the truly ambitious try something else rather than give up. It is the ambition to become rich that makes rich people, plain and simple.

It shows. [/sarcasm]

Your logic defies reality. So many poor wanting to stay poor then. Yep, its that simple.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

It shows. [/sarcasm]

Your logic defies reality. So many poor wanting to stay poor then. Yep, its that simple.

My logic is sound. The poor may not want to stay poor but they are unwilling to do what it takes to get out of poverty to be sure. It is that simple. What, do you think that someone is actively stopping the poor from getting out of poverty? How do you explain how two people that grew up together in poverty where one makes it out and the other does not? The only difference is the ambition to no longer be poor.

Edited April 13, 2011 by JohnSmith2007

[Zero Sum 305]

My logic is sound. The poor may not want to stay poor but they are unwilling to do what it takes to get out of poverty to be sure. It is that simple. What, do you think that someone is actively stopping the poor from getting out of poverty? How do you explain how two people that grew up together in poverty where one makes it out and the other does not? The only difference is the ambition to no longer be poor.

The poor. All of them. That simple? Understand?

We've been down this road before. Absolutes are bad examples of sound logic.

Carry on pushing the thread beyond its intended point- as I stated before.

[mawilson 2,133]

giving a little bit of it for the common good

Indeed, the big bucks are made by the top couple of tenths of the top 1%. Tax them at 99% (exaggeration)

99% doesn't sound like a little bit.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

The poor. All of them. That simple? Understand?

We've been down this road before. Absolutes are bad examples of sound logic.

Carry on pushing the thread beyond its intended point- as I stated before.

Jeez, so because I am saying that the poor are poor because they lack the ambition to become rich I have suddenly applied that to each and every poor person? You are the one going to crazy absolutes now. I take that as a sign you have run out of logic and have turned to hyperbole.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I need to friend that person. Too bad this person doesn't participate here because from that kind of repetitive shot I can tell he or she got on your nerves. This is the internet, not a face to face debate.

And I thought we got along so well. I always looked forward to our discussions. That manifestation will be sorely missed.

[mawilson 2,133]

So many poor wanting to stay poor then.

I want a perfect body. The question is, am I willing to work out 5 hours a day, every day of the week?

Or is working out one hour a day good enough?

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I want a perfect body. The question is, am I willing to work out 5 hours a day, every day of the week?

Or is working out one hour a day good enough?

Question Mark, were you always well off or did you have to work your way up from the bottom?

[mawilson 2,133]

Question Mark, were you always well off or did you have to work your way up from the bottom?

Up from the middle. My parents are as middle class as they come.

P.S. Not "upper middle"

Edited April 13, 2011 by mawilson

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Up from the middle. My parents are as middle class as they come.

IYO, was it luck, hard work and good choices or someone giving it to you from another rich person that made you what you are?

And could anyone do the same thing you did?

[mawilson 2,133]

IYO, was it luck, hard work and good choices or someone giving it to you from another rich person that made you what you are?

And could anyone do the same thing you did?

First of all, I just want to say that I'm not super rich or anything. I am in the top 1%, let's leave it at that.

It was mostly hard work (those who know me will tell you that I work ALL the time.)

I've never taken any handouts, not even unemployment insurance.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

First of all, I just want to say that I'm not super rich or anything. I am in the top 1%, let's leave it at that.

It was mostly hard work (those who know me will tell you that I work ALL the time.)

I've never taken any handouts, not even unemployment insurance.

Just as I suspected, you won lifes lottery.

I am in the top 15%. I started from flat bottom (homeless and uneducated). The last time I had any government assistance was UI back in 1981. I decided I didn't want to be poor any more and I worked, made good choices and saved. I didn't do anything that is not available to ANY American. I stand by my statement that the difference between rich and poor is the ambition to not be poor. Both of us are examples. Now I am sure we can't expand that to every poor person in America but you could to most of them.

[웃 910]

I am only in the top 50% but would be quite shocked if I didn't move up to top 15% within 5 years....

BTW...I am coming across major multiple definitions of top X% from different sources (some sources said top 1% was $1,000,000 or more per year...others said $250,000).....the one I am using is from here:

Based on the Internal Revenue Service’s 2010 database below, here’s how much the top Americans make:

Top 1%: $380,354

Top 5%: $159,619

Top 10%: $113,799

Top 25%: $67,280

Top 50%: >$33,048

[BishopM 114]

Just as I suspected, you won lifes lottery.

I am in the top 15%. I started from flat bottom (homeless and uneducated). The last time I had any government assistance was UI back in 1981. I decided I didn't want to be poor any more and I worked, made good choices and saved. I didn't do anything that is not available to ANY American. I stand by my statement that the difference between rich and poor is the ambition to not be poor. Both of us are examples. Now I am sure we can't expand that to every poor person in America but you could to most of them.

+1

We have similar stories. I was living in my car at age 18...pulled my head out of my ####...took a night job at a factory, went to college in the day to pay all my tuition/living expenses without loans...graduated...relocate/promoted...relocated/promoted...again...relocated/promoted... fukkedup/started over...relocated/promoted...now for the past 5 years I've been in the top 10% as an individual earner and in the top 5% as a household. With the advantage of now being able to process all this in retrospect, it wasn't all that difficult for a person who is ambitious and is will to take risks/work hard and long. I also think that ANYONE can do this...you just have to get started and put in the effort.

I, quite frankly, could not care less how much the 'rich' are or are not taxed.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I am only in the top 50% but would be quite shocked if I didn't move up to top 15% within 5 years....

BTW...I am coming across major multiple definitions of top X% from different sources (some sources said top 1% was $1,000,000 or more per year...others said $250,000).....the one I am using is from here:

Based on the Internal Revenue Service’s 2010 database below, here’s how much the top Americans make:

Top 1%: $380,354

Top 5%: $159,619

Top 10%: $113,799

Top 25%: $67,280

Top 50%: >$33,048

Ok, if you include my wifes wages we are in the top 10%. I like my life. I like it even more because I did it all by myself with the gifts that this country has to offer, that being: anyone can be anything they want to be. All they need to do is put forth the effort. It is all I ever asked from life, to be left alone and alowed to rise to the level I was willing to work for.