Hey, I'm one of the top 50,000,000 richest people in the world. Then why do I feel so poor? Check it out. Puts things in some kind of perspective, I guess.
22 Oct 2005 @ 03:11 by jmarc : Damn the rich
the top 1 percent -- the taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) over $295,495 -- paid, for 2003, 34.27 percent of federal income tax revenues. The top 10 percent (with an AGI over $94,891) paid 65.84 percent, the top half (AGI over $29,019) paid 96.54 percent. The bottom half? They paid 3.46 percent.
Puts things in some kind of perspective, I guess.
Greedy bastards.
23 Oct 2005 @ 08:14 by vibrani : Why do you equate
being rich with being greedy, jmarc? The two don't automatically go hand-in-hand. Many "rich" people help support thousands of others in the world, and are pretty decent folks who can balance their heart and their funds. (Not talking about the occasional bad apple that is found in any economic group.) Many of these millionaires don't even live big and obvious - you'd never know they're so wealthy by looking at them or their homes as they live more modestly. Do you know the financial status of every member of NCN - maybe there are some very wealthy people here - reading this log?
Frankly, I'm sick and tired of people complaining about rich people as being something rotten, and if one is wealthy they have to feel guilty for it...maybe that attitude keeps certain individuals from having wealth, themselves? Money is not the root of all evil, nor does it have to be your enemy, and if being wealthy turns you off (and I don't believe there are many people who are genuinely turned off by having money), that is your attitude, belief and therefore chances are you will always be impoverished. Think about energy and "like attracts like." So why are you complaining - you are exactly where you choose to be - not wealthy, and (serious question) how's that working for you and serving others? Poor bastards?
Ming, maybe it's about gratitude for what one does have?
I don't begrudge anybody being rich per se. I'd like to be stinking rich myself. I do have a problem with most of the ways there are of getting rich. They typically do involve a fair amount of self-serving greed.
And I'm unhappy with most people on the planet living in poverty. Like, it is shocking, as Andrius mentions, that you're in the top 15% if you make $3000 per year.
And, yes, bizarre that there's such a little percentage jump between that and $22,000. I mean, in a western country you could live (badly) for $22,000, but $3000 is utterly impossible unless you're homeless.
25 Oct 2005 @ 01:35 by vibrani : Or
if you live in some third world countries...then it's a fortune. It's so hard to understand why there is such a huge gap between what's considered a decent income around the world and what will get you what for the same money. Look at housing. It's become insane.
I think what screws most of us are the taxes upon taxes upon taxes. We aren't being taxed only once for services and some products. I think this is a major corruption of the system and the downfall of it, a main cause of poverty. I don't know how that works in Europe, but in America it sucks, and we don't even have socialized medicine.
Getting rich - self-serving greed...hmmmm...if wanting to have a good life and give your kids a good life, is that self-serving greed or love? But I know you are talking about how one gets rich. Paul Newman, for instance, is not only an actor and has no doubt saved money from that. He also makes a line of food products. He donates all his profits and royalties after taxes for educational and charitable purposes. He has given over $175 million to thousands of charities since 1982. He's merely one example of a very wealthy man who has figured out how to help others and know that he doesn't need it all for himself.
I think there are more ways of making money that are a combination of helping and/or harming the environment. This is where I have the most struggle. I know that I can invest money in a corporation and make a good income, but that corporation also destroys the environment. So, I choose to invest in companies that are environmentally aware and friendly. It really does help to have a smart investor helping you where to put your money for what you want it to do for you. Yes, you do have to have some to invest it, but if you can do that, it will be a big help to you.
25 Oct 2005 @ 14:35 by ming : Sustainable Riches
I make a pretty bad investor. Because I'd want to invest in those companies that *should* do well, based on the integrity of their products and services, or how sustainable they are. But that is unfortunately often a bad investment. At least when one doesn't have so much to invest that one might influence the outcome. One of the basics of making money with stocks is to be completely unemotional about it, and only make decisions based on the numbers. Doesn't matter if it is Monsanto and Microsoft and Haliburton and Bectel, as long as the stocks go up. I know people who're very successful playing it like that, and in their spare time they think about world peace and the environment, and they don't notice the conflict. Bill Gates has given huge amounts of money to charity, making quite a difference with it. But he's done so many more time that amount in damage, and he'd still want people in the third world to buy his software, rather than using free open source software. Any good drug cartel gangster in South America is giving lots to charity, and doing good for their local communties. But the overall accounting doesn't add up well. Doing a small amount of good with your profits from doing large amounts of bad doesn't make for a beneficial net result for all concerned.
Of course there are examples of people who mostly do the right thing, and who still are rich. But it is so much harder to make it that way from the start.
26 Jan 2006 @ 17:46 by Anonymous @64.139.184.12 : Global Inflation Rates
greedy bastards
7 Apr 2006 @ 04:27 by Bill! @220.231.78.236 : Help me please
I need ur help! Please contact with me by Y!M lookingforback. Please. I need 1000$ for lean!
22 May 2006 @ 07:03 by Arega Teferi @213.55.89.8 : Request for help for a scholarship cost
This is Arega Teferi Faris from Ethiopia, which is found in East Africa. I have graduated from Addis Ababa University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education. I am the sixth boy in the family of seven and who has got the chance to knock the door of higher education. I lost my father when I was around two years old. It is my mother who did everything for me. Here in Ethiopia the family is an extended one the income of one person is the income of the whole family. Since we are poor we do not have something for tomorrow. Surely, our living standard is very low and our life is hand to mouth. Now, I am the father of two baby girls and the only one who assists my poor mother and brothers.
Currently I am instructor at Microlink Information Technology College in the Department of Accounting found in Addis Ababa. My family and I live with the income that I got from employment. In the mean time, since I have a keen interest to continue my education at postgraduate level, I applied to Maastricht School of Management in Netherlands in the MBA program. After reviewing my application thoroughly, the school provided me an admission in MBA in the area of “CORPORATE STRATEGY AND ECONOMIC POLICY” for the academic year 2006/2007 which will begin in September 2006. I got the admission on May 2, 2006. However; I do not have the capacity to cover all costs required for the academic year. I just kneel down in front of you and beg you to cover part or all of my study costs or to help me as much as you can for the academic year. Enclosed is the admission letter, copy of my passport and tuition fee policy of the school.
Thank you,
Arega Teferi Faris
P.O.Box 24545
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel (Mobile)+251-911-687916
Home +251-11-6630703
E-mail: areg_tef@yahoo.com
31 Dec 2006 @ 13:44 by luis Vergara @67.98.222.15 : Yess we are rich!!!
I don't make too much money for now. I'm jus making 60K per year. I have been at school during my entire live, trying to work in my carere but I still have to past the USMLE test. By the end of this history when i make 300K per year is not because I'm a selfish person that think all the time in money...Money does not motivates me; Preparation does!
After this, I'm going to get a beautifull lady and. lets travel, fuck and to spend all that money that cost me 35 years of preparation and effort to get what I have today.....Hey ABNORMAL do I deserve this!!!