Occupy Atlanta (ref: Wall Street protests here) (Fargo: school, incomes)

[LAB6120]

Originally Posted by muxBuppie

Economy can't be that bad when people think 45k is poor in Atlanta.

Originally Posted by Listennow32

I was thinking the same thing lol. Working poor? Maybe for NY or LA.. but I didn't think Atlanta

The median income in Atlanta is $49,981, G.A is $47,590 and from the last thread about income on this board-multiple people were saying that a single person would be ok with $50k. Its true, $45k is not really working poor in Atlanta-but for a family of three, its damn borderline. And it certainly depends on who your talking to-from some posts on this thread-I am poor.

[roxyrn]

I have four children in their 20's living in New York and the cost of living is extremely high, as in tiny one bedroom apartments costing over $3,000/month. And that is just the start of higher costs for everything.
People living outside of expensive metropolitan areas do not understand how expensive it is. But, when your job is in those cities, you do what you have to do.

[Lagwagon113]

Originally Posted by roxyrn

I have four children in their 20's living in New York and the cost of living is extremely high, as in tiny one bedroom apartments costing over $3,000/month. And that is just the start of higher costs for everything.
People living outside of expensive metropolitan areas do not understand how expensive it is. But, when your job is in those cities, you do what you have to do.

There are definitely 1 BR apts for under $3000 a month. I pay half that and live 2 miles outside of Manhattan. Paying that much is not doing what you have to do. It's refusing to live anywhere except an overpriced Manhattan apt.

[roxyrn]

My point is that working in New York takes a lot more money than Georgia. Believe me, the apartments my kids live in (with multiple roommates) are not ultra-luxury. But, they are in safe areas, which is better than cheaper living in say, the Bronx or commuting for hours. And, their commutes are 30-40 minutes per subway(s) each way as it is.
And, the New York state and city taxes are higher than Georgia, as well as utilities, groceries and basic needs. Their income would provide a much nicer life style here in Atlanta.

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by roxyrn

My point is that working in New York takes a lot more money than Georgia. Believe me, the apartments my kids live in (with multiple roommates) are not ultra-luxury. But, they are in safe areas, which is better than cheaper living in say, the Bronx or commuting for hours. And, their commutes are 30-40 minutes per subway(s) each way as it is.
And, the New York state and city taxes are higher than Georgia, as well as utilities, groceries and basic needs. Their income would provide a much nicer life style here in Atlanta.

The salaries up there compensate for much of the higher cost of living. My wife had a job offer up there with her old company that, despite being the same level, paid a 33% cost of living adjustment. Just to back this up I looked up the starting teacher pay in NYC vs. Atlanta and it was approximately $46,000 vs. $35,000.

[Lagwagon113]

Originally Posted by roxyrn

My point is that working in New York takes a lot more money than Georgia. Believe me, the apartments my kids live in (with multiple roommates) are not ultra-luxury. But, they are in safe areas, which is better than cheaper living in say, the Bronx or commuting for hours. And, their commutes are 30-40 minutes per subway(s) each way as it is.
And, the New York state and city taxes are higher than Georgia, as well as utilities, groceries and basic needs. Their income would provide a much nicer life style here in Atlanta.

I work in Manhattan too and my commute is 25 minutes via subway (PATH) which I walk to. Ok I know I'm just nitpicking now. Sorry to pick on you. Your point is still valid. It is much more expensive than Georgia which
I didn't appreciate at the time because I never lived anywhere but Ga.

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah the protests. Most everyone was throwing around terms like socialism and communism while one guy was reporting live from Troy Davis park that doctors and lawyers can't get away with making a lot of money anymore lol. Oh city-data.

[DTL3000]

Originally Posted by jchahboune

I was doing some research this weekend about the "Occupy" movement and according the to most sites, the movement is, in fact mobilized around a central demand: get corporate dollars out of politics. Stop letting major corporations donate beaucoups amounts of money to policymakers to push through legislation that only benefits their financial interests. Our country is one "for the people, by the people", not "for the corporations, by the corporations". Conservatives are trying to confuse and water down the "Occupy Wall Street" message, when it's really quite simple.

Sounds reasonable enough. I think most people on both sides of the political spectrum can agree on this. If they disagree then they are just idiots, plain and simple...

Originally Posted by Lagwagon113

There are definitely 1 BR apts for under $3000 a month. I pay half that and live 2 miles outside of Manhattan. Paying that much is not doing what you have to do. It's refusing to live anywhere except an overpriced Manhattan apt.

This is true. My friend rents a decent 1BR is Astoria for $1200(could possibly be a little higher cause he's been there since '08) and it's about 15 minutes from Midtown. Cool as hell neighborhood too.

Originally Posted by roxyrn

My point is that working in New York takes a lot more money than Georgia. Believe me, the apartments my kids live in (with multiple roommates) are not ultra-luxury. But, they are in safe areas, which is better than cheaper living in say, the Bronx or commuting for hours. And, their commutes are 30-40 minutes per subway(s) each way as it is.
And, the New York state and city taxes are higher than Georgia, as well as utilities, groceries and basic needs. Their income would provide a much nicer life style here in Atlanta.

This is also true. I pay less to share a 4BR house with a huge yard in Atlanta than I did for a room in a 3 family home in Astoria. But...the Bronx actually has some very nice areas and you do sacrifice a few creature comforts to live in one of the greatest cities on Earth.

Originally Posted by Lagwagon113

I work in Manhattan too and my commute is 25 minutes via subway (PATH) which I walk to. Ok I know I'm just nitpicking now. Sorry to pick on you. Your point is still valid. It is much more expensive than Georgia which
I didn't appreciate at the time because I never lived anywhere but Ga.

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah the protests. Most everyone was throwing around terms like socialism and communism while one guy was reporting live from Troy Davis park that doctors and lawyers can't get away with making a lot of money anymore lol. Oh city-data.

I guess it just illustrates how freakin' polarized people are in this country. I'm about ready to put together a movement of moderates fed up with the idiots on both sides locking up the government and the economy and bickering like children. Who wants to join me?

[Lagwagon113]

Agreed DTL. I hate the us vs them mentality most people have. I almost feel like the two party system is some sort of elaborate ploy to keep the people fighting amongst themselves and distracted while they (dems/reps) rule as one large regime regardless of what "person" or "party" appears to be in charge.

As far as the protesters go I think a lot of them don't know what they are talking about. They are just jumping on the bandwagon with some vague idea of what they are actually doing or how things work.

That said, I do think some changes need to be made. I do agree that business should stay out of government and that large companies and banks shouldn't be able to exploit flaws in the system and loopholes in the law. However to suggest that someone is bad just because they are wealthy and should somehow have to "pay" is ridiculous.

There is a middle ground between heartless, ruthless capitalism and Soviet style repressive Communism or Socialism. In other words Capitalism is good....to an extent. You have to have a human element to it. It can't all just be money, money, money, everything else be damned. That doesn't mean it has to go the other extreme and be Nazi Germany lol. I mean geez.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by Lagwagon113

There is a middle ground between heartless, ruthless capitalism and Soviet style repressive Communism or Socialism. In other words Capitalism is good....to an extent. You have to have a human element to it. It can't all just be money, money, money, everything else be damned. That doesn't mean it has to go the other extreme and be Nazi Germany lol. I mean geez.

This is the point I always try to make. It doesn't have to be that you either work your ass off and become a billionaire, OR you live in squalor because you're deemed unworthy. But, there's a large subset of people out there who believe exactly that. It's not all about money, money, money.

[FlyiMetro]

Occupy Atlanta planning march on Bank of America HQ *| ajc.com