The reason Americans are struggling financially isn't "low wages", but the amount of legal extortion in America (drug, health care)
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* Alimony payments
* Court fees, bail bonds, etc.
* Taxes
* Tow truck companies charging you $500+ to get your car back after accidentally parking in a non-parking zone
* Regulations of small businesses, penalties, etc.
The list goes on.
Then there's the huge number of random "fees" like Ticketmaster (a monopoly) charging you $30 in "service fees" on a $100 ticket. I guess we're all figuring out that this new internet economy isn't as cheap as we thought.
Another problem is the amount of price-fixing agreements I've seen. As an example, the nursing home industry basically has put an expensive floor on prices. I know of someone who was paying $2500/month for 24-hour care in a home run by Filipina nurses. When this was found out about, the Romanians who run the nursing home industry basically took over the home and doubled the price, to $5000/month. Because "that's what it's supposed to cost."
* Alimony payments
* Court fees, bail bonds, etc.
* Taxes
* Tow truck companies charging you $500+ to get your car back after accidentally parking in a non-parking zone
* Regulations of small businesses, penalties, etc.
Actually the biggest reason is lack of self control and proper financial budget/planning and living way beyond means.
10 dollar starbucks everyday
15 dollar lunches at work and 20 dollar take away dinner after work
100 dollar gym membership
500 dollar a month fancy SUV
500 dollar a month just to cover minimum payment on credit card
200 dollar a month cable/tv bill
Maybe if we were free (such a dirty word) to use whichever currencies we wanted to on a truly open market we could somehow learn how to financially function.
But alas, master says we must use the little green promissory notes which enslave us.
Everyone is on the make in one way or the other. The rest are just stupid and have no concept of saving any money.
I know people like this who are on a fixed income through disability yet they have no problem buying the little daily stuff they want like cigarettes, coffee and lottery tickets.
The biggest reason why many people are struggling is that the Government is putting the squeeze on them with new taxes etc.. etc.. etc..
In my area there are new Police and Fire stations going up at huge cost. The latest thing yet to be voted on is a new regional school that will cost over $100,000,000 where only just over 600 kids go now.
They tell us that our taxes will only go up on average $100 to pay for all this but it is never ending and the taxes certainly never go down.
My state is also toying with the idea of putting up toll collecting gantries on roads that have never had tolls before.
People are living above their means and our local, state and federal gov. are spending our money like crazy.
* Alimony payments
* Court fees, bail bonds, etc.
* Taxes
* Tow truck companies charging you $500+ to get your car back after accidentally parking in a non-parking zone
* Regulations of small businesses, penalties, etc.
The list goes on.
Then there's the huge number of random "fees" like Ticketmaster (a monopoly) charging you $30 in "service fees" on a $100 ticket. I guess we're all figuring out that this new internet economy isn't as cheap as we thought.
Another problem is the amount of price-fixing agreements I've seen. As an example, the nursing home industry basically has put an expensive floor on prices. I know of someone who was paying $2500/month for 24-hour care in a home run by Filipina nurses. When this was found out about, the Romanians who run the nursing home industry basically took over the home and doubled the price, to $5000/month. Because "that's what it's supposed to cost."
???? This is a weird mishmash of a list.
But I agree with you that capitalists can run amok and should be reined in when they do.
Maybe we should pay far more attention to the monopolization of the Health Care Industry then we have in the past. Drug company pricing is a good example as is corporate ownership of multiple hospitals in any given region.
Taxes are becoming a problem in our town because some corrupt local politicians are approving very dense housing that most of us moved here to avoid. Most of these units will cost the Town far more in service than they will ever pay in Taxes.
Actually the biggest reason is lack of self control and proper financial budget/planning and living way beyond means.
10 dollar starbucks everyday
15 dollar lunches at work and 20 dollar take away dinner after work
100 dollar gym membership
500 dollar a month fancy SUV
500 dollar a month just to cover minimum payment on credit card
200 dollar a month cable/tv bill
and on and on and on
I agree. People have far more bills than they ever did. I practically live a 1950's lifestyle. 1 Car, small home, no cable TV, basic flip phone, cook all meals from scratch, etc.
But I agree with you that capitalists can run amok and should be reined in when they do.
But that would contradict the "business regulations" on the list of overcharges.
Can't have it both ways--free market enterprise gouging or regulations (or socialism).
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