The most effective way to create jobs W/OUT Government

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by annerk

I have a friend in rural AL. Their house which is a 2000 s/f home on four acres cost them $80K. They pay $450 a year in property taxes. They live very comfortably on $50K a year.

I have a friend in Hunterdon County, NJ. She has a 2000 s/f home, similar age and features except it's on a half acre. She paid $550K and pays $9K a year in property taxes. $100K doesn't go very far when the cost of living is that high.

No question the COL in NJ is much higher than in pretty much any southern state. I don't think you'll ever see anyone say otherwise. However I'm still baffled that you think $50k/yr is upper middle class even in rural AL.

[hodgemo2]

Originally Posted by parttimetechie

Having live in CA much of my life, I can say while you think the illegal immigratns are stealing our jobs, do YOU want to clean toilets, cook food, etc? I doubt it. We need them, because Americans aren't willing to do those jobs, and American companies aren't willing to pay American wages for jobs like that.

I cook food and clean toilets at home. Why not get paid for it? Oh wait, it it because the American companies aren't willing to pay American wages for jobs like that. But why should they (companies) have to pay high wages when they can pay illegal immigrants pennies on the dollar to do those jobs?

[annerk]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

No question the COL in NJ is much higher than in pretty much any southern state. I don't think you'll ever see anyone say otherwise. However I'm still baffled that you think $50k/yr is upper middle class even in rural AL.

After their mortgage and property taxes, and personal income taxes they have $43K leftover. Their car insurance is a fraction of what the same coverage would cost in NJ, and their state income taxes are minimal as well. When all is said and done, they have more disposable income, and are living a pretty nice lifestyle. They drive late model cars (and not KIA's) and take a cruise every year. They are living far better than many of my friends in NJ who make twice as much but have three or more times the COL against that income.