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In the 60's it often only took one parent with a good job to support a family. Now it takes both parents working full time.
Many Americans are now working 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet.
I would say our work load is increasing in a sense. At least the Middle and Lower Economic groups.
They don't have to work 2-3 jobs. We as the middle class spends 6x as much on entertainment today as we did 50 years ago, we live in houses that are 240% larger than they were 50 years ago, we travel for vacations more than we did 50 years ago, and we work less hours per week than we did 50 years ago. No wonder we can't afford to support a family.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gtownoe
Money. Americans don't have enough for retirement.
So why don't they spend less on entertainment, live in smaller houses and invest that money they save?
They don't have to work 2-3 jobs. We as the middle class spends 6x as much on entertainment today as we did 50 years ago, we live in houses that are 240% larger than they were 50 years ago, we travel for vacations more than we did 50 years ago, and we work less hours per week than we did 50 years ago. No wonder we can't afford to support a family.
So why don't they spend less on entertainment, live in smaller houses and invest that money they save?
Sigh.
Not gonna go round and round with you again. You still don't get it.
We're not in a recession because everybody's spending all their cash on entertainment.
Hardly anybody retires at 55. It's not a realistic retirement age for the majority.
I am doing everything in my power to retire in my mid 50's. I have been saving for my retirement since I was 20. My house will be paid off by that point as well.
People usually cannot retire young because they do not start saving for retirement early. Social security is not a retirement plan.
I am doing everything in my power to retire in my mid 50's. I have been saving for my retirement since I was 20. My house will be paid off by that point as well.
That's great but you still don't represent the majority. I want to retire even earlier but I'm on a different type of career path. I'm just talking about the majority of people.
I'm against mandatory paid sick days. It would put even more strain on small businesses.
It still is for boomers that have company pensions. This would be the last generation of workers that do.
I know a few people who've been forced into retirement. But I don't really know anybody other than a detective who retired early. You'd probably have a better say though for that age group. I'm still in my late twenties.
For any one that supports it(or not), found this link to the Healthy Families Act that ask for up to 7 days a year to be accrued.
This Act does not ask for up to 7 sick days a year.
It FORCES employers to give them.
And it does not ask the employer first, if he can afford them.
It does not give the employer a chance to renegotiate his contract with his employees in light of a sudden, unexpected expense the employee is causing.
It does not ask the employer if he will have to fire one or more employees, to get enough money to pay for the added expense incurred on the rest.
This Act calls for GOVERNMENT to solve the problem, basically by treating the employer as a criminal who is getting a fine or penalty forced on him.
Be clear in what you are saying. This Act creates nothing. It only distorts what is already there, and transfers wealth from one group to another for no recompense.
By all means, let's have government continue to tell businesses how to do their business. After all, we all know how well government works, right? I mean, just look at the new healthcare mandates progressing so smoothly. Pure genius.
I know a few people who've been forced into retirement. But I don't really know anybody other than a detective who retired early. You'd probably have a better say though for that age group. I'm still in my late twenties.
The early 90's is when 401Ks started to replace pensions.
New hires got no pensions and the rest got grandfathered in if they had about 10 years with the company.
This became the norm and corporations all over jumped on that same bandwagon.
You'd have one last wave of people who can retire at 55 with a company pension which would be right about now.
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