Walmart; Not the evil demon the Left and Unions want you to believe (how much, cost)
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In any case I try to buy cloths from LL Beans outlet stores, shoes from the New Balance seconds shop in Lawrence, MA and used American built station wagons anywhere I can find them. I am particularly fond of mid 90's Buicks. I buy most of my tools from Sears or, increasingly, Lowes. Good stuff at reasonable prices.
I am satisfied with buying "less than the best" because "good enough is good enough" and I am basically a frugal person. The money saved is spent on good coffee from Vermont coffee Roasters and presents for my lady from Vermont Teddy Bear Co. Now there are high quality goods.
I would suggest you check to see where the New Balance shoes were actually made. I bet it's not the US. Same for much of LLBean's merchandise. Sears and Lowes are big importers, too. Of course we all buy from American businesses. That doesn't mean that all of them but Wal Mart are selling American goods!
Your coffee most definitely doesn't come from the USA!
That's a fine idea. But if the market is out of control to the point where people who have played by the rules cannot afford to live a decent life, then we have a problem. And since that's the way it is now, we have a problem.
I have a college degree. In fact, I have three of them. As does my husband. The nature of our work is such that we cannot choose where we live, but must live where the work takes us. We paid almost $400,000 for a 1200 sqft house, built in 1937, on about .15 of an acre. The kitchen hasn't been remodeled in 30 years, and neither has the bathroom. It needs a new roof, new siding (I swore I would NEVER buy a house with vinyl siding, but. . . ), new retaining wall (the original one is groaning under all that snow we've been having), new garage door, new ceilings in the basement and the living room. We probably need a new sewer line, too, but are hoping against hope that the original one will hold out for a few more years. We give a percentage of our income to others. We try not to be too selfish.
Our next-door neighbors are professionals, as well. Their house is similar to ours--same size--but a bit more updated in the kitchen and baths and basement. They paid nearly $500,000 for it three years ago. It needs a new paint job, but they can't afford it.
This is the reality of the so-called "middle class" in many parts of the country. Compared to the way most of the rest of the world lives, a dream life--to be sure--but in terms of the specifically "American" dream, hardly a life of "entitlement."
No, it ain't Communist China, but the "free market" that decides my pay is a broken market. Not that that isn't obvious these days, but. . . .
Sounds like you made a choice to get your higher education in a very specific field. And are now whining about where it led you. And overpaid for a house. All personal choices.
I did not say it was anybody else's fault or responsibility. In fact, I'm fine with my life, as are my neighbors. You missed the point of my post: I wasn't complaining about my life. I was giving an example--through certain facts about my life--of how expensive it is to live in many parts of the country now. The house I live in is a typical house for middle-class people in this part of the country.
Yes, I made a choice to teach. Somebody has to teach, don't they? Apparently, people want good teachers, but they don't want teachers' wages to afford them a comfortable life. Everybody wants good teachers for their children and everybody wants their garbage picked up--and would be screaming bloody murder if it weren't--but god forbid we should want a good wage--not just an okay wage-- for our services.
Yes, I had to buy. Before it got so expensive that I would never be able to buy.
Teaching, eh?
Come on down to NC. There is a shortage of teachers. Housing is much, much more affordable. Beautiful weather. Beaches, mountains, etc.
I would suggest you check to see where the New Balance shoes were actually made. I bet it's not the US. Same for much of LLBean's merchandise. Sears and Lowes are big importers, too. Of course we all buy from American businesses. That doesn't mean that all of them but Wal Mart are selling American goods!
Your coffee most definitely doesn't come from the USA!
And don't forget the REPUBLICANS "shining example of American business" in the Marianas Islands......Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne,etc., can legally label their clothes as "Made in America" but leave off the part that says "Made in Sweatshops".
Clinton tried to bring reform to these horrible businesses but was continually blocked by Repubs who adore, love , and worship, low wages, long hours, awful, unsafe conditions and FORCED ABORTIONS for workers there.
Liberals, one and all. See how quickly they abandon their "principles" (a joke, I know) for greed? Why aren't they in NYCity employing union-workers to sew their clothes?
Liberals, one and all. See how quickly they abandon their "principles" (a joke, I know) for greed? Why aren't they in NYCity employing union-workers to sew their clothes?
I have no idea if the stockholders of Lauren and Claiborne are liberals or not and neither do you, Jacket lady.
However, IF liberals do LOWER their principles to match Republicans it IS a shame....and certainly doesn't elevate the LOW standards of repubs.
I have no idea if the stockholders of Lauren and Claiborne are liberals or not and neither do you, Jacket lady.
How about the people running them, like Lauren and Claiborne and the rest of those elite designers? All liberals, all obama-fans, all taking their business to third-world countries with NO unions so they can make more money.
Where is the call from your brethren to stop this practice?
More liberal 'Do as I say, not as I do' hypocrisy.
Well, the coffee isn't grown in the USA by USA farmers, except for some grown in Hawaii.
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