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[–]IamRedBeard 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I run my own business. I haven't had to punch a clock for years, so I am on capitalism side by action if not by philosophy. But let me tell you about poor folk and "I want stuff for free"

I have found it just isn't true. I have found people working forty and fifty hours a week and not being able to pay bills, have insurance, medicine, or if they do, no money to buy food. I can see why some people give up and live on the streets.

You can kill yourself trying to live up to even the minimum standards of American expectations and still not be able to make it.

When I was a kid in the 80's my dad was a manager for Captain D's. Back then he was able to buy a decent house. We had a boat and a nice, if not brand new car. We were middle class... if lower, middle class. Once upon a time this was possible on a fast food managers salary.

Now managers get paid - sometimes little more than the people they employ. It used to be if you fell on hard times you could grab a quick gas station job that might hold you over until you could find something better. And it just isn't that way any more. Once upon a time you could March right up to a man and assert yourself and your qualifications and walk out with a job.

None of that works anymore. It's real easy for somebody that has been working their way up from the 70's and 80's to look down on people today because somehow they think it's the same as it was when they were younger. You just need to pull yourself up by your bootstraps - and that just isn't the way it works any more.

I'm seeing people working 80 hour weeks and still not being able to afford the things they need and then people like you telling them to "stop asking for free shit" when they still have to go on food stamps - when they are working themselves to the bone and still cant make it.

Capitalism without compassion is no better than Stallins' communism.

Only in this country will Americans fight for the Rich to keep other Americans down.

I was able to start my own business - but I am aware enough to know that I GOT LUCKY - It fell in my lap and I have no idea what I would do if I had to start all over again in this new America.

[–]FormosaOolong 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

So well said, RedBeard. Thank you. That generation in general is still reaping the benefits of the system they had but we don't--and they refuse to acknowledge that there was much more in place for them than just hard work that gave them the success they still enjoy. They also don't refuse their social security checks or what have you, while they irrationally judge subsequent generations as pussies and takers.