Luxury Shame

Conspicuous consumption makes the world go round! Everybody wants it, but only few can really afford it. Think of all the foundations and charities in this great big global society, who started them? I am sure it was rich folks or giving people of religious beliefs that gave their existence to helping the impoverished and ill. I really don't get why the less fortunate are pissed. Doesn't it make you smile when you see a really over the top car, a house on the mansion scale, or gowns on the red carpet that cost more than you make in a year or even two or three? Money makes the world go around. The middle class can't spend any right now, so let the wealthy spend all they want!

Not all the rich are hardworking people. Most of the children of the rich, and grandchildren, spend without any concern, common sense, or with any concern of how it looks to anyone of us average folks -- does Hilton or Kardashian come to mind? However, the belt-tightening of the rich only costs those below. While they are "protecting their investments", it is less cash in the economy. The less spent, the less available, the less to go around. It is truly pathetic that someone worth or who has access to billions of dollars would make decisions that hurt everyone. The deposit lost on the glass apartment was nothing to that guy. The loss of a job for the construction worker who would be employed by the process of building that apartment? Now THAT is loss and sacrifice.

OOOHHHHH poor you....!!!! Not having an audience to showcase for??!?!?!? How could we mere middle class mortals have spoiled it for YOU????? Its hard to go back to the real world??? ....This story seems so far from the reality that many are facing right now.... Stories like these need to be left on the editing floor.... maybe after the housing, employment, education, and the markets improve this story won't see like so much of a slap in the face!!

OOOHHHHH poor you....!!!! Not having an audience to showcase for??!?!?!? How could we mere middle class mortals have spoiled it for YOU????? Its hard to go back to the real world??? ....This story seems so far from the reality that many are facing right now.... Stories like these need to be left on the editing floor.... maybe after the housing, employment, education, and the markets improve this story won't see like so much of a slap in the face!!

Why should the rich be distributed? What is your beef with rich people? They either inherited it from someone who busted ass, or they busted their own. Why do the less fortunate think they deserve to be paid for? I work my ass off, but I am certainly not rich. I respect a people with a work ethic, not those that spawn to get another buck, free healthcare, and housing. Makes me insane that I have to pay for lazy people that use their CLASS STATUS to run amock in society spending hardworking people's cash!

MONORITIES>>>>minorities SO CALL>>>so called AND IN ONE MORE>>>not a sentence watch the grammar

tmh317 you got it going on!!!

Dear Rich People, keep up the good work! Keep buying and building-it gives the rest of us JOBS! Keep hiring people to mow your lawn, do your taxes, invest your money. Buy the Hummer-lots of auto workers are depending on it. Start a new business and hire people. Keep creating wealth so the rest of us have a chance to create wealth as well. Keep buying expensive organic produce to feed your family so my hubby can keep bringing home a paycheck and feed mine. Oh, and keep giving to charity so the rest of these whiny, jealous Bozos can eat, too. Sincerely, Hard Working Middle Class American

I am a landlord and a small business owner.

I can tell you:
Poor is a state of mind.

I do my own maintenance, I can tell you often on a call the dwellers have a bigger new fancy TV than I do, with all the video games and cable too. In fact the more of that they have the more likely rent is late.

It's the same with my employees. Richer social lives, vacations, eating and drinking out, concerts ??? then asking for extra hours because they can???t make rent/car payment/whatever.

10 years ago when I got my start I shopped at thrift stores, and lived in a craphole. I ate $0.10 Chinese noodles and on extravagant days I???d toss in a cheese single.

Point being I made due with what I could have.

YOU could take all the money form the top 10% and give it to the bottom 10% and it would flop back in a generation.

I am a landlord and a small business owner.

I can tell you:
Poor is a state of mind.

I do my own maintenance, I can tell you often on a call the dwellers have a bigger new fancy TV than I do, with all the video games and cable too. In fact the more of that they have the more likely rent is late.

It's the same with my employees. Richer social lives, vacations, eating and drinking out, concerts ??? then asking for extra hours because they can???t make rent/car payment/whatever.

10 years ago when I got my start I shopped at thrift stores, and lived in a craphole. I ate $0.10 Chinese noodles and on extravagant days I???d toss in a cheese single.

Point being I made due with what I could have.

YOU could take all the money form the top 10% and give it to the bottom 10% and it would flop back in a generation.

You know what Kimberly2? You're totally right. It's their money, let them spend it however they want. There are definitely more important things to talk about these days, than whether some rich person, spends some of their money. It's their money, they can do what ever they want with it. I work for my money, and let me tell you, when I have some extra, (when that blue moon happens) I spend it to please myself. It's mine.

I applaud individuals of wealth who have given back to those less fortunate. At least they realize the good fortune they have and truly appreciate it. Other people who have financial stability and all the material possessions they could possible need and do not give back?...well, that attitude of "superiority" and "me me me" could come back to haunt them. I am of the opinion that if the gap between the wealthy and lower middle class/poor people does not come a little more in balance, that some dire consequences could result. Civil unrest will continue to grow...people can and will only stand for so much inequality and this could easily translate into escalating crimes, which could primarily target the wealthier folks out there (home/business burgleries; kidnappings for ransom; muggings. etc.). Desperate people will do desperate things if backed into a corner and with no prospects of a decent life. I recognize that alot of folks have acquired wealth through hard work and determination and are living the American dream. They have that right...just be thankful for it and give some back. If you are, then you are to be commended. The fact also remains that there are numerous people out there that have wealth bestowed upon them, usually through a trust fund/inheritance/family fortune, etc. These "silver spooners", and you know who you are, that do not give back and have the audacity to snub your nose at those less fortunate... pretty sad!! And, the children of some of these "special"?? people...the ones driving around in Mommy and Daddy paid for BMW's and the like. The ones who actually think they are better than others because they have everything given to them. To be fair, I am also not into giving money to those folks who knowingly do not help themselves. If they are poor because they are lazy and uneducated, because they chose to be so, then what right do they have looking for handouts. Why should the rest of society pick up the tab for those individuals? If Gov't is going to step in and start bailing out this sector and that sector, they also need to impose regulation on child birth. Like, if you only make so much $ per year, you can only have X amount of kids. This maddening spiral of socio-economic deprivity within certain families has got to stop somewhere. Too many children and not enough $ usually ends up meaning domestic/social problems that the rest of society has to pick up the tab for (welfare, food stamps, etc.). If potential parents aren't smart enough to know this, then the gov't needs to be involved and disallow this medically. Bottom line is we need to learn how to help each other better and where this help is truly needed!! Think of all the good that a small % of the extremely wealthy $ could do going toward meaningful charities and the creation of new jobs...it may not be the save-all but it sure would help!!

Sorry, I miscopied the actual link. Here's the good link on the internet:

Here is how the current economic problems originated:

http://www.theaureport.com/pub/na/1842

Let's understand the real causes and create real lasting solutions.

This about the most stupid article I have ever read. If you are rich, then, enjoy it and live it up. Stop worrying about shame; the more you spend the better the chances someone else will become rich. To those who claim that they should help the poor and so forth, they do, they do it by spending money. The problem is that we are becoming a socialist nation; everyone feels that they are entitled to everything. Life is like baseball, some folks have to sit under the sun, while others can enjoy the game from a luxury suite. It is all up to you on where you want to sit.

Of course, class doesn't come with money. Class is something you learn from your parents and your grandparents. It doesn't matter if you have money or not, if you were brought up right, and taught how to be a respectable human, then you have class. These days, there are too many people willing to pass on their responsibility as parents, be they rich or poor. And we have a generation coming up with no respect for others, much less themselves. And who do we have to blame? Ourselves.

I can not believe what I just read! The idea that someone must be ashamed of being wealthy!!? This economy needs people spending lots of money and the wealthy are the people who have the money. We need to get over this wealth envy that has invaded our culture. If you want to be wealthy start making better decisions, work hard (more than 40 hours a week), invest your money (stocks are cheap) and stop whining like little babies!

Here is how the current economic problems originated:

file:///C:/AA%20Stephen's%20Files/Investment/Subprime%20Debacle/Hell%20Meet%20Handbasket/1842.htm

Let's understand the real causes and create real lasting solutions.

Let them spend their money, why is this a story anyway.

I think those that have it and can afford to still spend it should. Perhaps they should be more selective where they spend it. It will help the economy, keep those small businesses going and keep more people employed so we don't have more people on public assistance.