Displaying 1,891 To 1,920 Of 2,133 Comments In contrast to the Koch brothers…not all ridiculously rich people are total assholes. Tom Golisano the now former owner of the Buffalo Sabres and the founder of Paychex, saved the Sabres after the whole Adelphia Rigas Family fiasco. Our community was VERY happy about that. When Golisano sold the Sabres to its new owner Billionaire and Sabres Fan Terry Pegula…it was after turning down another offer for $70 million dollars MORE but would have meant the team leaving Buffalo. BOTH Golisano and Terry Pegula…seem to be community minded billionaires, who both made a very poor upstate New york, rust belt city very happy. http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/article349282.ece http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article349038.ece » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 23, 2011 @ 7:59 am Hi Foxy….I’m thinking it might be true. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is I remember your post and I think you are spot on…I didn’t think it would be so soon either! I thought maybe a year or two out…I guess not. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 23, 2011 @ 7:42 am Priorities indeed. WE have a sick sick country! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 23, 2011 @ 7:19 am That was very interesting. Knowing the Buffalo Beast…I wouldn’t be surprised if it IS real. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 23, 2011 @ 7:16 am You know…I think you are so right….people don’t want to admit what’s really going on in their own situation…they are ashamed. Good catch. I’m sure it’s worse than many are admitting to! Very good catch. {sigh} Need is up the shelter, MAJORLY up…we are down on donations and we have more people calling for our services. They call and they sound so defeated….it’s heartbreaking. VERY heartbreaking. I can’t express enough the sound in their voices…by the time they finally call us…they’ve gone through all other resources. It’s a last resort for them…it’s humanizing and a wake up call for all of us who think we are immune. NONE of us are immune from it…and maybe that is why I’m so passionate and so upset about all this and maybe that is WHY I’m sticking up for those who DO resort to stealing from their employers…I see what all this is reaping.. {sigh} » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 10:47 pm Cher, you articulated it much better than I did! Daycare easy a $1000 per month…easy and that isn’t even at a good place. Rents in a good neighborhood with decent schools another $1000. And where is HEAT and electric…that is another major expense, especially in the north…on average $300 per month. Where’s food, water, telecommunications devices…(which ARE needed today). Insurance…clothes….oy. At least another 1000 So we are already at $3000 a month…and where’s transportation? Transportation costs are another huge factor….gas is $3.65 a gallon where I live. $3.65 per gallon. As an example., WE have two cars, one a small gas efficient car and another a family car…WE spend over $100 a week in gas alone. WE really don’t have mass transit in this part of the state…not really. IT’S very limited…and it is BECAUSE of racism. Sad to say. So one MUST have a car. How else can one get to a job…and with urban sprawl…where jobs are located all over the suburban landscape…no car = no job. My daughter is an epileptic and cannot drive…it’s quite challenging getting her around now that she’s in college and has a part time job. The two aren’t close enough to one another. AND although she can take public transportation to school…where her job is, there is no public transportation. I have to pick her up from school and take her to work. AND I am one of the lucky ones…my family has it pretty good…and we can’t get our basic living expenses under $3000 per month…we’ve tried…gawd knows we’ve tried! $3000 a month is eating mac and cheese and never leaving the house! As I said, we tried! It didn’t work, not even close. We can’t live on under $4000 a month. I can’t imagine what these young families are dealing with…with jobs paying $10 per hour…even with 2 working…how can people live on that if they have a family? 800 GROSS per week = 600 net at best. 600 x 4 = 2400. NOT doable! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 10:41 pm My eyesight seems to be going too! In addition, my fingers can’t keep up with my brain! That edit function saves me often! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 10:18 pm Thanks KQuark…it really takes being there, doesn’t it? » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 10:16 pm Exactly Khirad…that’s why I couldn’t survive in that world…I was the most miserable bitch you had ever met, when I was living in that world. I HATED MY LIFE with a passion…I hated everything about it…But I was the sole support of my 2 kids…so I did what I thought I had to do…when I had that last argument with the board, and I left…at the times…I was devastated…how was I going to survive economically? THEY did me a favor…I lost money…but I regained my soul! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 10:16 pm EXACTLY my point!!!! THANK YOU! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:59 pm Jkk…that is exactly what I’m talking about…the corporations (employers) are not treating people like PEOPLE…they are treating them like a commodity..a thing…is it any surprise people are returning the feeling? » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:59 pm I know exactly what you mean…I’m seeing the same behavior repeated over and over and over again in various industries and in various regions. People can’t survive and are going to do, what they are going to do, in order to survive. I would do it, if it came down to feeding my kids and keeping the heat on…I would do whatever it was I had to do…the plutocrats are pushing people too far! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:57 pm Artist…I’m disgusted with the malfeasance of the corporations. I’m SICK that they pay CEO’s Millions upon millions and yet their rank and file are expected to live on 50K GROSS or 35K net per year. A family in most areas cannot live on such wages…it’s impossible. THE math does NOT work. Earlier I gave an example of an actual family I know who makes those wages…they are NOT making it…and have to resort to some rather unscrupulous things to survive…I’m REALLY NOT KIDDING. The wife has called me on more than one occasion crying…because they were shutting off the utilities. THEY are underwater every month. 50K is not a lot of money today…it really isn’t. 50k GROSS = approximately 35-38K net per year….or 3167 per month…sorry that is JUST not a living wage for a family. I live in a relatively low cost of living area, and it’s not enough here…I can’t imagine in someplace like NYC, Boston or LA…what those people are going through. COSTS of living have increased substantially over the last 20 years…yet wages have NOT kept up with the cost of living. I don’t care if you are college educated or not…people still need to be able to afford a roof over their head, utilities and food. Not to mention clothes, transportation and a little entertainment. 50K GROSS does not support a family…not without that family getting into some serious debt. WE have some problems in this country and income inequality is a serious problem…we have too many working poor in this nation and too many living paycheck to paycheck…who are one car repair, one dental bill, one eye doctor appointment away from losing what little they have. I work in a homeless shelter…you would be amazed how many work and are HOMELESS! WE got problems…and seriously since the corporations REFUSE to rein in their compensation packages to those on the very top…what else are people to do, in order to survive? Do you suggest they sell themselves into prostitution or sell their kids…or sleep on the hardwood floors…or go without food? RATHER than steal from their extraordinarily wealthy corporate masters? I’m sorry there is something wrong when companies are making RECORD profits….paying ridiculous amounts in bonuses to their executives, paying out dividends to share holders AND laying off workers and paying those left, who are expected to work ridiculous hours and make up the productivity of those no longer there, just barely enough to survive. One of may favorite quotes from Adam Smith in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book 1, Chapter 8: Of the Wages of Labour, pg. 32: “Is this improvement in the circumstances of the lower ranks of the people to be regarded as an advantage or as an inconveniency to the society? The answer seems at first sight abundantly plain. Servants, labourers, and workmen of different kinds, make up the far greater part of every great political society. But what improves the circumstances of the greater part can never be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole. No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable. It is but equity, besides, that they who feed, clothe, and lodge the whole body of the people, should have such a share of the produce of their own labour as to be themselves tolerably well fed, clothed, and lodged.” Today’s companies are not paying people enough for them to be tolerably well fed, clothed and lodged especially if they have a family to support. THERE is a serious problem with our systems. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:54 pm TY Kalima for the heads up! I thought it was just me! 🙂 HAVE I told you guys HOW much I love that edit feature??? FOR bad typists like me, it’s a god send! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:37 pm Thank you Cher…I just don’t want to offend anyone either, especially those I respect! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:30 pm Thanks Chase. WHY is my editor NOT working! I’m back to my bad HP comments! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:29 pm Oh Chase, I’m so sorry. I see it all the time, so many good people barely eking by today. The numbers I gave, were an actual family I know. They can’t afford to get of their situation either. It’s heartbreaking. And they RENT…they don’t even own their home…they can’t afford to buy…they can’t save any money to get there…they could move into another neighborhood…BUT the kids have to go to school and the schools in THOSE neighborhoods(those they can actually afford) are BAD…really bad. They are between a rock and a hard place…as are so many others…it breaks my heart. Chase, I’m not in a much better situation…after I lost my company, I went through my savings and investments very fast, and with me and my daughter both in school….we don’t have much left. I’m worried. I’m very worried. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:28 pm YIKES…my comment editor is not working…and without it…my typos and mistakes are horrible! I’m so sorry! Please forgive my utter lack of typing skills! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:23 pm I apologize to everyone…but I am very passionate when it comes to corporate malfeasance…to the point I’m down right rebellious. AFTER 21 years in international trade an most of those years in a upper management or executive position…I know first hand how bad it really is…the stuff that isn’t supposed to be talked about…I’ve been there, done that and got the t-shirt. I don’t trust corporate America as far as I can through them….which is really the reason I CHOSE to go back to school and study the ideas they espouse formally. There is method to my madness…how else do you know the enemy but from within? In addition, I have chosen to work with the poor, working poor and disenfranchised in a volunteer capacity as well as befriending many in those circumstances. IT’S all been an eye opening experience and I know longer perceive things as I once did…if someone would have told me 5 years ago, that I would be advocating the things I do today…I would have laughed in their face…”ME…really..seriously?” I don’t see things the way I used to…part of that was due to being screwed badly by those I thought I was on the same page with…nothing like experience to teach you a lesson. A REAL lesson. Don’t trust these people…don’t EVER trust those at the top…they didn’t get to where they are, by being good guys and wearing a white hat…contrary to what Hollywood tries to tell you. As for those on the bottom of the socioeconomic scale…you would be amazed what they have to do just to survive. I know I know I didn’t get it either…until I met some of these families. It’s not the world we once knew…and it’s not as easy to understand unless you’ve lived it. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:21 pm Kilgore, you asked in another comment why would people who are making ‘good wages’ want to steal…are you kidding me? WHAT is good wages for a family? While 30-50K GROSS or to be more honest…let’s deal with net…30- 50k per annum = 20-38K net per year OR ($1670-3167 per month) HARDLY living high off the hog. WHILE a single person with NO responsibilities other than themselves CAN live on such wages…a family cannot. AND even if a person is single and has children…such wages are hardly GOOD wages. I suggest in most areas of the country, they are barely a living wage. In many areas of the country using the standard ON the high side 36% for living expenses, most making those wages with a family would hardly make enough to afford adequate housing. AND what about childcare or transportation costs, food, clothing? A family could barely survive on those wages today. NOW years ago, yes those were very good wages…when housing was 300 per month! WHEN housing is $1500 per month and food is another 500, utilities another 300, daycare another $1000, transportation (remember we are talking FAMILIES not individuals in my scenario) another $400 minimum….what do we got here…1500 + 500 + 300 + 1000 + 400, I’m already at $3700, and I haven’t even added clothes into the mix! WE don’t know these people’s circumstances…however saying in todays day and age that those are GOOD wages, is dishonest. AS those wages published are GROSS wages not NET and do not take into account COST of living indexes. FOR an individual without a family, those wages would be sustainable for a family….I sincerely doubt it not today. I have a family and we barely eke by and we make way more than that per month. I did not have the luxury of buying my first house for 20K like my sister who is a baby boomer did…nor was my first time in college as cheap as her’s was…costs have increased substantially wages…unfortunately have not…and I have ALL The studies to prove it…I would be more than glad to share them all. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 9:08 pm Artist…I know many who make that amount and more. MUCH more and most of them are very greedy people….regardless of vocation. As to why, those people stole…do you know their personal circumstances? AREN’T you assuming when you say they stole for greed and not for a more worthy reason? LET me give you an example for YOU to think about: I know some people who are financially not in a very good position. I can’t get into details about their situation….on this forum…however, sometimes they HAVE to do things that you might find objectionable in order to SURVIVE and keep food on the table and the utilities on (they live in a cold climate and have children.) THEY make TOO much money for government assistance of any kind BUT not enough to meet the cost of living in these parts. The wife was married before and some of the children come from her first marriage…her ex husband was VERY abusive…VERY, to both her and the children. She left him and found another who took her children as his own..( YOU realize how hard that is…to find a man who will accept children as his own?) They married and had a couple more kids….whether that was wise or not is not for me to decide. HE never had children and wanted some of his own as well…again, not for me to judge. FOR her to work outside the home, daycare expenses would eat up her WHOLE paycheck and would not make economic sense as they would actually end up in a deficit because the cost of another vehicle and transportation, in addition to the child care. HE makes a decent wage at a decent company BUT it does not provide enough for a family. About the same as many of those Toyota workers make. Individually and without a family, those wages aren’t bad…but add a family into it and you aren’t talking a heck of a lot. Children ARE VERY EXPENSIVE in this day and age, if one has a child or children, one needs to rent or buy a home that will accommodate that family size. THAT is WAY more expensive than living in a studio apartment by oneself. NOW transportation is another matter, what size vehicle does one NEED to accommodate a family vs oneself? HAVE you seen the price of large vehicles these days…now add in the cost of gasoline to fuel that large vehicle. Where’s food and clothes, shoes, educational expenses. $40-50 K GROSS which equals about 30-35 NET doesn’t go that far when one has a family and lives in a higher cost of living area. Money goes fast. People do what they need to do to survive. THAT has been since forever and to expect otherwise or assume nefarious intent, is rather silly. I would suggest nefarious intent is not on the low wage worker who is doing what they need to do to keep food on the table. NEFARIOUS intent and extreme avarice usually is not the province of those on the bottom of the socioeconomic scale., BTW, while 20 years ago 40-50K GROSS per year was considered alot…TODAY for a young family who did not have the advantage of lower housing costs and lower education costs, it’s not a heck of a lot…it’s barely making it, in many areas of the country. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:53 pm OH my goodness…I can’t stand flat walls either…I LOVE texture!!! I’ve been SO into earthy tones the last gotta be 7 years now! I did my living room in a lovely wheat color on 3 walls, than I chose a very muddy taupe on the accent walls. It looks fabulous…especially with browns/ecru and an orangy red. My dining room, I did in a golden color…almost mustard on the bottom and I chose that light muddy taupe for the top and the ceiling. I accented it with a cranberry shade, for the linens and the window treatments. Very earthy yet fruity. 🙂 I like drawing from nature when I decorate. I LOVE your idea about going with a lighter shade on the top! Great idea! WE MUST talk decorating more…I like what I’m picturing. Your taste and mine seem so similar! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:38 pm OK…but DO you know WHY those employees stole the auto parts? MAYBE they did so, to pay their mortgage, which is now underwater…or maybe THEY did so to pay for daycare because for many daycare is so cost prohibitive it makes working nearly impossible…or maybe to buy food for their children…you don’t know WHY they did it, either. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:12 pm Sorry for the typos…my edit feature isn’t working! Please bare with me! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:10 pm While I know what you mean….pilferage or lack of it, doesn’t matter in what they pass down…it really does not work that way. THEY have their numbers to me and they make sure the accounting makes those numbers…they ALREADY plan for pilferage in their budgets…its’ already accounted for in any large corporation. THUS whether it happens or not, it’s already accounted for and if the pilferage stopped, do you honestly think they would pass that on to the consumer? » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:09 pm Funny you mention orange…I just said that to my SO! 🙂 THAT sounds gorgeous! Thanks for the tip…I couldn’t picture it at first…but your description sounds very striking! I have nutmeg walls in my kitchen…so what if I painted the cabinets a lighter shade of that hue with a complementing color door…new hardware is a must, obviously…but you got me thinking! » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:05 pm WHO broke the contract, just about EVERY corporation in existence. WHILE you point to the big banks and the military contractors…do you realize how big of a percentage those tow sectors those two really control? DO you realize how many multi national companies have unrelated companies under their control? How about strategic alliances or Divestiture strategies…Multibusiness strategies, are SO common today…companies you don’t even realize own unrelated entities that provide many services and the average consumer doesn’t even realize it! Have you heard of a company called DTCC? Here take a look at this… LOOK who sits on the board of that company and THEN look at the amount of money that company controls… In 2009 DTCC settled more than 1.48 QUADRILLION dollars in security transactions…QUADRILLION not billion, not trillion but QUADRILLION. THEY all broke the contract…any company that is publicly traded broke the contract. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 8:01 pm Thanks Cher. It is a conflicting thing…no doubt. It’s a moral dilemma…and as such it gets real murky. I tend to be a big picture kind of gal, and the breaking of the social contract by the elite will have consequences, not just for the masses, but for them as well. It’s terrible that it has to come to that, but they started it…for goodness sake. And if history is any indication, it will be up to the masses to finish it and START a new social contract. History has a habit of repeating itself until the lessons are learned…sadly they rarely stay learned. {sigh} » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 7:49 pm I’m afraid Artists…it’s heading that way, whether we like it or not…the inequality between the rich and poor is TOO great….these things happen and repeat throughout history. WE are at a tipping point…the plutocrats may have pushed it to far, AGAIN. » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 7:46 pm I’m like you Chris…I do the exact same thing! I have very expensive taste, but I know how to replicate it on a budget! It takes a little ingenuity, and a desire to PAINT, but it works! I also have a sewing machine and can wield a needle! It’s a dangerous combination! 🙂 I’m getting ready to do my kitchen…and while we’ve been chatting over here, I have another window open, looking for ideas for my kitchen cabinets….my sister, the bitch, stole my idea for red! I can’t have the same kitchen colors as she does! How would that look? WE have a lot of the same guests! 🙂 » Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 22, 2011 @ 7:43 pmComments Posted By Abbyrose86
.
I live in NY state and even living in the less expensive areas are not inexpensive. NOT in the least! 50K GROSS is not a livable salary in these parts…unless one is single. 50K net…is doable.
«« Back To Stats Page
Home Stats