Alternative ways of thinking of retirement

[GoodSteward]

Well, why not a 2 year certificate from my local trade school? I have looked into it. I was going to go for phlebotomy - until I looked up job postings. One opening in my city for 13 hours a week (4 separate days) and one other part time job (30 hours) 40 miles away in a neighboring state. Then I looked into plumbing and electrical engineering. Both start as apprentices for a couple years earning $13 an hour. At $13/hr I would be taking home as much as I am now, because currently I can get Medicaid ($300 monthly value for FREE, with NO DEDUCTIBLES!)

Something has got to change in this country. There is more than enough to go around. Doctors and lawyers aren't the only essential jobs. Someone has to wait tables and drive the taxis.

You have to remember they don't post top pay for openings. They post starting pay. Hopefully, they do give raises and you can build up. When I look at a career I don't look for what you make starting out as much as what the avg experienced worker makes. You have to remember starting in a new field puts you back at the bottom.

People succeed everyday, and advance with hard work(usually). What I don't like seeing is how people who do get government help complain about those who make better(I'm not saying you did). I've seen it before where someone making several dollars less than me was actually pulling in more a year between food stamps, medical, and a massive tax refund. This guy wasn't making a lot per hour, but blew it on shoes(Yep, shoes). Then complained about not making enough. The problem that has been created with this help is that if this guy was to actually do better for himself it is canceled out by the loss of government support up to a point. That point is usually the max of common labor jobs, so by the time he builds up to doing much better, is doing just as good as making less with government support.

[FLA]

um, people do need shoes.

I think it's great that there are social services available to people who are trying to work full time in a very low paying job. If $500 in SNAP for his family keeps him working, we all win in the end.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

But part of it is that wages haven't kept up with cost of healthcare/education, etc. I mean I have yet to meet someone who hasn't said that the cost of medical premiums outstrip their raises. Promotions yes but actual cost of living raises? HAHAHA. Oh wait, maybe it equals it but usually if the cost stays the same the medical plan has gotten worse.

[97guns]

Can you even entertain ideas outside of tunnel vision of "I do this"?

i am the furthest thing from tunnel vision, i see everything and move away from the pack or lemmings

i see the middle class struggling, getting squeezed without the knowledge of cause and how to fix it and it is a form of slavery, 40 hours a week you are not free to do as you want. until you are financially independant you are not free but everyone enslaved does not see it and will not see it nor realize it until free. ive worked with so many people that could not afford to call in sick

i see jam packed grocery stores at the beginig of the month and not as busy at the end of the month, i see what they buy and eat better than i do

i see native spanish speaking people and all minorities including my own race taking advantage of the system, having more babies, getting free housing, medical, food, why would you work a $13 job

[corn18]

i am the furthest thing from tunnel vision, i see everything and move away from the pack or lemmings

i see the middle class struggling, getting squeezed without the knowledge of cause and how to fix it and it is a form of slavery, 40 hours a week you are not free to do as you want. until you are financially independant you are not free but everyone enslaved does not see it and will not see it nor realize it until free. ive worked with so many people that could not afford to call in sick

i see jam packed grocery stores at the beginig of the month and not as busy at the end of the month, i see what they buy and eat better than i do

i see native spanish speaking people and all minorities including my own race taking advantage of the system, having more babies, getting free housing, medical, food, why would you work a $13 job

I don't understand what all this means.

[FLA]

if you look closely at most welfare programs, there are pretty strict rules for going back to work and length of time on programs. I would challenge you to provide for your family on the small amt of welfare provided. No one is getting rich here. Welfare queens are a modern myth