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59% Say It’s No Longer Possible To Work Hard and Get Rich in U.S.
Rasmussen Reports ^ | Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Posted on 03/13/2013 12:37:05 PM PDT by Olog-hai

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% of American Adults now say it is possible for anyone in the country to work hard and get rich, generally unchanged since late 2012.

Fifty-nine percent (59%), though, say that is no longer possible, up from 55% in late January and the highest level of pessimism in over four years of surveying. …

(Excerpt) Read more at rasmussenreports.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
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To: apillar

Meh, it could be that, some at least, know exactly what hard work is, but they have discovered that there is no additional reward for it nowadays. Why work overtime when your boss is going to forego even a cost of living raise again next year and say “it’s the economy”? That’s not a hard worker, that’s a sucker.


41 posted on 03/13/2013 2:06:26 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Olog-hai

Welcome to globalism’s collectivism where the banksters and global CEO’s have total control over the government and economy. They are squeezing out small business in the US.


42 posted on 03/13/2013 2:31:40 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: Boogieman; apillar
Part of it is also jealousy and team issues.

When I started my first real job I made sure to come in first, work more hours than anyone and strive for perfection in my work. Managers would fight over having me on their projects.

Then I got the same raise as anyone above average. My boss said it’s to prevent jealousy within the team and upper management looks down upon any raises far above average. I later learned it was almost impossible to be promoted due to the same issues. After that I only worked just slightly harder than my closest competition. Why bother?

Also remember that back then it was possible to be upper-middle class and save a good amount for retirement with an average white-collar job. I bought my first home at 23 (in NYC!). Today we have kids working their a**es off doing the same thing I did who can’t even afford the smallest home due to sky-high expenses. Sometimes even with two incomes. Eventually they’ll realize “Why bother working your a** off for a small apartment and crappy food when the government will give it to you for free?”

43 posted on 03/13/2013 2:36:10 PM PDT by varyouga
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To: Olog-hai

Really, do we believe that ‘just about anyone in the country’ (as the question is worded) can work hard and get rich in the US? How many of us think that those with an IQ in the bottom quartile will manage that? The next quartile up?

I would say that anyone who works hard, is resourceful, and makes that his or her goal has a chance, but certainly no guarantee, to get rich.

Still, I think there’s good reason for Americans to have become more pessimistic about said chances, and after all the doom and gloom questions that Rasmussen asked before getting to this one, it’s not surprise that the response is as doomy and gloomy as it is.


44 posted on 03/13/2013 2:40:27 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Olog-hai

This is great news for liberals. Most here will blame liberals and crony capitalism, but the fact is liberals will reap the rewards! Their entire platform is based on taking from the rich. If people don’t believe it is possible to work hard to become rich, then they are more likely to believe that the rich cheated and stole to get rich.


45 posted on 03/13/2013 2:48:06 PM PDT by douginthearmy
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To: Olog-hai

Obama’s Marxism.

End of story.


46 posted on 03/13/2013 3:01:43 PM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: Olog-hai
Fifty-nine percent (59%), though, say that is no longer possible, up from 55% in late January and the highest level of pessimism in over four years of surveying

That seems about right. Less than than 40% of working age Americans have a full time job...

47 posted on 03/13/2013 4:15:24 PM PDT by EVO X
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To: Olog-hai; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; ...

Thanks Olog-hai.

The Obama Tax Hike

to go with

The Obama Recession


48 posted on 03/13/2013 5:21:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: varyouga

Yes, I came to that realization a long time ago. I had a decent salaried job, no wife and kids, so my expenses were minimal, no debt, and was getting my apartment for about half price, but still, on my income, buying even a small home was next to impossible. If I saved for 10 years so I could make a 50% downpayment, I could do it, but otherwise, forget it.

So, not only is there not much motivation from the jobs nowadays to work hard, there is not even much of a goal to shoot for if you want to work hard. I could move to another area where homes are cheaper and buy one pretty much outright at this point, but that would mean giving up a steady job for no certainty of a paycheck, so that doesn’t work for someone far from retirement age.


49 posted on 03/13/2013 5:36:52 PM PDT by Boogieman
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