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Scenes from the So-Called 99%
PJ Tatler ^ | October 11, 2011 | Bryan Preston

Posted on 10/12/2011 10:11:32 AM PDT by Kaslin

Our third foray into the “We Are the 99 Percent” web site finds that while they still don’t represent 99% of America — who does? — some of the photo posters accidentally make sense. Take this one, for instance.

She has clearly done the math, and found that she is taxed enough already. That being the case, the movement she’s looking for probably isn’t the one that’s camped out in parks and pooping on police cars.

This one should have done the math before pursuing a classical studies degree.

As I wrote in the first “open letter,” no one cares about much of the stuff that seems earth-shakingly vital when we’re in the throes of getting a degree. The world doesn’t need scholars all that much, it needs engineers and nurses and people with actual usable trades or skills. It needs people with a work ethic and ambition. It needs people who can adapt. The volunteer hours with a Greek organization won’t matter much unless your job interviewer happens to have been a member of the same organization. And if that’s the case, your networking will help, a lot. In fact, networking is probably the most useful, least taught skill at any university. Adaptation as circumstances change is a close second.

If you made the choice, why are you whining? And what are the rest of us supposed to do about it?

Let’s quote from this one, to distill it a bit.

I’m $31,000 in debt from my education, and the average yearly salary where I live is $19,000. Household is $31,000. I would gladly pay double my taxes to not have the stress of mounting educational and medical bills for the rest of my adult life.

Clearly she didn’t do the math, or she would have done one of two things: Skipped the debt, since the jobs in her area don’t pay that well; or moved somewhere where there are better paying jobs available that make the expensive education worth it.

And whatever you do, never ever say that you will “gladly pay double” in taxes. The elected will take you up on that. And you’ll still have plenty to worry about. Government is not put on this earth to make your life worry-free. The sooner you get that notion out of your head, the better off we’ll all be.

This guy could’ve stopped after the first sentence of his poster. It explains much.

And finally…

I don’t mean to mock anyone and I’m not one to quarrel with the value of an education, but the content of that education matters. What does the modern university actually teach about citizenship? When it comes to getting and keeping a job, a degree is a utility, a means to an end. The common thread that keeps emerging from many of these photos (excepting the ones posted by people who ran into major health problems through no fault of their own, or who voted for Obama and now expect that keeping him in office will change anything for the better) is that the higher educational establishment sold them a bill of goods. It made it too easy for them to rack up huge debt, while teaching them little to nothing about what the real economy needs and values in workers. The professors keep their tenure, the university presidents keep their lavish homes and manicured lawns, and the students who pay exorbitant fees to keep the bubble inflated get left unprepared for the real world, with little but a lifetime of debt to show for it.

Many of these protesters have legitimate beefs. They’re just misdirecting their anger, thanks both to the political rhetoric coming from the White House, and to the poor quality of the education their hard work has purchased.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: politicalscience
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To: EQAndyBuzz

I have a wife and two kids, I own a home, pay a mortgage. Have 4 cars, 4 insurance payments. Had a sic kid in the hospital for a year with no insurance because FrankenDodd cost me my job...twice.

I pay 28% taxes, no state taxes, high sales tax. I pay $3.25 for gas. My food bill is 40% higher due to high gas prices.

I am one of the 53%


21 posted on 10/12/2011 11:04:01 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (I am a Cainiac)
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To: pogo101

Awesome link.


22 posted on 10/12/2011 11:04:39 AM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Kaslin

Dear Useful Idiots:

I am 52 years old and up until 2 years ago had never been laid off from a job in my life. And guess what my husband was laid off from the same company on the exact same day. I made a plan, executed it, and was back at the same company as a contractor 2 months later and that lead to being hired back as a fulltime employee 5 months after that. My husband has not faired as well, he has had a few contractor jobs here and there, but nothing steady. We have burned through 80% of our retirement saving and have had to downsize our lifestyle to fit our new income. I am STILL paying off student loans from the 1980s!!!

Guess what! I want nothing from anyone else! I want to make my way out of this situation myself. I don’t blame my problems on banks or millionaires or billionaires (heck, I have my job because of a billionaire) and I don’t want a government bailout. All I want is to be left alone by the likes of you and the unions and politicians who support you.

Now please go back to your sleeping bags in mommy’s basement where you can spend your days eating cheese pizzes and crying about how bad your life is on FaceBook!

Sincerely,
Me


23 posted on 10/12/2011 11:05:38 AM PDT by Chandalier (You say Obama, I say O-blame-o!)
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To: pogo101
Best response:


24 posted on 10/12/2011 11:07:13 AM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Kaslin

I like the “education is the key” preceded by I have a graduate degree and unemployed.

Something is wrong there? DUH


25 posted on 10/12/2011 11:12:36 AM PDT by School of Rational Thought (Fun for women ages 21 - 35)
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To: Redleg Duke
All but one of these "victims" didn't bother to select a college career that would provide marketable skills.

I consider myself pretty fortunate. My undergrad degree is Lib Arts, in Political Science. I spent the first couple/few years out of school bumming around working for various public policy/political organizations (Conservative ones) in DC.

Then I met the love of my life. She came with a condition, however: I had to grow up and get a degree that had either an MD, JD or MBA in it.

So I got the MBA, and went into IT management. And have never regretted it. I make much better money than I would have without, have a reasonably secure job and am positioned to be able to support my family through my retirement.

One of the big lessons I'm trying to impart on my kids (6 years till the first goes to college) is just what you say above - in looking at a degree they need to also look at what kinds of success people with them have after they graduate.
26 posted on 10/12/2011 11:13:58 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: School of Rational Thought

OK, I mixed signs, but the point remains.


27 posted on 10/12/2011 11:14:26 AM PDT by School of Rational Thought (Fun for women ages 21 - 35)
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To: Redleg Duke
The other guy, who was fired for criticizing his company on his blog, got what he deserved. He is an overage, childish idiot!

If you feel that compelled to criticize your company in public, then at least do so under a pseudonym, omitting enough incriminating details to prevent it from being traced back to you.

If you're going to be dumb enough to bite the hand that feeds you, at least show some intelligence in how you do it...

28 posted on 10/12/2011 11:16:38 AM PDT by kevkrom (This space for rent.)
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To: pogo101

peta-PINGs to pogo101.

Great link, thanks.


29 posted on 10/12/2011 11:23:07 AM PDT by budj (beam me up, scotty...)
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To: pogo101

Bookmark


30 posted on 10/12/2011 11:27:02 AM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: Kaslin
I assume many of the people in the OWS movement are actually semi-intelligent citizens who made mistakes in the educational fields they chose or other similar errors. In short, they've made mistakes in life. Well, welcome to the very large crowd. I would guess everyone on Free Republic has made mistakes in the twists and turns that constitute making your way through life. So, you made a mistake that has cost you a lot of time and money i.e. a bad choice in your college major. What do you do? Collapse in a fetal position in the corner of your domicile, or get back up on your feet and try to improve things?

Again, I would bet conservatives are people who, like many people of the liberal persuasion, have undergone setbacks in life. The difference between conservatives and libs is knowing that at some time in life you will fail at something. But that will not stop you from achieving what you want in life.

31 posted on 10/12/2011 11:43:17 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Kaslin
First girl living on the edge of poverty pays $505 a month for car and insurance. Is she above visiting a used car lot?
I have always gone for late model used, and never paid over $180 a month for them. And I can afford a new car but choose not to pay what they want for them these days.
32 posted on 10/12/2011 11:43:43 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: Chandalier

Great post


33 posted on 10/12/2011 11:54:16 AM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: NavyCanDo

Well she is probably in her early 20s so naturally her insurance would be higher then it would be for us


34 posted on 10/12/2011 12:00:34 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: PMAS
no one making $52k is paying 35%

Not unimaginable counting state and local income taxes.

35 posted on 10/12/2011 12:06:55 PM PDT by j_tull (I may make you feel, but I can't make you think.)
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To: Kaslin

The 3rd one down needs to fire their tax preparer. They paid enough in out-of-pocket medical expenses (health insurance premiums count) that he could deduct them. My back-of-the-napkin calculations show they should have ended up owing $0 taxes.

Assuming, of course, that they were filing singly and had no dependants. If they filed jointly and their spouse also worked, that changes the numbers some.

Anyone here like to recheck my calculations?


36 posted on 10/12/2011 12:26:06 PM PDT by Ellendra (God feeds the birds of the air, but he doesn't throw it in their nests.)
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To: All

b


37 posted on 10/12/2011 2:16:40 PM PDT by Maverick68
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To: tanknetter
Thank you! I remember another poli-sci major on the "99%" site that complained that he couldn't get a job despite sending out 200 applications.

Um, what exactly do you DO with a B.A. poli-sci degree? The only people I knew in college who were in poli-sci, were using it as a basis for law school, or as you said, some advanced degree. I can't conceive of a business that is crying out for some guy who knows all about Marx and the development of "the corporation in America". Compare and contrast in your blue-books please, and show your work.

38 posted on 10/12/2011 3:39:18 PM PDT by boop ("Let's just say they'll be satisfied with LESS"... Ming the Merciless)
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To: j_tull

Federal income tax on $52k is more in 20% range


39 posted on 10/12/2011 5:55:14 PM PDT by PMAS
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To: boop
Um, what exactly do you DO with a B.A. poli-sci degree?

1.) Go to Law School.

2.) Teach PoliSci

3.) Wait tables.
40 posted on 10/12/2011 6:06:23 PM PDT by tanknetter
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