i’m in the software field. as such, 80-100 hr weeks are not uncommon during crank cycles. it’s during the 100 hr weeks that our system really makes me scream.
why?
because the numbers become so plainly obvious.
working 100 hrs in a week means i’m working 55 of those hours just for taxes (40% fed, 15% social security + match). this is more then half the week spent for the sole purpose to send it to the govt. 55 hours of work in one week.
then the kicker. 65% of that, or 36 hrs, is given directly to entitlement spending. it’s the chunk given directly to other people to pay for their cell phones, cars, stereos, food, housing, etc.
that’s right. i spend more time working for others, directly, paying for their ‘stuff’ then they would if they worked a full ‘0bama’ work week (29 hours).
i cannot tell you how much this pisses me off.
Orwell described in Animal farm the eventual outcome and gratitude from the elite pigs for those that work hard as the economic system lurched into a redistribution economy.-- Boxer was the hardest most dedicated worker on the farm, it was said that he worked more than all the other animals combined. But when his strength was used up, he is witnessed being put into the back of a truck with the words "glue factory" on the side.
All the animals took up the cry of 'Get out, Boxer, get out!'...his face disappeared from the window and there was the sound of a tremendous drumming of hoofs inside the van. He was trying to kick his way out. The time had bee when a few kicks from Boxer's hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. But alas! His strength had left him and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away...Boxer was never seen again." -- Animal Farm
We are in the same boat. I am an electrician in the oilfield. Working 180 hours in two weeks isn’t abnormal. When I get paid, and I look at the gross amount vs the net amount, I get angry, a deep anger is burning me up.
I am punished for earning more. I am punished for being successful. I am past tired of it.
I’m already a partial contractor, after Christmas I’ll go full contractor and pay less taxes. A guy shouldn’t have to do that though to avoid being raped by taxes.
The system we have is not even remotely sustainable. At some point in the very near future, it’s going to fail, and fail spectacularly.
The middle class shrinks, while the chasm between the makers and takers grows.