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To: NutCrackerBoy
I am a big Walter Williams fan. The problem with the statistics that are quoted today is the reference to "own."
How many people do you know that do not have a mortgage on their home and are not making either loan or lease payments on their vehicles. I think the reference "own" is a misnomer. The banks actually "own" the homes, vehicles and chances are every major appliance in the home. I would venture to say that those who are cash flush and debt free are a miniscule few. There may be full employment but the male and female in families have to work today just to be able to make those payments. More people are working making less money. How many people have a sizable savings account, investment portfolio and are mortgage free. Now that would be a better barometer than how many "own" their homes.
11 posted on 01/15/2004 1:36:07 PM PST by kellynla ("C" 1/5 1st Mar. Div. U.S.M.C. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
There may be full employment but the male and female in families have to work today just to be able to make those payments. More people are working making less money.

This is actually a common misconception. I don't have the reference handy, but I recently read/heard that in order for us to live with the same standard of living as people did in the late 1940's, most families would only have to work 8 months each year. This statistic was quoted for the "average" family, not the super rich.

As a family that lives on a single income, I know many people to "must" have two incomes to live. Some truly do but the vast majority don't. They'd have to give up some of the nicities of life, but they could easily and comfortably live on one income. I've seen stats on that somewhere, too, but don't have them handy.

We've been convinced by years of Democrat propaganda that most families NEED two incomes to survive. It's simply not the case.

13 posted on 01/15/2004 1:42:07 PM PST by FourPeas
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To: kellynla
How many people have a sizable savings account, investment portfolio and are mortgage free. Now that would be a better barometer than how many "own" their homes.

That sounds more like the measure of someone's age rather than their earnings. I would guess that the vast majority of people who fit your above description are 50+.

36 posted on 01/15/2004 5:14:41 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (06/07/04 - 1000 days since 09/11/01)
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