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May explain why I haven't HAD to work for the last decade. I dabble in those things that interest me. Teach a class, sit on boards, identify and train leaders, invest, write, organize events, raise millions for various organizations, and so on. I may go back to "work" full-time someday - got another 10-15 years I'm willing to give a hi-pot organization before I "retire" again. (I hate that term....if I ever stop moving long enough to actually retire, I'll probably be on my deathbed.)

166 - What does your husband do to support you and youall's family while you play around?

The point I was trying to make - "154 - " Got to stay at least 12 months ahead of the organization AND the industry."

is that few/nobody can be reasonably expected to be so prescient, just to maintain a job, if they could do all that, then they could rule the world.

There are a whole lot of honest, hard working people out there, who 'played the game', supported their wives and families, paid their taxes, and who were tossed on the trash heap when 'things' changed. They aren't layabouts, big spenders, wastrels, liars, thieves, cheats, or stupid. Just honest, hard working people who have gotten screwed.

I know, my uncle was one - a steel worker, a chemist who analyzed/tested/quality controlled the steel output in a big steel factory.

I was another, caught in Houston in the midst of the oil crash of the 80's. As One who got layed off in the petro-chem business with college degrees and plenty of experience, I got fired at one job (stocking shelves at K-Mart), because I refused to sign a form that I was being 're-trained' from a $25/hour procurement manager to a $3.50 shelf stocker) just so they could qualify for a government program which paid my 'retraining salary ($3.50/hr)' for 180 days.

The past few years, there have been the dot.commer's, the techies.

Many good people getting screwed, undeservedly. And a few fools, like those in the story at the beginning of the post, who played the 'grasshopper' to our 'ant'.

Many Americans don't understand what is going on right now,but it is not a race to bring other countries up to our standards, it is a race to bring our living standards down to the level of a third world country.

And all these idiots here on this thread who delight in the abolition of the middle class, because they think they are going to remain in the 'top class', and get their 'creme broulet' cheaper as their neighbors starve, will find out, you can't drive to work when you earn $1.00 per hour - Henry Ford knew that, even 100 years ago.