How Well Off Are DU Households?

[ruggerson]

I have a feeling that the class divisions are not as striking as some maintain they are. I would bet that there are a lot of pretty wealthy Democrats across this great land, and a lot of lower middle class Republicans.

Of course, the lower middle class Republicans are utter idiots, voting against their own self interest. And the wealthier Democrats are people who care about their neighbors and fellow citizens and don't mind chipping in, in order to have a better, stronger, healthier nation.

So, approximately how much do you and your wife/husband/partner bring in every year?

Use gross income before taxes. Total household income.

[bluedonkey]

1. Missing

under $25.000.
1 vote here.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Yeah. We actually grossed $29K this year.. but netted $22K

[Kindigger]

20. Missing

under $7,000 here. Perhaps I could make a few $$ writing a book on how.

[GrumpyGreg]

2. What if I don't have a wife/husband/partner? Can I participate?

Jeesh !!!!!

[ruggerson]

4. Well, yeah, that's a given n/t

[KoKo]

7. I thought it was "household income," that the poster was asking for?

:shrug: If you are a "household" of "One" then you qualify...I would think.

[ruggerson]

8. Exactly

And I should have put a category in for STUDENT. I will see if I can change that.

[RebelOne]

10. Well, neither do I and I'm in the under $50,000 category.

[KoKo]

3. But...there are so many who would be making within your categories, who

have been downsized, outsourced or marginalized. What we used to make, what we make now, and what we SHOULD MAKE...sigh.

I'm not trying to screw up your poll...but there are many DU'ers who used to fit it your "slots" or "should" who just don't anymore.

But..whatever...you only asked about DU'ers who still have earnings that fit into those categories.

Our "small business" fits in..but BEFORE BUSH II we were in a higher category...I think many DU'ers fit into "Before" and now "After."

[ruggerson]

6. That's an interesting discussion to have too

this is just a representative snapshot of what exists currently

[mcscajun]

26. You said it! I used to be in the Over 75k category...

...for 2006, I'll be firmly in the under 15,000 category; unless, of course, I manage to find more work than just the little part-time job I have now.

And yes, that IS my entire household income.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. To the person that voted over 500K...

pm me! :evilgrin:

[EFerrari]

11. Lol!

:hug:

[obxhead]

16. To the person over 500K....

Can I come live on your Island? If you have yet to purchase one I have some property to show ya!

[Turbineguy]

9. Affluent Democrats

want a proper civilized society to live in. Maybe that's it.

I think the ultimate conclusion of the model Republican society would turn out to be not too nice. I don't think I'd like living in a walled compound and travelling in amored vehicles and looking out at people who are poor and begging.

I've been to enough countries that work that way. Go to Karachi sometime. The affluent live behind walls with armed guards. There's about 2 million or so homeless who camp out where they can.

[Erika]

14. Under W, this country is sadly headed this way.

The GOP have zero concern for the lower incomes.

[Art_from_Ark]

43. That sounds a lot like the China of Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth"

right before the first Chinese revolution.

[EFerrari]

12. Our income went up for no reason that they teach you in school.

And we have an extended family that shares assests.

I guess that makes us commie pinkos waiting to enable the next generation of commie pinkos.

I love pink. :)

[Yollam]

13. I wish you had put another rank for under $30K

A lot of working people get by on two minimum or near minimum wages.

I support my family on $25K, and my wife's small business brings in 2 or 3 K per year. I know a lot of people who live on what we do, and this is San Francisco. $50K is a respectable family income here, not a "floor", and in my home town of El Paso, you can live like a king and have a big new house on that income.

I think this poll's numbers reflect the upper-middle class nature of DU's posters. Not that that's a bad thing, but I think a lot of you guys are a bit oblivious of just how many of us scrape by on next to nothing.


According to the 2004 census, 27% of households live on less than $24,999. 39% live on less than $34,000. 55% live on less than $49,000, and yet that's your floor.

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_


Not very representative of average folks, I'm afraid.

[Ariana Celeste]

19. My SO supports us on about $22K or so.

And we live pretty good on that here in central Indiana. Plus no kids involved and no car to worry about.

[mom cat]

28. Agreed n/t

[uppityperson]

17. 50 would more than double ours. nt

[iamjoy]

18. Luck Vs. Hardwork

I thought I heard somewhere that regardless of income people who think success is almost entirely hard work are probably Republican, whereas people who think luck plays a significant role tend to be Democratic.

I think there's some truth to that. When we ask what's the matter with Kansas, I have heard the counter about the so called limousine liberals voting for Democrats who will increase their taxes. But these wealthy Democrats may realize that it wasn't soley hard work that got them where they are, and it isn't sheer laziness keeping some people in poverty.

My husband and I do pretty well, and I'm OK with paying more in taxes so the waitress at the restaurant down the street (she never had a chance to go to college or learn a skill) can get CHIPs health insurance for for her kid.

[Mr.Green93]

21. A lot of rich people on this board

Must be nice.

[UncleSepp]

38. Grateful for it and surprised by it every day, share what I can too...

Hard work, risk taking, and a shitload of being in the right place at the right time to catch an opportunity - and also being willing to give up what I had planned to ride that opportunity - that's what I credit for it. Not just "hard work". Lots of people work a hell of a lot harder than I do for less. My dad, for one. He works harder than anyone I've ever known, runs his own business, helps out his neighbors and friends and strangers, and gets screwed out of even the money he's owed.

Right now, I'm grossing more than ten times what my family did when I was in high school (we were well below the poverty line), and four times what I did eight years ago. I'm living in a 400 sq. ft. studio condo that I bought for just about what I make in a year and driving a six year old, paid off car that I'll drive until the wheels fall off. Most of my clothes are from the thrift store, the vintage store, or the local bargain department store. I don't count on this keeping up, but while it does, I'll save as much as I can so that I can pay off the condo, pay off college, and take care of my parents and my friends. There's no sense blowing it all away on stuff I didn't need at a quarter the income and still don't need now. What I need is my family and my friends, and that's where it goes.

[NewJeffCT]

22. there are plenty of wealthy Democrats

The Kennedy family
John Kerry
Steve Jobs of Apple
the CEO of Costco
Herb Kohl of Kohl's dept stores

[Hippo_Tron]

35. You forgot Jon Corzine

Who is more liberal than all of the above (maybe he ties with some of the Kennedys).

[ruggerson]

36. And Jay Rockefeller n/t

[MrSlayer]

23. Haven't had a paycheck since November.

Since Bush has been pResident I routinely miss 4 to 6 months of work a year. Between his ridiculous economy and my union being dickheads I haven't had a good decade thusfar.

[elfin]

24. Confortable - for the time being

I am a widow, but if my dear husband's pension hits the skids, I will be in trouble. Also, if they reduce Social Security appreciably.

Watching and worryng constantly as I shop for the highest yiielding CD's for my remaining disposable income other than my not-too-large portfolio to keep me out of a nursing home and pay for private care.

[Cassandra]

25. Under 50K in NY is a bit of a squeeze.

However, I have been thinking lately that if I was ever in a position to buy a larger apartment, I would buy smaller than I was dreaming about a few years ago. I wouldn't want the potential energy bills for a large, open space.
Although there are things I want that are hard to find the money for, there's a lot to be said for living a bit more modestly than you can afford.

[mcscajun]

27. This poll shouldn't have started at Under 50,000.

There are a few other divisions Under 50k that should have been in there.

Under 25,000
Under 15,000
No Income

[Cleita]

31. I agree.

I'm under 25,000 and I know those whose income is even less.

[G_j]

32. agreed

[UTUSN]

29. Not that much - that's why we're looking out n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

30. You don't have a line for "Bankrupt, unemployed and desperate".

[justabob]

41. That is a lot closer to the truth of my situation than the other options

for sure. x(

[DanCa]

33. missing - disability pay.

[sweetheart]

34. five hundred kay + + +

We all make a gazillion dollars on hidden benefits from CIA payments
for completing our propaganda objectives in undermining the left,
and what could be more, than some modest payments on private schools,
and lawn shrubberies.

but outside of that, we're rich from what they don't know.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. We're About 105,000 In North Jersey, Yet Still Trying To Figure Out How To

afford 2 kids in daycare...

I remember growing up thinking 6 figures made someone rich.

[BiggJawn]

39. More choices below 50K would have been illuminating.

I really don't care how many of you gross over 150 Kilobucks. I'm sure you'll be just as tasty as ReTHUGlicans when it comes time to eat the Rich...

[lumberjack_jeff]

40. The median income for a family of four is $65,093

It's unsurprising that the majority selected the lowest income.

Our family of five lives comfortably on a little over half of your lowest choice.

[BlueJazz]

42. Are you Kidding? Here's the Typical DU Family >>