I don't want to be rich

[TonyMontana]

You know what I want?

I want to have a career that I am truly passionate about. I want to wake up every morning and say to myself, "boy, am I glad to be going to 'work' today".

I want to be paid enough to afford food, clothing, and shelter.

I want to have 6 weeks vacation every year, like they have in Europe.

I want to be able to go to coffee shops in the evening with friends and chat about current events and politics and the universe.

I want to have the security of knowing that if I get sick, I won't have to worry about paying for health care.

I want to have a guaranteed, secure pension when I retire.

I want a wife and maybe some kids, maybe not.


Do I want a private jet? Do I want a Ferrari? Do I want a mansion with solid gold doors? No. I can honestly say I do not.

[rucky]

1. A-fucking-men!

[Dreamer Tatum]

2. In other words, you want all the trappings of wealth. Good on you. I want a pony. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Wealth like the average European has.

[YOY]

31. +1

n/t

[ehrnst]

66. Yes. (nt)

[MadHound]

4. Wow, that's harsh

Those are hardly the trappings of wealth. Millions of people around the world, who are not wealthy, have achieved all of those objectives stated by the OP.

Trying to lower expectations in this post-empire country, eh.

[driver8]

13. These are not the trappings of wealth -- this USED to be the "American Dream".

I guess asking for food, shelter, clothing AND vacation is asking for too much.

Ignorant workers -- they should be happy for what they get.

[Vickers]

23. So go get a fucking pony.

:eyes:

[grace0418]

24. Dang. Harsh much?

Has the world gotten so bad that personal fulfillment and some measure of stability is considered a pipe dream akin to "wanting a pony"?

[Quantess]

28. In other words, as long as we aren't living under a bridge wearing dirty socks,

we should be satisfied?

I'm sorry that America's race to the bottom has so lowered your expectations.

[Jackpine Radical]

33. Socks?

You think the homeless should have socks? What extravagance, what waste! How will they ever learn they have to work for a living if you indulge them with socks?

[Quantess]

40. Yes, I have an "Entitlement Mentality".

I believe the homeless are "entitled" to a couple of clean socks per year. A couple might equal a pair.

:D

[Jackpine Radical]

61. Well, OK, as long as **I** don't have to pay for them.

[Hannah Bell]

44. The trappings of *wealth*? For god's sake, what a stupid remark.

[Greyhound]

45. You obviously have no idea what being rich is.

See your own avatar...

[BoneDaddy]

55. Ah the spoiled apple

they are everywhere in here.

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. -1. Fail

:eyes:

[lumberjack_jeff]

64. Other words? Perhaps. But those other words ought to mean something similar.

fulfilling employment has nothing to do with wealth.

[TK421]

72. I didn't see any "trappings of wealth" mentality in that OP...what are you smoking?

and no, I don't want what you're smoking

[Xipe Totec]

5. I want your life for one minute

I want your life for one minute where my biggest problem is someone offering me a free convertible so I can get outta this city.

- Carol Connelly
As Good as it Gets

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. That sounds about right for me too.

:thumbsup:

[NightWatcher]

7. sounds like me, you want to be comfortable

that's not asking too much, and in the past it was attainable

[derby378]

8. Hey, that sounds good, but you know what?

If I suddenly became the world's first trillionaire, I'd still want to do something challenging and meaningful with my life. I'd just have more cash on hand to get me through the rough times - and provide for my family, the poor, the homeless, and people in Third World countries who need help that doesn't come with a corporate price tag.

[hughee99]

42. My thoughts exactly.

It seems to me most people here aren't bothered by "the rich" because they have money, their issues are either how they got their money (by screwing others) or what they do with their money. Regular people win huge money in lotteries every day, and I've never once heard a winner referred to as the "evil rich"?

If I did come into that sort of money, I'd use most of it to support progressive and humanitarian causes in a "no corporate strings attached" way. For doing this, I expect I'd be applauded for helping rather than vilified for simply having the ability to do this.

[MrScorpio]

9. You want comfort and financial security

Like most normal people.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. I couldn't agree with you more.

Well, except a wife. ;)

Welcome to DU!

[babylonsister]

11. Great post! I want what you want, minus the wife. :) nt

[rfranklin]

12. what's with all the anti-gay sentiment?

:spank:

[babylonsister]

16. Aw jeeze. That's not anti-gay,

I don't want a wife. At this point, I don't want a husband either. :spank: backatcha.

[AspenRose]

37. Being heterosexual is somehow being anti-gay? Wow.

:wow:

[rfranklin]

39. Perhaps I used the wrong emoticon...

Should have been: :sarcasm:

[unblock]

14. there's a difference between BEING rich and living a lifestyle that only the rich can afford

there are, in fact, many rich people who choose to live very normal lives.

read "the millionaire next door".

[flvegan]

15. I do. n/t

[Lyric]

20. Yeah, but we know what YOU'd do with "wealth"

you militant vegan terrorist. :P

[Duchess]

17. So, you want all the reward without any of the risk.

Sounds like what they do on Wall Street.

[joneschick]

25. Hardly.

the OP states very clearly a desire for a career, therefore the intention to earn some very reasonable desires. :hi:

[Curmudgeoness]

38. I didn't get this at all from the OP. All he wants is to feel secure

and have time to pursue some happiness. Where does he sound like Wall Street? He doesn't want all the show of wealth, and they do. He wants to live without having to worry at every turn and work his life away. I want all that too. And I am not looking to be wealthy, or lazy, or scam people out of everything they have. And that is Wall Street what Wall Street is looking for.

[reggie the dog]

48. all the reward without the risk, as we have here in France

in the UK, in Denmary, in Belgium, in the Netherlands, in Luxembourg, in Sweden, in Finland, in Germany, in Norway, in Spain, In Austria, in Portugal.... i will stop there

[spanone]

18. get your ass in gear

[Journeyman]

19. I am rich. . .

At 55 years of age, I've been happily married for over 30 years, have two wonderful adult children who seem happy and content with life, a new granddaughter to brighten my moments, and friends enough to help me keep the measure of my life. I may not have everything I would like, but I like everything I have, and have learned that my level of serenity is not dependent on material goods or the opinions of others. As I discovered after years of tortured searching, if I keep my expectations and desires in check, I reap benefits far beyond what ever I dreamt of in less reserved times.

[Faygo Kid]

21. I want the Lions to win the Super Bowl.

Probably a better chance to be rich than that.

Actually, I will take decent health and be able to retire in just a few years as a goal.

[Spike89]

22. Enough never is for many people

It is always difficult to define the line between having "enough" and having somewhat more than that. I think most people would agree that private jet is slightly over the line, and anyone would see solid gold doors as over the line. The thing is, get into the real differentiations of wealth and the disagreements can be surprising. For example, food--is it enough to be able to avoid hunger, or is enough mean not having to budget for food? Same with clothes--is it enough to be warm outside in December, or do you need to be able to dress with some style? Some people think a "dependable" car is enough, others think a new Lexus every other year is what a non-rich person should be able to expect.

I have friends that struggle to keep a rented roof over their heads, but really think they have it somewhat good. Another friend owns a pretty nice "suburban farm" (about 15 acres, large house, barn, trout pond, about a dozen head of angus) they also think they have it somewhat good. Both are pretty careful with their money and have to live within their means (i.e., they basically live paycheck to paycheck with only a little extra each month). We're talking about a 10X difference in household income. Most of my friends are closer to the first example and we do describe the more affluent guy as "rich" but we also know he really isn't.

The point is that "enough" is a moving target and the reality of our society is that you've got to be way up in the top reaches before you get into the obvious conspicuous consumption range. Another reality is that even in the solid middle and upper middle classes, there is little security that you can keep your family there. I know it is hard for those of us lower down the ladder to muster sympathy, but until you can buy those solid gold mansion doors, you really aren't in a secure position.

[AnArmyVeteran]

26. I commend you, but the right wing would condemn you.

The right wing believes monetary wealth equals success. If a person is poor they are losers, drug addicts and homeless. Yet right wingers day they are God's people while those with real values are somehow evil. If Jesus returned today they would nail him to the cross again because they oppose all of his teachings.

I'd rather be totally poor and have compassion and empathy that wealthy and have no heart.

[reggie the dog]

49. using drugs is a good way to forget how horribly poor you are

but most republicans think it is drug use which causes poverty....

[USArmyParatrooper]

27. I'm not going to lie, I would love to be rich eom

[David__77]

29. I want an affluent life for ALL humanity!

That requires economic development, education, cultural and ideological progress. I am firmly committed to supporting that. While we may not all get there at the same time, we must rein in international and domestic economic polarization, one of the greatest sources of social instability.

[JI7]

30. i would like to be rich but i wouldn't want a private jet, ferrari or mansion

i would want the money to travel around the world . go to places like antarctica even.

[Codeine]

32. Almost nobody can have a career about which they are passionate.

Most of what needs to be done on this planet is just crappy, hard work. The notion that people are entitled to a fulfilling and enriching employment experience is silly on the face of it.

And the coffee shop thing? You can have that tonight if you haul your butt down to one. I'm not sure what your concern is there -- coffee shops are a dime a dozen.

On the other stuff I agree completely.

[hfojvt]

46. but that's the American dream

that's why we goto college, so we can have fulfilling careers that pay well, while other saps who didn't goto college have to do all the nasty jobs.

Of course, that tends to not work when too many people goto college, because then there are not nearly enough good jobs for all the college graduates.

I think the coffee shop was just mentioned to make the point that friends and social time are also important to the good life.

[reggie the dog]

51. youve got it all wrong

going to college just means you are more likely to use your body less at work, being a heating technician can be fulfilling, you arrive, a family is cold, you repair the heater and they are warm and it gives you a warm happy feeling to know that you resolved a problem for that family. you work in a factory making cars but are well paid, have benefits, and have several weeks paid vacation and you are happy to provide other people with cars.

you clean office buildings but take pride in knowing that your work makes life bearable for the other worker bees who use the office during the day

so long as those other worker bees respect you and your work you can easily take pride in what you do

all our work is part of a long chain.


it is all important

[Tace]

58. Bravo!

Well said!

Before enlightenment, there is laundry. After enlightenment, there is laundry.

[hfojvt]

65. I guess it could work that way

in some fantasy land.

"so long as ..." Yeah, that does not happen in the real world. And the other part is that they can say they respect you all they want and be friendly and even learn your name, but they are not gonna pay the office cleaner 1/10th of what the average office worker gets paid. Nor are they gonna give her health insurance or paid vacations.

Neither am I working as a janitor because I think it is so fulfilling to provide clean urinals and trash liners for people who cannot figure out that a plastic trash bag is not water-proof. I am doing that job because I could not find or get a better one and because I have been passed over 6 times for a promotion.

I notice you sorta left out the people who are unskilled and/or low paid. "you work in a factory making cars but are well paid, have benefits."

I worked in an auto parts factory. I was not really well paid, although $7.15 an hour was more than my previous $5.50 as a janitor. My fingers were blistered and my arm hurt. I had to work for a whole year before I would get a whopping 5 days of vacation.

[reggie the dog]

50. a dime a dozen in the netherlands

we are still waiting on that vote in california, at least that it what i understood from "coffeeshop"

and why cant you be passionate about being a carpenter??? my father is a mechanic and loves his job, he gets dirty and whatnot but he loves his work. The notion that people are entitled to a fulfilling employment experience is normal. Hell what is wrong with being a roofer and loving your job and liking the idea that your roof will keep a family dry and warm over the winter? hard work can be very fulfilling you know; teaching is not easy yet i find it very fulfilling.

[Codeine]

70. I didn't pick up that he was talking about a place where you can smoke weed.

I guess that's a more likely option.

[Greyhound]

63. You would think that, but it isn't true.

My father worked for Waste Management, he really enjoyed driving the trucks and picking up the trash, but he had to get out of the trucks to make any money, so he was forced to give up what he liked to do something he hated for over ten years for the money.

Teachers have to go into administration to get ahead, the USPS custodian one of the most sought after positions in the service. Lots of people love agriculture and working their asses off in the hot sun is something they (mysteriously) enjoy.

Our problem is in the comparative value we place on various professions based on completely arbitrary 'values'.

Two things; If we're all equal, then we are all equally valuable. And there are no easy jobs.

[strawberryfield]

34. Being rich isn't my main goal, but...

I almost hate to admit this, but what drives me most is wining. Ever since I was young, I have been fiercely competitive at everything I do. If I put any energy into something, I just can't let anybody beat me at it. This has been the central factor in my career choices. To a certain extent, money has become a facilitator of what I am trying to accomplish, as well as a way of keeping score. This is really not about material things at all. I live extremely modestly for my income, and do not really desire much more than what I have now in terms of lifestyle. But I am driven to accomplish far more in my career. If I had 6 weeks of vacation time, I would devote a sizable portion of it to acquiring skills and knowledge that I could leverage in my career.

[SocialistLez]

35. I'm with you minus the wife and kids.

[FormerDittoHead]

36. No way. We have to continue to pay for our military! Otherwise, you could have all of that.

Imagine what it would be like to dedicate 1.49 TRILLION every year to something besides taking that money, digging a hole the size of a mountain and burying it.

ref: http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm

I will say that we should have SOME kind of national defense, in line with Russia or China. That would mean that instead of paying out 1.49 TRILLION every year, we would pay something like $150 billion. (1/10th what we spend)

The point is that the military is what is bringing down this country, and if we took the same money and put it to other things (even lower some taxes!), we could be living "in Europe"...

[RandomThoughts]

41. Yea, never really wanted the luxury things myself.

And not wanting them allowed me to do many things in life, and even be nice in many places. I think that is true for most people.

And without those wants, they could not control me.

So then they took away social and economics by smear, so that I would not be around people to be nice to, and then taunt with the comments or taunting of not having what I should have.


I think wanting is normal and not bad if in moderation, not wanting is complete capitulation to where every you are and wrong, it seems to be a way to establish some control. 'Not wanting' should be not wanting enough to cause strife in feeling, but enough to keep your dreams and find a way to make them happen.


And I am still due beer and travel money, and many good experiences and they will pay.

[akbacchus_BC]

43. Your wants are very reasonable? Are you on your way to achieving them?

If we pay into pension plans and unemployment insurance, you are darn right, we expect to get benefits but those benefits would not last for more than six months.

How are you planning to achieve your goals?

[reggie the dog]

47. I dont want to be rich

but i dont want to have to work, with cannabis being illegal my new idea on survival is to grow about 10 pounds of reefer for sale each year and try to make 15 grand off of it to live on, by the way i live in a country with single payer health care for all so i will have health care.

no more work

no more commute

small risk of getting busted as i deal with friends who have been my dealers for years

but alas a flood ruined my crop this year


next year we shall see.....

basically you sprout in march,

plant in the woods in early may

water some in july and august,

harvest and dry in september

sell in october

nov dec jan feb you are on vacation, but hell it is not that much work once you get the holes dug

plus as a business trip i am obliged to drive to the netherlands to get seeds :)

[quaker bill]

52. Good for you

because, if you are not rich already, the statistical chances of becoming truly rich in this country are pretty slim. It is far, far less likely than most people imagine.

[HughBeaumont]

53. Peace of mind, in other words.

Rich would be nice. Peace of mind would be more realistic.

Unfortunately, in Milton Friedman, Republican-batshit 'Murka, what used to be considered the "Standard" is now all of a sudden a "privilege". Living wage? "Privilege". Health care? "Privilege". Groceries? "Privilege". Pension? "Fiction". Retirement? "Optional". Vacation? "Privilege".

"AH don't wants gubmint t'run ANUHthin'!!!1!1!!!" Yes, let's have corporations running everything instead. As the last 30 years can show, SURELY that's the better plan. :eyes:

[BoneDaddy]

54. I want to live simply and safely

and enjoy a good life. I don't have tremendous ambitions for things or status. Just a sweet existence.

[chillspike]

57. #4 would be nice

but i could do without having an "employer" hovering over me the rest of my life. i'm not afraid of a little poverty in exchange for my freedom.

[AnArmyVeteran]

59. When we want more than we need we enter the rhelm of greed.

All most people want is to live modestly and feeling secure. That is not asking for much. As soon as we begin to feel we need to have more than the basics we enter the world of greed. I'm not talking about an occasional night out to go to the movies or to eat at a restaurant. We should be entitled to some pleasures in life. But I don't understand the lust for massive accumulation of expensive possessions and vaults full of money. I don't understand those who equate success with monetary wealth.

I don't have to look any further than the boundaries of my own family to see the stark contrast between the selfish and the charitable. My older brother and sister are right wing republicans. They are both devout Christians too. But they didn't spend a moment of their time or a penny from their pockets to help their mom, dad and little brother when they each became sick and frail. My older siblings are monetarily wealthy, but their hearts are bankrupt. I have always lived a life of modest means but I gladly opened my heart and all that I own to help my sick mother, father and little brother when they needed someone the most. While many look at my older siblings as 'successes' I know the truth. I'd rather be poor with a heart, than rich with no soul.

[Enrique]

60. they will call you un-American for that

what they want is for everyone from the top to the bottom to strive for something that only a few people can have, and which doesn't really have much value to most people anyway. They want to discredit those simple goals of yours as un-American because they don't lead you to enslaving yourself to them.

[NeedleCast]

62. I would say, instead, that Richness is not defined by wealth.

[Recursion]

67. Ecclesiastes 5:12-17

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

[NNN0LHI]

68. I want to wake up every morning and say to myself, "boy, am I glad to be going to 'work' today".

That is not a job in my book. That would be something more like going out clubbing or something. Not a job. If jobs were like the way you described them we would pay them to allow us to come to work. Not the other way around.

A job is simply a vehicle to get to retirement. Then when we are retired, as I am, you get to wake up every morning, and say boy I am glad not to be going to 'work' today".

Think you have this backwards.

Don

[Codeine]

71. You're right.

I remind my crew whenever they complain about the nature of grocery retail "If we loved our job they wouldn't have to pay us to do it."

[qb]

69. Me either. Besides, it sucks being rich...

just listen to how unhappy all of the whiny billionaires are. ;-)

[Cal33]

73. Of significance is, are the average rich any happier

than the average middle-class people? There are happy rich people, of course, but not
those who are trying to get ever more and more -- even at the expense of shortening
other people's lives, if not actually causing their deaths. Example: 40,000+
Americans die per year because they can't afford medical treatment.

The very fact that they are trying to get more and mor regardless of the consequences
to other people, shows that they suffer from some deep dissatisfaction within themselves.
And gaining more materially does not change anything within themselves. They don't
know this, and keep on repeating the same attempts at solution -- attempts that are
followed by no good results.