So lets here it minglers. How is your quality of life? what do you do for a liveing? Are you makeing it in this economy? I am interested in what you do for a liveing and how you feel your prospects are for the next year. Are you saveing for retirenment?

Do you expect things to get worse or better for you personaly?
Do you have insurence and how much do y ou pay?

Please keep it non partisan and stay on the facts.

I am a CNC Lathe operator and have worked for the same company for almost 19 years.

I expect things in my life to be about the same as long as we dont have a major economic meltdown.

that said I am about two paychecks away from being broke and can afford some extras and have a retirnment from work.

Rate of pay 23.07 an hour.

one 19 year old in collage

One 17 year old I get less than a hundred a month in child support.

3 cars to maintain and two cats.

3 bedroom house on slightly less than an acre.

owe slightly less than the market value

This could be interesting and a good insight into how we are all doing.

when I am working, I work in administrative/clerical

I am struggling at this point when it is an employers market and those with 'degrees' and 'references' are most sought after

I have used my unemployment time to attain an associates degree in education which I intend to pursue into a bachelors and I expect to improve my chances in the future of finding a substantial and secure career

I only have medicaid at the moment, which is paid for by taxpayers like myself

I have never not been a paycheck away from being broke, and dont really have many extras or a retirement

rate of pay 12.50 per hour

one 18 year old in college and one four year old, no child support

one car to maintain, no pets

4 bedroom home (co leased with mother)

rent instead of own, so we dont 'owe' beyond the current months rent

Thank you for your responce. I suppose I am just trying to figure out if the american dream is dead.

I know my postition is precariouse and am clinging to the edge of middle class.

Lacking any formal education myself I know my future is tied to my company.

I would never ever find a job with my pay or benefits if something bad happens there.

knocking on wood

I dont think its dying, I just think it has to be redefined.

I think we need to get away from the 'merit' philosophy that dictated that those who deserve it or work hard for it will get it.

Its more honest to lean toward the philosophy that working 'smart' is what leads down the path to your dream, not working hard or being deserving,,just working SMART.

knowing who and where and when to network, knowing which credentials are preferred in your area of interest and earning those,,,


knowing how competitive your are of interest is and learning which things will make you 'stand out' from the rest of competition


most working class and poor people are 'working hard',, and none of them are any less 'deserving' than anyone else

they just have not been taught to work 'smart'

Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess
Or has it ever come down to do or die
You've got to rise above the rest
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
that's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward,
I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was,
I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go
I might be a cowards,
I'm afraid of what I might find out
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get


The Mighty Mighty Bosstones performing The Impression That I Get
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIGMUAMevH0&NR=1

I expect a major economic meltdown is in the near future due to these people.you cant fix what aint broke.capitalism leading to socialism leading to fascism.and this isnt just america it will be the way of the world.the same fall happened in rome. breaking down moral codes and raising taxes to leave the people dependent on government seems to work every time.

Smash Mouth - Walkin' On The Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQj--Kjn0z8&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKeq7ss4hUU

kewl lyrics, I also love phil collins another day in paradise

She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"

He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there

Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise

She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been crying
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
Can't walk but she's trying

Oh think twice...

Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do
Oh lord, there must be something you can say

You can tell from the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
'Cos she didn't fit in there

Oh think twice...

"Walkin' On The Sun"

It ain't no joke I'd like to buy the world a toke
And teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
And teach the world to snuff the fires and the liars
Hey I know it's just a song but it's spice for the recipe
This is a love attack I know it went out but it's back.
It's just like any fad it retracts before impact
And just like fashion it's a passion for the with it and hip
If you got the goods they'll come and buy it just to stay in the clique

[Chorus:]
So don't delay act now supplies are running out
Allow if you're still alive six to eight years to arrive
And if you follow there may be a tomorrow
But if the offer is shun you might as well be walkin' on the sun

Twenty-five years ago they spoke out and they broke out
Of recession and oppression and together they toked
And they folked out with guitars around a bonfire
Just singin' and clappin' man what the hell happened
Then some were spellbound some were hellbound
Some they fell down and some got back up and
Fought back 'gainst the melt down
And their kids were hippie chicks all hypocrites
Because fashion is smashin' the true meaning of it

[Repeat Chorus]

It ain't no joke when a mama's handkerchief is soaked
With her tears because her baby's life has been revoked
The bond is broke up so choke up and focus on the close up
Mr. Wizard can't perform no godlike hocus-pocus
So don't sit back kick back and watch the world get bushwhacked
News at 10:00 your neighborhood is under attack
Put away the crack before the crack puts you away
You need to be there when your baby's old enough to relate

His old partner Peter Gabriel.

"Don't Give Up"

in this proud land we grew up strong
we were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

no fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
but no one wants you when you lose

don't give up
'cos you have friends
don't give up
you're not beaten yet
don't give up
I know you can make it good

though I saw it all around
never thought I could be affected
thought that we'd be the last to go
it is so strange the way things turn

drove the night toward my home
the place that I was born, on the lakeside
as daylight broke, I saw the earth
the trees had burned down to the ground

don't give up
you still have us
don't give up
we don't need much of anything
don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
where we belong

rest your head
you worry too much
it's going to be alright
when times get rough
you can fall back on us
don't give up
please don't give up

'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
going to stand on that bridge
keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river's flowing
that river's flowing

moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs

don't give up
'cause you have friends
don't give up
you're not the only one
don't give up
no reason to be ashamed
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up now
we're proud of who you are
don't give up
you know it's never been easy
don't give up
'cause I believe there's the a place
there's a place where we belong

happily retired and traveling in my rv. everybody told me i was too youn to retire and didn't have enough assets. well you could fool me because i get by just fine. just a matter of getting rid of many things i'd told myself for years i could never do without. sorry for those of you having hard times. i saw it comming and reached for the ejection handle. best decision of my life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9lv_WqK6k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMW7YjrJ-Ag

I must've dreamed a thousand dreams
Been haunted by a million screams
But I can hear the marching feet
They're moving into the street

Now did you read the news today
They say the danger's gone away
But I can see the fire's still alight
There burning into the night

There's too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can't you see this is a land of confusion?

Well this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

Ooh, Superman where are you now
When everything's gone wrong somehow?
The men of steel, the men of power
Are losing control by the hour

This is the time, this is the place
So we look for the future
But there's not much love to go round
Tell me why, this is a land of confusion

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

I remember long ago when the sun was shining
Yes, and the stars were bright all through the night
And the sound of your laughter as I held you tight, so long ago

I won't be coming home tonight
My generation will put it right
We're not just making promises
That we know, we'll never keep

Too many men, there's too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can't you see, this is a land of confusion?

Now this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for
This is the world we live in

This is the world we live in
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to

I just scrape by each month but no complaints here, I know it can be worse than this. I have been there and done that.

I have noted that the extreme right of mingle, havent posted here.

I have noted that most are underemployed that are from the right and I have to speculate they are to ashamed to post their income or job status.

They continualy rage against the nanny state yet are themselves wards of the state.

Not in all cases but far more than one would expect.


or are many of these right wingers simply right wing sock puppets employed by the right? as in this case.

Makes one wonder who is real and who is a sock puppet.

A notorious New Jersey hate blogger charged in June with threatening to kill judges and lawmakers was secretly an FBI “agent provocateur” paid to disseminate right-wing rhetoric, his attorney said Wednesday.

Hal Turner, the blogger and radio personality, remains jailed pending charges over his recent online rants, which prosecutors claim amounted to an invitation for someone to kill Connecticut lawmakers and Chicago federal appeals court judges.

But behind the scenes the reformed white supremacist was holding clandestine meetings with FBI agents who taught him how to spew hate “without crossing the line,” according to his lawyer, Michael Orozco.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/08/lawyer-fbi-paid-right-wing-blogger-charged-with-threats/

I can't believe that there are people paid to stir things up, but I know there is. Government needs an enemy in order to convince people they are needed.

Myself, by the normal standards, I would be below poverty level. I have life insurance but no health insurance so I just try to stay healthy. I don't work because I take care of my parents. My Dad has Alzheimer's.

The property is in my name so I pay no rent. I sell my tarot cards via the Internet, do process service, an occasional oil portrait or painting sale. I actually make more money than your average minimum wage worker so even if I had time to work one of those jobs, I wouldn't. I work for myself.

Well I got back in the US about a month ago and am job hunting. I got contacted for a job by a recruiter for a defense contractor and he is submitting me for 2 positions. One in Portland and one in Iowa. I want the Portland one. The pay would be 39/hr (both) so I hope to get one. I have a large amount in savings. I could live off it for a year if I needed to I bet but as it stands I don't need to touch it. I think it can only get better for me as I am job hunting so it doesn't really get worse lol.

ok i'll bite. if you claim that MOST folks on the extreme right are underemployed that implies more than fifty percent. so what is the number of uneremployed from the extreme right and what is the number of others underemployed. just the actual numbers, i'll do my own math to determine which is MOST.

I have often wondered how my life would be without children and a years worth of income in the bank sounds about right if not more.


But for someone who is against big government you sure make a nice liveing off of it.

I am only against what I feel the government should not be responsible for. Defense of a nation is the responsibility of our government. Its even in the preamble. (provide for the common defense). I am proud to be a part of a team that helps keep our soldiers safe.

huh? could it be that he makes a good living because he works hard and is good at what he does? ya think? jeez.