patrick.net

Troy,

I disagree. It doesn't have to be so. People can live within their means.

For decades, my partner and I never traded more than a third of our income for housing, nor did we have any gimmicks like inheriting a legacy home nor getting a SIlicon Valley stock windfall: instead we just "bought" what we could afford. It is the reason we are both salaried folks in Cool and Hip departments of Cool and Hip tech companies living in East San Jose.

If a stock windfall ever did come along, it would have been stashed for college savings, emergency unemployment funds, that sort of thing. Not for household operating expenses which should always come from wages (or for retired folks, investment/annuity income).

We both know colleagues and former colleagues like ourselves who don't stretch themselves to pay for housing +childcare, we are out there. You just don't notice us because we don't call attention to ourselves, except perhaps to get slightly derisive "advice" about where to live, what kind of car to buy. Also know a fair number of former colleagues with similar "horse sense" who've said "f**k this" and left the area, because living Cool and Hip in The Fortress with Fortress Pricing (+childcare) meant exceedingly high portion of wages traded for housing (+child care), and alternatively living modestly in more modest housing was, well, "I didn't go to university to live like that".

Others slogging away at lower wage jobs can also limit the portion of their income for housing by doubling up, etc., which several of the folks on the street where Iive are doing now.

sybrib says

For decades, my partner and I never traded more than a third of our income for housing, nor did we have any gimmicks like inheriting a legacy home nor getting a SIlicon Valley stock windfall: instead we just “bought” what we could afford. It is the reason we are both salaried folks in Cool and Hip departments of Cool and Hip tech companies living in East San Jose

Certainly goes against the grain (the Hype and Myth in SV) since many (recent migrants from the East Coast) only think Tech People are only Cool and Hip Stanford grads (no Nerds) raking in high salaries/stock options and dont live in East SJ, or other Non-fortress cities.

1/3 is about right. For those like yourself who worked in SV for decades most likely understand how quickly the better times can turn against you. So being a uber-saver and living in with in your means makes sense. My hates off to you! :)

thomas,

It is more than just the money. Neighborhoods outside The Fortress are more real, the people are more real, their kids are more real. Makes it easier for local-yokel podunks like us to see the big picture and make personal choices since we're grounded out here in The Real World.

Nomograph says

CBOEtrader says

Free drugs=good. Free food=bad. Ain’t that interesting logic.

Elderly folks on Medicare worked and paid taxes their entire lives. They lived through a time with a MUCH higher tax structure than you currently enjoy. They paid for the hospital you were born in, the schools you attended, the building you work in, the roads you drive on, and the city you live in.
How do you equate that to “free drugs”? They paid their own way, and yours too.

Off-topic fight picking dribble. Par for the course for Patrick.net's largest troll: Nomo.

The discussion was about the hypocrisy of the Republicans, who claim that the government is the wrong entity for social handouts--unless they need to buy florida votes in a tight presidential race. The discussion was not about which social programs are justified , and which ones aren't.

However, anyone who claims to be a medical professional should understand that the $1.5 trillion from medicare part D was just a handout to big pharma more than it was about helping the elderly.

I highly doubt you are who you claim to be.

Nice try though. Fucking troll.

Nomograph says

CBOEtrader says

Fucking troll.

No thanks, but I appreciate the offer. In any case, I’m probably to old and stretched out for you.
It would be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

Oh my! I never knew you were so cavernous, Nomo. :o

It still astounds me that American society has degenerated so far in terms of civic responsibility since WWII.

It truly seems to me like nearly every layer of American society goes along with the program of the Uber-Corporations. Which seems to be that the Middle Class is merely another source of fuel to mine to keep the boiler going. Once it's depleted, then what?

This is starting to get interesting: On Sunday, Boehner said he would support renewing tax cuts for the middle class but not the wealthy if that was his only choice. Class warfare, this will be fun. I bet the Dems can hold the high ground.

Now there is a guy who has a grip on reality... whoa... But sadly much of it has truth in it,