Neither a liar, or lucky. Just smart.
"Neither a borrower nor a lender be" is from Shakespeare, and good words to live by. If you have to finance it, you don't need it yet. Wait until you can pay cash. Never had a 401K, or any kind of retirement program or pension. Stopped working for other people when I was 25. Never had money out there in investments, long enough to lose it. Worked through the 80s, 90s early "oughts," watching indeed folks make and lose fortunes, while I just patiently and silently collected offal.
When I had enough collected to satisfy my needs, I stopped. Now, I just play. Made $15 grand last week, playing.
Example of how this all happened: I have a marketable skill, can modernize machines and processes, to the great benefit of the companies who hire me. What might cost me $8000 to do to a machine, I would charge $40K for, since a new machine that could do what this modernized one now can do, would run them $80-120K. Simple really, they got a great bargain and I got the vig. Do this for ten years, leaving them smiling and glad you came around, and you will amass wealth that's not at risk.
Now, in my late 40s I can sit back and play little speculative games in the markets, pocketing nice little profits in penny-ante deals, and just smile. I have no debt, owe nobody anything, and take care of living expenses which are meager, with aplomb.
You know, I have an 11 year-old Ford pickup truck with 120,000 miles on it, and no desire ever to get a new one. This truck hasn't given me any trouble, not so much as even a flat tire. It doesn't have a scratch on it, and people still ask me if it's a new truck. I have a nice boat, ATVs, a big plasma TV with 900 watt Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, an acre of land with a decent but not extravagant house, and property taxes are low here. I mean, it's not rocket science.
The accumulation of wealth wasn't my driving force in life. Getting what I wanted was. I never wanted or needed much. Independence and security was all, and I have that now.
I DO in fact feel for the rich folks, and all the ones with 401K's and retirement plans gone south. It's tough noogies for them, but I am insulated. But hell, this is nothing new. I saw it happen in the 80s and 90s too.
Hate and envy "rich" folks like me all you want, but keep in mind there's a difference between rich, and wealthy.
I don't hate people like you. In a way, I am just like you. I don't have a lot of debt, my home is almost paid off, I HAD a lot in savings and I have the boat, motorcycle, I go on trips, etc.
I think YOU hate the middle class. Do you? What about the person that lost their job because it went overseas? I know a lot of Ford Hourly workers who live the exact same lifestyle you live. 30 years and out with a pension and healthcare.
I don't understand why you don't think that's possible in the future? Why can't factory line workers live the American dream too? See, people like you are ok with killing the middle class. So tell me why? Just because corporations tell you it isn't realistic, doesn't mean it is true. Ford and GM were profitable in 1999. What changed?
Were you jealous that factory union workers were able to live the same dream you are living? I didn't mind. Why do you hate them?
I'm a salesperson, and I do quite well. But not as well as I would in a good economy, and I blame the GOP for this economy. When they sent all the manufacturing jobs out of the country and put thousands of people out of work, it lowered all of our wages.
Couldn't you make just as good $ in a good economy? Or do companies only use you in a bad economy?
YOU, are not the source of my anger. Bernie Maydoff, Bush, Enron execs, Oil Execs, Mortgage companies that made money bundling mortgages and suckered a lot of people into sub primes they knew they couldn't afford, the people who own the Federal Reserve, the GOP leaders like Chaney & Delay who deregulated everything so that corporations could pollute so to maximize profits, CEO's that took $20 million dollar bonus' while their companies went under, or CEO's that took $20 million because their company went overseas and so they made a profit by putting Americans out of work and lowering wages. Did you do any of that? Then I don't hate you. Do you defend these things? Then that might be why you think I hate you, because then I think you are a selfish prick. Are you?
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. I "hate" the people who ruined America for the middle class. Can everyone do what you do? Can all the people struggling now find work like you do? Then what about them? FDR cared about them. He was even called a traitor to his class. Just like I think all the broke republicans on this site are traitors to their class. They won't wake up until it happens to them.
So I always tell people, if you are a republican, its either because you are ignorant, greedy or racist, or a combination of all three.
I put you in the greedy category. I don't know enough about you to figure out if you are ignorant and racist, but I'm sure I'll find out soon.
You're completely confused. For one thing, I am not a republican. You might find a thread about me on this somewhere here, where I freely discuss my stances and clear up ignorant, confused assumptions.
I believe ALL folks should earn what they wish and be able to enjoy it. I don't play the class warfare game. Lower, middle, upper-middle, upper, none of that rings any bell to me at all.
Were I greedy, I would still be taking those contracts to do what I do, and making obscene profits doing so. Know what I do instead? I refer these customers when they call me to a young protege whom I trained and worked with, who now does what I used to. That's my version of "spreading the wealth around" but see, he
earns his money just like I did.
Folks who worked their tails off for companies and who now collect pensions, bonuses, "legacy" medical coverage, and etc? More power to them I say. There's more than one way to skin a cat!
The important thing is, decide young what you want out of the rat race and how best to get it and get out of the race as soon as possible. It doesn't have to be millions. And never take foolish risks with your wealth. Greed leads to this more than anything else.
Oh, I thought you were a republican. I was going to point out that you are greedy if you feel that you pay too much in taxes when apparently, you make plenty more than enough to pay a little more if it means "labor" can pay a little less.
Because the masses, the people making $40K, are the ones paying too much in taxes.
And you seem to be suggesting that the rest of us who are struggling, who do have house payments, who are in debt, who did lose on their 401K's, who's homes did go down in value, you seem to be suggesting that we don't work hard. Because you brag about the one person who will carry on your work. That's not spreading the wealth, that's passing on your wealth to your kid and trying to keep your fortune all in the family.
It doesn't work that way. Thomas Jefferson said the reason we pay a death tax is because a man's accumilated wealth can be dangerous to democracy. He passes it on to his kid tax free, and his kid does the same, so on and so on, until they are simply too rich for democracy.
So anyways, that's getting off point. If you are not a Republican, then why am I arguing with you?
But as for not buying into class warefare? You have the luxury of not having to. And trust us, from where we are, class warefare is going on. It may not behoove you to admit it, but it does exist.
Did you hear Kramer last night? We were right. The bankers did crash this economy on purpose. Exactly what we said.
Now do what Ron Paul says to do, end the Federal Reserve. Those bankers have taken over our country.
I don't hate you, you worked and earned what you have. They have pitted you and I against each other. Of course the government should spend less. End the Federal Reserve and get your wish. Of course we should pay less in taxes. End the Federal Reserve and get your wish.
Right now, you and I are seeing the worst plundering of a nations wealth in the history of civilization all led by the out of control Federal Reserve.
If you and I dont act today, Im afraid this crisis will end with the economic ruin of every man, woman and child in the United States.
Just think about the scope of the problem for a minute: The Fed pumps trillions of dollars in fiat currency into a system already overloaded by the massive amount of dollars committed to the economic bailouts in recent months.
This TOTALS:
More than the socialist New Deal...
More than the entire Iraq debacle...
More than the 1980s savings and loan mess...
More than the Korean War...
COMBINED.
Where will it all end?
Its time you and I put a stop to an out of control Federal Reserve. And Ron Paul has a bill before Congress to do just that.
Thats why its vital you fill out your personal "Audit the Fed" petition in support of Congressman Pauls bill.
Today, $9.7 TRILLION in taxpayer dollars in bailouts and loans have been agreed to by Congress, the Bush and Obama Treasury Departments, and the Federal Reserve.
Poll after poll shows the American people are fed up and are ready for fresh leadership to make their voices heard in Washington.
That means its a perfect time to unleash the Ron Paul R3VOLUTION on the out of control Fed!
Please complete this petition urging your Congressman to cosponsor and a seek roll-call vote on Ron Pauls Audit the Fed Bill -- the first step toward ENDING THE FEDERAL RESERVE once and for all!
As I know youre aware, the Federal Reserves inner-workings are shrouded in secrecy, and their meetings are off-limits to the public.
Just recently, the Federal Reserve told Congress NO WAY when asked to account for TWO TRILLION DOLLARS in taxpayer-backed loans!
Well, why do you think they refused?
They know coming clean with Congress and the American people on how they doled out those two TRILLION dollars would result in an anti-Fed firestorm.
So can you imagine the impact of a full-scale audit?
Wrong again. BTW, everyone's home value is down. 
