US is set to censor internet

[Monica]

I have to say I'm enjoying the resurrection of this topic here, as it was about a year ago in my 'Argh!' thead.

I resurrected that thread, since it so closely overlaps this one.

Enjoying because I am learning quite a bit, but I would please, please ask that before anyone posts again he or she take a deep breath and remember that we are One in the same, and what that One is is Love itself made manifest. Topics like these can lead to anger in a hurry and raise our gentle mind/body/spirit complexes' blood pressure. Just saying... Lets feel some love for each other first and foremost.

Great suggestion! As with other volatile topics that tend to push people's buttons because they do or do not engage in said behavior, please let's all remember to discuss ideas and concepts, rather than judge individuals.

And what of the average Joe seeking to increase his salary from $40k/year to $45k/year? Both sums are viewed as weath beyond imagining to some of the poorest people in the world- the same as how you are viewing the millionaire. With your reasoning Joe would be on the sts path as well as just about everyone. I think that's unsound logic.

I once got into a heated discussion with a co-worker about this very comparison. She was raised in a very affluent family, and she and her husband both had parents whom they could call upon if they ever needed financial assistance. In contrast, my husband and I were both raised poor, and had no one to turn to for financial assistance.

My co-worker insisted that wealthy people struggled financially just as much as poor people, because they had higher expenses. I asserted that they had more options, because they could always opt for a smaller house, less expensive car, forgo the big screen tv and European vacations, etc., whereas a family struggling to make ends meet can only cut so many corners. In an already lean budget, there just aren't many luxuries to eliminate, so then it becomes a question of "Pay the mortgage or buy groceries?" as opposed to the wealthy person having to choose between the new car or the European vacation. To compare their financial challenges would be like comparing survival vs mere inconvenience.

My co-worker disagreed, and then took the discussion to a new level: She insisted that a multi-millionaire suffers just as much, even financially, as a person living in poverty!!

I was incredulous!

This discussion reminded me of that long-age exchange, in which my co-worker and I never did reconcile our differences. I feel that a middle-class worker seeking to raise his standard of living just a bit, maybe plan for his children's college education, have a bit of a safety net in case of an unexpected big expense, etc. cannot even remotely be compared to someone who has extreme excess and seeks more and more excess, out of greed rather than need.

(Not saying you were doing that, Lavazza! I realize you were just asking the question.)