Everyone's Aim of Mediocracy

[troy_trinity]

now this is not reffering to anything bodybuilding etc.

But it seems to me everyone lately is aiming for the simple boring life.

As kids most are taught being successful in life means having a somewhat decent job, getting a house, getting married and having kids.

Like what happened to everyone's goals of actually doing something exciting and having money and having fun and living life in the fast lane?

All I hear about from other people is how they work so hard and this and that and how they are broke... Like honestly wtf would anyone want to live this way?

It's been over the past few months that I've really noticed this... And I thought I wanted the same thing but now I'm noticing I really don't. Why on earth does anyone want to wake up every morning say "**** my life" and head off to make 70k a year... It's beyond me...

As friends grow older and get into more serious relationships it's amazing too- you start to hear from them less and they basically get their nads cut off and get married and then you don't see them anymore because they have no money and no time...

I don't know - all this stuff has just been really getting to me lately... Some people have told me I need to grow up and start realizing the way shit is in the real world- but I really can't stand the thought of that- I want to live life ffs.

BTW- this wasn't directed at putting anyone down. Just something I've been needing to get out.

[waderow]

its not easy getting rich. If it was, everyone would be doing it. Plus, the government doesnt want us rich, so they do their part with taxes to keep us poor and down

[gicantor]

Dude everyone has has dream and aspirations, but the fact is you may never achieve everything you want. Do you have a real job yet or go to school? Do you live with your parents? Once you get a mortgage, car payments, married, have kids etc you get up and go to you dead end job because you have to and it pays the bills.

Don't get me wrong I would love to be the next bruce willis, make millions and **** demi moore in her prime, but it's not going to happen.

Most rich people are brought up rich and their parents have to connections and money to make sure they get the best in life.

And yes the government is working damn hard to keep you poor.

[Thorgrim]

I understand completely what you are saying Troy. This sort of thing has really been on my mind lately. Drives me nuts. I have been working to change my lifestyle. It isn't all about making more money either.

This whole middle class lifestyle is a frigging joke in my mind, we have all been fed a bunch of propaganda BS due to Public education and the media mainly and it is all lies.

What exactly do you get for being average? It is like being stuck in quicksand or mud. You put in a lot of energy and where does it get you? Nowhere. You go to work day after day, make some money, pay your taxes, your rent or mortgage, insurance, car payments, cable etc. You wake up five years later and realize you are in the exact same situation you were in, no progress. For what? A dream of retirement when you are old and have used up all your good years working for the man? A retirement that likely won't even materialize given the shape of the world and the risk that even if the money is somehow there you could die of illness or injury before you get a chance to enjoy yourself.

And this is what we strive for?! It is a frigging joke. It doesn't benefit us. It benefits the government through steady and predictable income tax collection. It benefits the bankers by having us all in debt for stuff we don't really need, working to make payments month after month. It benefits big business who also rely on us for their steady income streams. It doesn't benefit us though. We put in our time and energy and the fruits are bled off to the benefit of the elite. We are "human resources" after all.

I have to go work out but I'll give some more input on what I think about this whole situation when I get back. Great topic of discussion.

[gicantor]

This whole middle class lifestyle is a frigging joke in my mind, we have all been fed a bunch of propaganda BS due to Public education and the media mainly and it is all lies.

What exactly do you get for being average? It is like being stuck in quicksand or mud. You put in a lot of energy and where does it get you? Nowhere. You go to work day after day, make some money, pay your taxes, your rent or mortgage, insurance, car payments, cable etc. You wake up five years later and realize you are in the exact same situation you were in, no progress. For what? A dream of retirement when you are old and have used up all your good years working for the man? A retirement that likely won't even materialize given the shape of the world and the risk that even if the money is somehow there you could die of illness or injury before you get a chance to enjoy yourself.

And this is what we strive for?! It is a frigging joke. It doesn't benefit us. It benefits the government through steady and predictable income tax collection. It benefits the bankers by having us all in debt for stuff we don't really need, working to make payments month after month. It benefits big business who also rely on us for their steady income streams. It doesn't benefit us though. We put in our time and energy and the fruits are bled off to the benefit of the elite. We are "human resources" after all.


Welcome to life. My generation probably won't even have a retirement. CPP will run out of money by then. I plan on working till I'm dead and enjoying my money now. The only thing I save for retirement is what work puts away for me. The rest gets spent cause I could die tommorrow.

[agingtechie]

I guess most of us lift weight to challenge life's limits? I like to fly airplanes too. Nothing better then a new PR or the thrill of surviving a blast of wind shear 50 feet from landing!

[PdH]

Mediocracy is a mediocre government or ruling group. The word you're looking for is mediocrity. Good spelling and grammar is essential for success. :)

[troy_trinity]

Mediocracy is a mediocre government or ruling group. The word you're looking for is mediocrity. Good spelling and grammar is essential for success. :)

I'm going to have to disagree on the basis that success= money :)

thanks for the spelling tip though- next time i'll forward my posts to you mr. professor before posting them :)

[treebuilder]

.....

[O-Train]

Mediocracy is a mediocre government or ruling group. The word you're looking for is mediocrity. Good spelling and grammar is essential for success. :)

See, now you've done something to deserve some green. Sympathy is not karma worthy. Although I don't think spelling and grammar is necessary. As technology improves people have to use their brain less and less.

My take on this is life happens, priorities change. It's like that pyramid of needs (I forget what exactly it's called). Plus most people are too lazy and/or stupid to make a lot of money.

[troy_trinity]

It's like that pyramid of needs (I forget what exactly it's called). Plus most people are too lazy and/or stupid to make a lot of money.

that would be called maslow's heirarchy of needs bro

[Thorgrim]

Seems like a lot of you think the way out of this situation is more money. I disagree, it is a trap.

If your income goes up the government will benefit more then you do. Sometimes it might work out but 90% of the time I bet it doesn't do anything to improve the situation. Most people if they they go from 50k a year to 100k will be doing well for a year or two but as soon as they get used to that level of income they will shoot themselves in the foot. They will get a bigger house, nicer car buy a whole bunch of crap and pretty soon they are caught in the mud again. Once you factor in taxes, and increased expenditures boosting income from 50k - 100k barely does anything.

I look at my possessions and the large majority of stuff is useless crap that brings me no happiness. I wish I could give all this stuff back and have the money but none of this stuff is worth anything because it is not new.

The real problem as I see it is that most people allow others to drain more of their time and energy off then they get to keep themselves.

For example, if you are an employee you are not getting paid what your time and effort is worth because your boss has to make money off of you. If you were losing your boss money you would be fired. If you are being paid $25 an hour you can bet you are worth at least $40, $50, $60 an hour or more to your boss. The solution? Be the boss. You have to be self employed or a business owner.

Then there is the government income tax. It siphons off a large % of your leftover productivity. 30% probably. Make more money and it might get even worse. Solution? Lower your income, at least what can be tracked and traced. This is very hard to do if you are an employee that is in debt because you will have to deposit money into banks and your employer is likely reporting your income anyway. Be your own boss, do business in cash. Other novel ways would be to trade and barter. Maybe you can provide a good or service to someone in return for something you need without exchanging money? This would improve your standard of living without increasing your tax burden.

Then there is banking and debt. How much of your productivity goes to pay the interest on your debt? Another vampire. Remember, this is being serviced with after tax income and you likely had half your productivity stolen by your employer to begin with. Solution? Carry no debt ever. What about a mortgage? Home ownership is another fantasy. The real owner is the government and you pay rent called property tax. Wait until you can buy cash or figure out another way to acquire land. Signing up for a mortgage is signing up to be a slave for 25-30 years.

There is lots more too, I could write a novel. Gas taxes, insurance, health plans, licensing fees, etc.

The reason why you feel like you are stuck in molasses in life and can't make any forward progress is that you have a shit load of parasites sucking off your productivity before you even get the rewards. Get rid of most of the blood suckers and you can live like a king on 50k a year. You will also reduce your stress level by a huge amount because you won't have to satisfy them all the time.