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Veteran
Posts: 103
| We absolutely have income inequality in this country. But mostly by our own choices. I choose to not go to college out of high school. My parents couldn't afford to send me, but I didn't have the interest to try and obtain my own financing. I was alright to just get a job. As a result I don't make what some of my friends who did go to college make. You know what that was my choice. Do I expect that they need to give me some of what they make? That is absolutely absurd! In this country what we have or don't have is a direct result of how hard we are willing to work. I don't know many but I do know a few multi-millionaires and they all have one thing in common. They worked their a** off. I'm talking about the self made ones. While I chose to get my 8 hr day in and go home, they were still at work and usually for 6 or 7 days a week. Don't buy in to this rhetoric coming out of Obamas mouth. This is just to make him sound like a bleeding heart for the poor and down trodden. He thinks he is appealing to the masses, but I think the ones out there affected by his redistribution of wealth would not be that many. Most of us fortunately, still get it. We have to get up, go to work and be responsible for our own lives. I don't have sympathy for those who don't get it. |
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 Dr. Ruth
Posts: 9891
   
Location: Blissfully happy Giants fan!!! | Amen. I actually have said the exact same thing to my husband. He says he doesn't make enough money that he wants to and then will start making excuses. I tell him I am not the one to say anything of the sort to. He has options and he knows he does and if he isn't going to go down those paths I don't want to hear it.
I was fortunate enough to get a college degree but I work my a$$ off for the job I have and I make pretty good money because I do. Eventually I am going to make double this and it will be because I put the time, effort, and work into it and I am willing to do what it takes to get me where I want to be. My husband knows this. And I am not as hard on him as it may seem. Partly because part of how I make as much money as I do is because we have to relocate for me to climb the ladder. We have already done it once. The time will come again. I forsee at least two more relocations in our long term future. I know it; he knows it. But we can live a good life because of it.
Anyways, off my soap box. This is a topic that always frustrates the crap out of me probably because I don't understand the mentality of those who think this way. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| i am going to toot my horn
i finished high school at 16 i left home @16 i got married divorced by 19 i rode racehorses for a living till i was about 25 met the father of my son
learned to drive a tractor trailer got divorced drove by myself met a guy won/t go any farther but he help get started in trucking met some agents that help me meet the right people but i had to make those calls i had to meet people sell my company sell my loads i worked 10 to 12 hrs a day easily there were time i paid phone bill
and we ate oatmeal but it paid off.. i was for years in the 80 and 90 making great money .
hard work yes but i do not want to share what i busted my rear for. i have no use for our system. it rewards people not trying but by the same token we don/t have any jobs we need to be a manufacturing country i would never had made it to college
ok i will get off my soap box
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 Voice of Reason
Location: NOT at Wal Mart | I have a degree, my husband doesn't, in fact he never set one foot inside a college. He makes 3 times what I make/made. Heck I just read where a waitress/waiter can make 6 figures! 
I know what your sayin, tho. |
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Veteran
Posts: 103
| That is great and I applaud you! College is not for everybody and you can make a good living without it out here in the country, IF you are willing to work hard.
One of the wealthiest men around where I live here in Texas, started with a few head of cattle and a few acres of land. 40 years later, he has thousands of cattle and acres of land. And I know how he did it. He was working daylight to dark, working cattle, raising and putting up hay and silage and corn and wheat. A whole lot of work went into him being sucessful. Some people think rich people are just lucky but I have found that the harder you work, the luckier you get. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | justcruzin - 2014-01-07 10:08 AM I have a degree, my husband doesn't, in fact he never set one foot inside a college. He makes 3 times what I make/made. Heck I just read where a waitress/waiter can make 6 figures! I know what your sayin, tho.
ETA: I think people who work hard should be rewarded. But since I do work in Corporate (HR at that), I realize that is not always the case. I have seen and experienced that "it's who you know" can give a bonus quicker than how hard you work. THAT is what ticks me off.
Edited by Murphy 2014-01-07 9:14 AM
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 The Non Sky Diver
Posts: 9004
Location: SE Louisiana | Oh please!!! Anyone that knows anything knows the government pays a fraction of what really smart people can make in the open market. That is why we are left with the dregs that nobody else will hire. |
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Veteran
Posts: 103
| That may be true, but I don't think they have the worry of their job shutting down or laying off. I make decent money working from home doing tech support work for a NE company providing tech support for government contracts. NOW, as of the failure of Obamacare, HE is considering creating a government branch to handle the tech issues of government programs. Boy, will that be a failure and how many people will it put out of work. And it won't be like my job, never know come contract renewal, if we will get awarded or not. It is based on our performance. If this becomes a government job, performance goes out the window and if a poor job is done, oh well, nobody is held accountable and nobody loses their job. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| This thread could go many directions...
With all this talk from certain groups about everyone "deserves" a college education a 4 year degree in the near future will be worthless or about the same equivalent as a high school diploma. You can see the writing on the wall, push these morons through college just like high school. Its cool though, we the tax payers foot the bill....
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Komet - 2014-01-07 9:14 AM Oh please!!! Anyone that knows anything knows the government pays a fraction of what really smart people can make in the open market. That is why we are left with the dregs that nobody else will hire.
My husband could make twice what he does if he was in private industry, but would be required to spend at least 40-60% of his time traveling, sometimes more. He wants to be here to help raise his kids, and so has passed up the opportunities for more money. It doesn't keep him from taking pride in his work (county extension agent for Ag, and staff chair). I know what you mean tho, it's almost impossible to get fired from a government job, no matter how poorly you perform. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Itsme - 2014-01-07 9:41 AM This thread could go many directions... With all this talk from certain groups about everyone "deserves" a college education a 4 year degree in the near future will be worthless or about the same equivalent as a high school diploma. You can see the writing on the wall, push these morons through college just like high school. Its cool though, we the tax payers foot the bill....
I agree. If everyone had a degree, where is the advantage? It wouldn't be any different than holding a HS diploma now. IE not worth the paper it's written on. Excellence should be rewarded and people should do what they're good at. There is no shame in choosing a trade or labor over college. Those people are NEEDED. Dumbing down the universities so everyone can make it through is not the answer. |
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Dr. Ruth
Posts: 9891
Location: Blissfully happy Giants fan!!! | To clarify-I am with most of you. My husband has a 2 year degree from an unaccredited college. He is WAY smarter than me and works harder than me and I am the first to admit it. My point to him and on this thread was if you don't like where you are as far as income goes, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. He finally got what I was saying and chose a career path. It doesn't include college. But he is happy with what he chose and is working towards his goals. I am more proud of him than anyone can even imagine.
There are so many people that don't want to go up the corporate chain and that is fine. I have nothing against that. I also have nothing against people who are serving in spots that help the greater good (ie farmers, ranchers, teachers, extension agents, etc) or help the greater good of a company and they are satisfied with their jobs. Again, I have nothing against that and I applaud those people. I actually believe farmers, ranchers and teachers should make more than anyone else on the planet but that is a topic for another day.
My whole issue and where I agree with the OP is that if you aren't willing to work for something, don't complain.
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Dr. Ruth
Posts: 9891
Location: Blissfully happy Giants fan!!! | Three 4 Luck - 2014-01-07 9:53 AM Itsme - 2014-01-07 9:41 AM This thread could go many directions... With all this talk from certain groups about everyone "deserves" a college education a 4 year degree in the near future will be worthless or about the same equivalent as a high school diploma. You can see the writing on the wall, push these morons through college just like high school. Its cool though, we the tax payers foot the bill.... I agree. If everyone had a degree, where is the advantage? It wouldn't be any different than holding a HS diploma now. IE not worth the paper it's written on. Excellence should be rewarded and people should do what they're good at. There is no shame in choosing a trade or labor over college. Those people are NEEDED. Dumbing down the universities so everyone can make it through is not the answer.
I agree totally with both of these statements. |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | No need to worry Income inequality is coming YOUR way........all thanks to Obama.........and those that voted him into office...........
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | I have worked since I was 16, 2 jobs in high school, worked 2 jobs while in college, which I paid for with student loans. I didnt finish and have worked my @ss off ever since. I make much more than most of my friends who graduated from college and also own my own business on the side. I think we all make our own destiny and some of my friends wanted to be married, have kids and those things were important to them. I am not married, nor do I have kids, because that wasnt something I wanted. I am a firm believer if you want something and work hard enough you will get it. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | polorunner - 2014-01-07 11:04 AM I have worked since I was 16, 2 jobs in high school, worked 2 jobs while in college, which I paid for with student loans. I didnt finish and have worked my @ss off ever since. I make much more than most of my friends who graduated from college and also own my own business on the side. I think we all make our own destiny and some of my friends wanted to be married, have kids and those things were important to them. I am not married, nor do I have kids, because that wasnt something I wanted. I am a firm believer if you want something and work hard enough you will get it.
Excellent...amen! |
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Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | polorunner - 2014-01-06 12:04 PM I have worked since I was 16, 2 jobs in high school, worked 2 jobs while in college, which I paid for with student loans. I didnt finish and have worked my @ss off ever since. I make much more than most of my friends who graduated from college and also own my own business on the side. I think we all make our own destiny and some of my friends wanted to be married, have kids and those things were important to them. I am not married, nor do I have kids, because that wasnt something I wanted. I am a firm believer if you want something and work hard enough you will get it.
Amen.............but now you are going to share.......all your hard work with others that are less fortunate..whether their choosing or unforeseen circumstances that makes them entitled to others prosperity...and ps pay for their healthcare..........the Obama-way...............you post "was" the American way........but sadly that is changing in America..........
What we need is jobs..............opportunity not handouts.........encourage companys to want to do business in the USA......it seems we have seen none of that with this administration but only to punish the prosperous.......... |
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Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | CJE - 2014-01-07 12:29 PM polorunner - 2014-01-06 12:04 PM I have worked since I was 16, 2 jobs in high school, worked 2 jobs while in college, which I paid for with student loans. I didnt finish and have worked my @ss off ever since. I make much more than most of my friends who graduated from college and also own my own business on the side. I think we all make our own destiny and some of my friends wanted to be married, have kids and those things were important to them. I am not married, nor do I have kids, because that wasnt something I wanted. I am a firm believer if you want something and work hard enough you will get it. Amen.............but now you are going to share.......all your hard work with others that are less fortunate..whether their choosing or unforeseen circumstances that makes them entitled to others prosperity...and ps pay for their healthcare..........the Obama-way...............you post "was" the American way........but sadly that is changing in America..........
What we need is jobs..............opportunity not handouts.........encourage companys to want to do business in the USA......it seems we have seen none of that with this administration but only to punish the prosperous..........
You are exactly right, and I absolutly do not agree with having to share what I have worked very hard for, with someone that has their hand out. Another thing we need in America is a "work ethic". I have many friends that have gone back to school to get their masters, or to get a higher education only to be very upset when they arent rewarded with more money. However they arent willing to work any more hours or devote any more time. It all starts with a work ethic, you must have one to be able to succeed. Many people spend more time trying to get out of "work" then just doing the job to begin with. |
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The Non Sky Diver
Posts: 9004
Location: SE Louisiana | Three 4 Luck - 2014-01-07 9:49 AM
Komet - 2014-01-07 9:14 AM Oh please!!! Anyone that knows anything knows the government pays a fraction of what really smart people can make in the open market. That is why we are left with the dregs that nobody else will hire.
My husband could make twice what he does if he was in private industry, but would be required to spend at least 40-60% of his time traveling, sometimes more. He wants to be here to help raise his kids, and so has passed up the opportunities for more money. It doesn't keep him from taking pride in his work (county extension agent for Ag, and staff chair). I know what you mean tho, it's almost impossible to get fired from a government job, no matter how poorly you perform.
Kudos to your husband.. I understand times now are not the same as when I was a kid. My dad was all about supporting the family. He relied on mom to deal with that. I turned out to be the 'Black Sheep' of the four kids... I was a "mistake"... unplanned... |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| polorunner - 2014-01-07 11:38 AM CJE - 2014-01-07 12:29 PM polorunner - 2014-01-06 12:04 PM I have worked since I was 16, 2 jobs in high school, worked 2 jobs while in college, which I paid for with student loans. I didnt finish and have worked my @ss off ever since. I make much more than most of my friends who graduated from college and also own my own business on the side. I think we all make our own destiny and some of my friends wanted to be married, have kids and those things were important to them. I am not married, nor do I have kids, because that wasnt something I wanted. I am a firm believer if you want something and work hard enough you will get it. Amen.............but now you are going to share.......all your hard work with others that are less fortunate..whether their choosing or unforeseen circumstances that makes them entitled to others prosperity...and ps pay for their healthcare..........the Obama-way...............you post "was" the American way........but sadly that is changing in America..........
What we need is jobs..............opportunity not handouts.........encourage companys to want to do business in the USA......it seems we have seen none of that with this administration but only to punish the prosperous..........
You are right about the lack of work ethic, it is eroding away. My daughter's boyfriend is 26, makes $11/hour and thinks a 9 hour work day is a long day.
I have a friend who is in his late 50's, married his senior year of high school, went to high school during the day and worked in the oil field at night till he graduated. No college diploma but was willing to work hard and take any assignment they gave him. He now makes big bucks and has moved way up the chain of command.
When he was telling me this what struck me the most is I don't hear these kind of stories very often, people willing to really sacrifice and work hard for their future.
Our best friend is a very rich and successful dirt contractor- no college degree, barely graduated high school.
There are many paths to success and many definitions of success. We are doing a huge disservice to just push an expensive college degree as the best choice.
I hope Obama's class warfare backfires on him but I think we are outnumbered by those who want it easy and want it now. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | The second they start redistributing the wealth, out the window goes our hard work ethic, our drive to move forward, create new things, be creative, be innovative....what a great agenda for mediocrity!!! It's disgusting..... |
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| Where you are located is going to play a large factor into your earning ability for each career path. The absolute best advice grads can get is to look at the local job market (or where they would like to live) and find a degree that will be marketable. My husband makes a LOT more than I do even though we both have AAS degrees which is great because we wouldn't be able to afford squat off what I make. It's my own fault for not getting a more focused degree and I really should have just gone for the four year off the bat but it is what it is.
On the other hand he puts in a ton of hours in less than favorable conditions and I want the job I can pack up at quiting time and take care of stuff at home. I don't think many couples can do it where they both work high stress, extended hour jobs and still have livestock and a home life.
I think the majority that make good money around here are small business owners no matter which industry and farmers which is one in the same. So that in mind I am debating going back to get my BS in accounting and open my own business with a focus on Ag/Equine. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 10:57 AM Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor.
Something that comes to mind with this is 2 things.
i just read a Blog where this parent was paying below average prices for babysitting, because that's all he could afford. Babysitters were wanting like $15/hour. Minimum wage isn't $15/hour in most states. Parents paying this premium for child care is discouraging teens from getting a job where they have to work hard because it doesn't pay as much!
A big issue in WA/CA is the fast food workers wanting upwards of $15/hour so they can support themselves. If they award this.....what bullsh!t. They can't even get my order right!! |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| hammer_time - 2014-01-07 1:27 PM The second they start redistributing the wealth, out the window goes our hard work ethic, our drive to move forward, create new things, be creative, be innovative....what a great agenda for mediocrity!!! It's disgusting.....
Watch this clip from economist Milton Freidman-explains it very well:http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0oG7jMKV8xStzsAPhdx.9w4;_ylu=X3oDMTB1bG1iOHU5BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA1BSRFVTMDFfMQ--?p=economics+milton+friedman+on+phil+donahue&tnr=21&vid=5B5E8D94415D47C508865B5E8D94415D47C50886&l=144&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DU.4751553620084892%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DRWsx1X8PV_A&sigr=11a83piio&tt=b&tit=Milton+Friedman+-+Greed&sigt=10n88gubm&back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fmobile%2Fs%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Deconomics%2Bmilton%2Bfriedman%2Bon%2Bphil%2Bdonahue%26fr%3Donesearch%26first%3D1%26_tsrc%3Dapple&sigb=13m4shhoe |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | hammer_time - 2014-01-07 1:32 PM rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 10:57 AM Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor. Something that comes to mind with this is 2 things.
i just read a Blog where this parent was paying below average prices for babysitting, because that's all he could afford. Babysitters were wanting like $15/hour. Minimum wage isn't $15/hour in most states. Parents paying this premium for child care is discouraging teens from getting a job where they have to work hard because it doesn't pay as much!
A big issue in WA/CA is the fast food workers wanting upwards of $15/hour so they can support themselves. If they award this.....what bullsh!t. They can't even get my order right!!
Being from the food industry I disagree with the last part of your comment. I think it is a double edged sword where there is no incentive to do well at a job that everyone comments on a LOW wage- NO education needed ect.. I mean if there is no oppurtunity for advancement WHY would anyone work in fast food?? These people ARE working and make such LOW wages for their area that they are STILL subsidized by the government because they fall BELOW the poverty level with those wages. So why work?? And personally I think you can do ANY JOB WITH HONOR but I want the person serving my FOOD to do it right. I think these corporate giants can pay them more but will not unless make to do so or until everyone refuses to work for $8 an hour. Or they can close their doors.
Its almost like the manual labor mentioned above (or lack there of), this generation will not have many that dig ditches except for the illegal immigrants. I mean should a person that digs ditches or cleans human $hit make more than the person that cooks your food? But yet a plumbers helper makes that $15 an hour. And they are not looked down upon as the food industry folks are. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| TurnLane - 2014-01-07 3:06 PM hammer_time - 2014-01-07 1:32 PM rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 10:57 AM Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor. Something that comes to mind with this is 2 things.
i just read a Blog where this parent was paying below average prices for babysitting, because that's all he could afford. Babysitters were wanting like $15/hour. Minimum wage isn't $15/hour in most states. Parents paying this premium for child care is discouraging teens from getting a job where they have to work hard because it doesn't pay as much!
A big issue in WA/CA is the fast food workers wanting upwards of $15/hour so they can support themselves. If they award this.....what bullsh!t. They can't even get my order right!!
Its almost like the manual labor mentioned above (or lack there of), this generation will not have many that dig ditches except for the illegal immigrants. I mean should a person that digs ditches or cleans human $hit make more than the person that cooks your food? But yet a plumbers helper makes that $15 an hour. And they are not looked down upon as the food industry folks are.
I personally do not know anyone who only works a 40 hour week and makes decent money. The first years of our marriage my husband only made 30K a year but he still put in 12 hours days, I stayed at home with 4 kids, we were broke as you can be. He understood that to advance he had to put in the time and effort and a 40 hour work week was not going to cut it.
I don't mind subsidizing someone who is working but still needs help because they do not make enough. Being employed is the first step out of poverty. Benefits need to be used as incentives to find work and keep it. It is very troubling to me though that I never hear from the other side that these low wage jobs are just stepping stones to better employment and right now you may have to put in more than 40 hours like the rest of us did.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-01-07 5:28 PM
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | No one wants to pay high prices for fast food. The margin on fast food is pretty slim (margin = profit). The margin on all restaurants is pretty darn slim. That's why wait staff has to live off tips. If wages for fast food workers go up, cost of fast food goes up and people will stop buying fast food. It is very simple economics. I am certainly not going to pay $20 for a Happy Meal. Are you? |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | Saw the stats this morning on FOX.
We have 47.6 million people on food
stamps in a nation of 340 million. That
is pathetic.
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 12:57 PM
Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor.
The problem is your husbands subcontractors hire more subs who in turn sub the work out again until all the fat white guys put the money in their pocket for doing next to nothing while paying illegals or temp workers as little as possible. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Itsme - 2014-01-07 5:59 PM rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 12:57 PM Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor. The problem is your husbands subcontractors hire more subs who in turn sub the work out again until all the fat white guys put the money in their pocket for doing next to nothing while paying illegals or temp workers as little as possible.
Not true, he didn't have this problem till the downturn in the economy causing construction to practically come to a halt. The skilled labor went to work for the oil industry where they could still find jobs. If the fat white guys were subbing it out to subs who were hiring cheap labor then the work would be getting done. Construction has picked back up and there are well paying jobs that cannot be filled.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-01-07 6:23 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 6:07 PM
Itsme - 2014-01-07 5:59 PM rodeomom3 - 2014-01-07 12:57 PM Wanted to add that my husband runs a huge construction company that builds apartments all over the US. The toughest part of his job is keeping jobs on schedule because subs cannot find qualified labor. There are jobs out there if people are willing to do manual labor. The problem is your husbands subcontractors hire more subs who in turn sub the work out again until all the fat white guys put the money in their pocket for doing next to nothing while paying illegals or temp workers as little as possible.
Good point with all the labor moving to the oilfield.
Ive ran big commercial projects and it seems our subs always have subs under them and that leads to everyone passing the "buck" so to speak. |
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Income inequality, you betcha!