Is life hard?

[StreetCowboy]

There’s another thread running on the premise that life is hard if you’re a poorly educated alcoholic who can’t do a decent day’s work. 

 

For him, and his ilk, life will always be as sad as he makes it.

 

I’m more interested in how life is for normal, decent, hard-working young people like you and I once were.

 

My eldest took an internship with a major respected company and she was not on a living wage, due to her rent cost.  But, to be fair, she’d gone down to live amongst the English, with no support from her employer, and she could not stop easily find a bedsit as I did, back in the  day, back in the Old Country.

 

But it really does seem to me that life is harder for young people nowadays; everyone forces them to jump through hoops that require resources beyond what a teenager can reasonably be expected to have.

 

Life is hard for young people nowadays, and that’s all there is to it; grizzling won’t make it better.  Hard work might

[brokenbone]

hard work broke my back within 2 years, permanently

[473geo]

Well for an average person from 5 years old a person is thrust into the education system, gently primed for the life to follow by attending school 5 days a week, taking up most of the day, throw in a bit of homework and limited time to do ones 'own thing' A summer break and reasonable half term holidays ease the monotony, and do serve to make school days more enjoyable

Education finished, in order to pay ones way in society, time to find employment, again for the average guy  9:00 - 5:30 throw in an hour each way travel, and again not much time in the day to do ones 'own thing' indeed weekends are partly taken up doing the jobs at home employment postpones from mid week! Long Holidays for Mr average a thing of the past, 25 days + a handful of national holidays away from the daily work routine

Following approximately 45- 50 years of employment Mr average if indeed he/she attains the age of 65+ gets to retire and finally start the day doing his 'own thing'

 

So is life hard? Well could become a teacher for longer holidays, civil servant/services for early retirement possibilities, but for Mr Average yes I would say it can be a bit of grind

Make the most of your 'own time' because actually you don't get a lot of it!!

 

Was is my life hard? Well I kept bucking the system, a bit of a free spirit, so enjoyed most of my work on occasion self employed, which in turn helped me make more of my 'own' time, I don't feel my life has been hard, never rich, but never starving, always had people there for me when required, so yes at times constrained by employment and finance, in general a good life.

 

And now with my Thai wife and children, yeah life is good

 

My children - I am going to see they have a reasonable education, then tempted to start them on a career path that does not lead to corporate and economic 'slavery' might not happen as they will make their own decisions but the thought is there.

Edited August 3, 2019 by 473geo

[StreetCowboy]

1 minute ago, 473geo said:

Well for an average person from 5 years old a person is thrust into the education system, gently primed for the life to follow by attending school 5 days a week, taking up most of the day, throw in a bit of homework and limited time to do ones 'own thing' A summer break and reasonable half term holidays ease the monotony, and do serve to make school days more enjoyable

Education finished, in order to pay ones way in society, time to find employment, again for the average guy  9:00 - 5:30 throw in an hour each way travel, and again not much time in the day to do ones 'own thing' indeed weekends are partly taken up doing the jobs at home employment postpones from mid week! Long Holidays for Mr average a thing of the past, 25 days + a handful of national holidays away from the daily work routine

Following approximately 45- 50 years of employment Mr average if indeed he/she attains the age of 65+ gets to retire and finally start the day doing his 'own thing'

 

So is life hard? Well could become a teacher for longer holidays, civil servant/services for early retirement possibilities, but for Mr Average yes I would say it can be a bit of grind

Make the most of your 'own time' because actually you don't get a lot of it!!

 

Was is my life hard? Well I kept bucking the system, a bit of a free spirit, so enjoyed most of my work on occasion self employed, which in turn helped me make more of my 'own' time, I don't feel my life has been hard, never rich, but never starving, always had people there for me when required, so yes at times constrained by employment and finance, in general a good life.

 

And now with my Thai wife and children, yeah life is good

Like you, work has made my life lucrative and entertaining, but when I started out, back in the day, back in the Old Country, I could scrape together two beans to rub together, and, with a bit of part time work on the side I could set myself on a life-long career of alcohol abuse that stood me in good stead for a life of ex-patriatism,  I am not sure my daughter and her cohorts are as fortunate.

[Yinn]

I think life is better now.

 

One hundred years ago not have fidge, microwave, electric, etc.

 

Today I go hospital (drive my car with air con, airbag, ABS, music player) with my friend, she have the “ultra sound”. Can know it a boy, and healthy. When it will coming.

 

We have Korean Barbq for eat. Food from everywhere can try.

 

Airplane so so cheap now. This week I go to Bangkok, only 1 hour 15 minute. 

 

Have air in the house, good for sleep.

 

music easy to copy. Free. Movies

 

hospital always getting better. And new drug can fix problem. Easy to be healthy. 

 

A lot of opportunities now.

 

many machine make life easier. On farm, wash the clothes, internet, lift, etc

 

life is wonderful. Fun. I want to live 500 years.

 

life get better every year. Young people can not complain.

The old people have the difficult life before. Not easy like now.

 

 

 

[StreetCowboy]

4 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I think life is better now.

 

One hundred years ago not have fidge, microwave, electric, etc.

 

Today I go hospital (drive my car with air con, airbag, ABS, music player) with my friend, she have the “ultra sound”. Can know it a boy, and healthy. When it will coming.

 

We have Korean Barbq for eat. Food from everywhere can try.

 

Airplane so so cheap now. This week I go to Bangkok, only 1 hour 15 minute. 

 

Have air in the house, good for sleep.

 

music easy to copy. Free. Movies

 

hospital always getting better. And new drug can fix problem. Easy to be healthy. 

 

A lot of opportunities now.

 

many machine make life easier. On farm, wash the clothes, internet, lift, etc

 

life is wonderful. Fun. I want to live 500 years.

 

life get better every year. Young people can not complain.

The old people have the difficult life before. Not easy like now.

 

 

 

You're right - for you and me life is easy and fun.  I'm not so sure about young people today.

I don't think my daughter's life is as relaxed and easy-going as mine was, despite the privileges she has enjoyed, and I can imagine that for her more proletarian peers, life is quite stressful.

[Traubert]

Tell your kids to get into hoop manufacturing.

 

So many people have to jump through so many, that if The Leader of the Free World, Mr Trump, subsidised hoop manufacturing, it would Make America Square Again.

 

Is that right? Wait......Trapezoid?

[473geo]

18 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Like you, work has made my life lucrative and entertaining, but when I started out, back in the day, back in the Old Country, I could scrape together two beans to rub together, and, with a bit of part time work on the side I could set myself on a life-long career of alcohol abuse that stood me in good stead for a life of ex-patriatism,  I am not sure my daughter and her cohorts are as fortunate.

It's a strange one, when I was self employed worked hard but played hard, occasionally rained off pub at lunch time.

One of my jobs in London I often worked weekends and just went to the pub on a lunchtime midweek and sat watching the world racing around making a living, great feeling went back to work the following day. I doubt any company would be so flexible now.

I've always maintained, extremely happy I lived in the times I did, yes I believe the pressures on the young are more severe and continuous than in my time.

But one thing I always had the luxury of, was a place to call home, able to return to the family in order to regroup when a chapter closed, or through choice, a change of direction required. I have been able to provide and hopefully go on providing, with the help of my Thai relatives, the same for my Thai family, this is in my view a great benefit in the Thai lifestyle, not always readily available or attainable in other countries for Mr average. In Issan you can return to the land and survive, is why my children will have a base there.
 

Edited August 3, 2019 by 473geo

[StreetCowboy]

1 minute ago, 473geo said:

It's a strange one, when I was self employed worked hard but played hard, occasionally rained off pub at lunch time.

One of my jobs in London I often worked weekends and just went to the pub on a lunchtime midweek and sat watching the world racing around making a living, great feeling went back to work the following day. I doubt any company would be so flexible now.

I've always maintained, extremely happy I lived in the times I did, yes I believe the pressures on the young are more severe and continuous than in my time.

But one thing I always had the luxury of, was a place to call home, able to return to the family in order to regroup when a chapter closed, or through choice, a change of direction required. I have been able to provide and hopefully go on providing such for my Thai family, this is in view a great benefit in the Thai lifestyle, not always readily available or attainable in other countries for Mr average.
 

I think that the biggest difference that I see is that I could live relatively independently of my family - university fees paid, student grant, part time job, whereas my daughter's internship is not adequate to make her self-sufficient.

 

SC

[473geo]

13 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I think life is better now.

 

One hundred years ago not have fidge, microwave, electric, etc.

 

Today I go hospital (drive my car with air con, airbag, ABS, music player) with my friend, she have the “ultra sound”. Can know it a boy, and healthy. When it will coming.

 

We have Korean Barbq for eat. Food from everywhere can try.

 

Airplane so so cheap now. This week I go to Bangkok, only 1 hour 15 minute. 

 

Have air in the house, good for sleep.

 

music easy to copy. Free. Movies

 

hospital always getting better. And new drug can fix problem. Easy to be healthy. 

 

A lot of opportunities now.

 

many machine make life easier. On farm, wash the clothes, internet, lift, etc

 

life is wonderful. Fun. I want to live 500 years.

 

life get better every year. Young people can not complain.

The old people have the difficult life before. Not easy like now.

 

 

 

Most things you mention speed life up/improve it so that people have more available time to work to pay for the 'benefits' ????

[sanemax]

18 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Airplane so so cheap now. This week I go to Bangkok, only 1 hour 15 minute. 

That is very cheap  , it cost me 1 hour and 30 minutes five years ago

[StreetCowboy]

Just now, 473geo said:

Most things you mention speed life up/improve it so that people have more available time to work to pay for the 'benefits' ????

He's older than me - I don't remember 100 years ago.  But my grandmother did, and she never mentioned any of the things he commented on.  She did remark on losing brothers in the Great War.  I would be ever so pleased if I could convince myself that Brexit would take us a step away from that, but I can't.

 

Actually, life is not easy for my daughter, but all of that pales into insignificance when you look at the risk of war in Europe that our Clowns In Charge are driving towards.  I hope I die before it comes to pass: I hope my children can avert it, or at least avoid it.

 

[sirineou]

4 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

You're right - for you and me life is easy and fun.  I'm not so sure about young people today.

I don't think my daughter's life is as relaxed and easy-going as mine was, despite the privileges she has enjoyed, and I can imagine that for her more proletarian peers, life is quite stressful.

I agree with you

I also worry about my daughter, she is in Univercity right now studying pre-Law, she is doing well in school (stray  As so far, makes the dean's list every term) but has a long way to go and I am getting old and don't know how long I will be able to help her. 

I have pre paid her college education (started paying when she was a baby) but after she is done with school she will have to try get and maintain a job.

 With artificial Intelligence , there is a storm coming a lot of jobs will be eliminated and the competition for the remaining jobs will be fierce. 

I am also worried about her future. 

  

[473geo]

6 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

I think that the biggest difference that I see is that I could live relatively independently of my family - university fees paid, student grant, part time job, whereas my daughter's internship is not adequate to make her self-sufficient.

 

SC

I guess disappointing as you would have appreciated your daughter having the chance to experience and benefit of a little independence.

[StreetCowboy]

2 minutes ago, 473geo said:

I guess disappointing as you would have appreciated your daughter having the chance to experience and benefit of a little independence.

It's not so hard for me and for her, as I can tell her "this is what you have to live on, how you do that is your business", safe in the knowledge that if she gets into trouble, money will not be an issue.  But for many young people, their parents are not so well off.

[StreetCowboy]

10 minutes ago, sanemax said:

That is very cheap  , it cost me 1 hour and 30 minutes five years ago

It only cost me twenty minutes to go to KL.  I'm really proud of the MRT

[473geo]

3 minutes ago, sirineou said:

I agree with you

I also worry about my daughter, she is in Univercity right now studying pre-Law, she is doing well in school (stray  As so far, makes the dean's list every term) but has a long way to go and I am getting old and don't know how long I will be able to help her. 

I have pre paid her college education (started paying when she was a baby) but after she is done with school she will have to try get and maintain a job.

 With artificial Intelligence , there is a storm coming a lot of jobs will be eliminated and the competition for the remaining jobs will be fierce. 

I am also worried about her future. 

  

I agree not only robotics, but data input jobs with little one to one communication for employees, creating low satisfaction and no personal achievement benefit.

[sunnyboy2018]

As the dead said. 'I've been having a hard time, living the good life'. Thats me in Pattaya.

[StreetCowboy]

1 minute ago, 473geo said:

I agree not only robotics, but data input jobs with little one to one communication for employees, creating low satisfaction and no personal achievement benefit.

unfortunately it will be the stupid and poorly educated that lose their jobs first; although for a while there will be menial jobs that require interaction with the real world sweeping streets, picking fruit, tossing burgers....

 

But I am not so concerned about jobs that are replaced by technology (though maybe I should be) but rather the jobs that are demeaned by the change in power within the labour market, and the erosion of workers' rights, particularly young peoples's rights

[473geo]

1 minute ago, StreetCowboy said:

unfortunately it will be the stupid and poorly educated that lose their jobs first; although for a while there will be menial jobs that require interaction with the real world sweeping streets, picking fruit, tossing burgers....

 

But I am not so concerned about jobs that are replaced by technology (though maybe I should be) but rather the jobs that are demeaned by the change in power within the labour market, and the erosion of workers' rights, particularly young peoples's rights

The shift from a person having experience and knowledge to the SOP breakdown/ painting by numbers of tasks allows for migration to lower paying economies, corporates are are sacrificing flexibility and the personal touch for cheap 'tramline' workforce employment and profit.

To my way of thinking I will try for my family to have a 'trade' a skill, not just an education

[sirineou]

4 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

unfortunately it will be the stupid and poorly educated that lose their jobs first; although for a while there will be menial jobs that require interaction with the real world sweeping streets, picking fruit, tossing burgers....

 

But I am not so concerned about jobs that are replaced by technology (though maybe I should be) but rather the jobs that are demeaned by the change in power within the labour market, and the erosion of workers' rights, particularly young peoples's rights

 Unfortunately  jobs replaced by tech will increase competition for the remaining jobs, putting employers in the driver seat.

this should decrease the negotiating power of workers. People would be reluctant to leave a  job of fear that they will not be able to get another, and or accept lower pay or poor working conditions to keep the one they have.

We should all be concern about jobs lost to tech, even those of as who are retired and on pension.

   How long do you think your government pension will last if there are fewer people coming in to the job market and paying in to the system?

  How long will my union pension remain solvent ? What would you do if your pension went under and was insured for only 60% as mine is? What will I do if my pension is reduced by 40%? 

 

[brokenbone]

7 minutes ago, sirineou said:

 Unfortunately  jobs replaced by tech will increase competition for the remaining jobs, putting employers in the driver seat.

this should decrease the negotiating power of workers. People would be reluctant to leave a  job of fear that they will not be able to get another, and or accept lower pay or poor working conditions to keep the one they have.

We should all be concern about jobs lost to tech, even those of as who are retired and on pension.

   How long do you think your government pension will last if there are fewer people coming in to the job market and paying in to the system?

  How long will my union pension remain solvent ? What would you do if your pension went under and was insured for only 60% as mine is? What will I do if my pension is reduced by 40%? 

 

that dont matter, if a machine or a human produce the products, we still get the products.

 

if you really wanted to, you could give every human the job of carrying a stone around in circles, give them a salary for it and then tax them, but why bother at all ?

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, brokenbone said:

that dont matter, if a machine or a human produce the products, we still get the products.

 

if you really wanted to, you could give every human the job of carrying a stone around in circles, give them a salary for it and then tax them, but why bother at all ?

 Product will be produced but will people be able to afford them? 

Sure there is a lot of talk about a basic income guarantee,  but that's a long way off, 

in the US people have a hard time talking about basic healthcare for all. or higher education. You mention it and they start hissing Sssssocialismmm they like the current system because they think with hard work one day they too can become part of the 1% LOL .

  Eventually the system will have to adjust, you cant have production without a consumer, but while the transition takes place there will be displacement and and as StreetCowboy said  "a hard life for our children" 

 And what about as on Pension? Most Pension plans in the US are underfunded. 

 

 

[brokenbone]

2 minutes ago, sirineou said:

 Product will be produced but will people be able to afford them? 

Sure there is a lot of talk about a basic income guarantee,  but that's a long way off, 

in the US people have a hard time talking about basic healthcare for all. or higher education. You mention it and they start hissing Sssssocialismmm they like the current system because they think with hard work one day they too can become part of the 1% LOL .

  Eventually the system will have to adjust, you cant have production without a consumer, but while the transition takes place there will be displacement and and as StreetCowboy said  "a hard life for our children" 

 And what about as on Pension? Most Pension plans in the US are underfunded. 

 

 

yes, the pensions was based on the delusion economy would grow every year forever. but steps are already being taken,

increase retirement age so the pensioners dont consume

20+ years without contributing, and so on.

the first nation that introduced government funded pensions was germany, they had the sense to set retirement age higher then life expectancy, so there wasnt a whole lot of people that were allowed to drain the state dry

[sirineou]

14 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

yes, the pensions was based on the delusion economy would grow every year forever. but steps are already being taken,

increase retirement age so the pensioners dont consume

20+ years without contributing, and so on.

the first nation that introduced government funded pensions was germany, they had the sense to set retirement age higher then life expectancy, so there wasnt a whole lot of people that were allowed to drain the state dry

Get your pension after you die!!  some solution.   

By the way, collecting a pension is not draining the state, It is not the states money to drain, it is money I paid in to the system.

In the US , I see it in my paycheck deductions,

I pay $170 in to the Social Security  System every week and about $40 into medicare.

There is also a sizable contribution in to my Union Benefits fund.

These are all my money!! not the state's to spend liberating Iraq.

 

 

Edited August 3, 2019 by sirineou
typo

[473geo]

There is of course the cyclic effect of the pensioners returning much of their pensions to the government via 'service charges' etc if they remain 'at home' some of the better off actually pay

tax

As I have said previously, if my family have a plot of land they can, at a push, live off, then I feel they are prepared and have a good base to try anything they can get into, because failure or redirection is an option if one can regroup without too much drama

[brokenbone]

10 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Get your pension after you die!!  some solution.   

By the way, collecting a pension is not draining the state, It is not the states money to drain, it is money I paid in to the system.

In the US , I see it in my paycheck deductions,

I pay $170 in to the Social Security  System every week and about $40 into medicare.

There is also a sizable contribution in to my Union Benefits fund.

These are all my money!! not the state's to spend liberating Iraq.

 

 

170x4=680 buck a month, it was always underfunded

for todays life expectancy of 15+ years of only being a burden

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

50 minutes ago, sirineou said:

in the US people have a hard time talking about basic healthcare for all. or higher education. You mention it and they start hissing Sssssocialismmm...

 

44 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

 They had the sense to set retirement age higher then life expectancy, so there wasnt a whole lot of people that were allowed to drain the state dry

 

31 minutes ago, sirineou said:

 

By the way, collecting a pension is not draining the state, It is not the states money to drain, it is money I paid in to the system.

In the US , I see it in my paycheck deductions,

Will you be taxed on your pension benefits?  If so does that bother you?  Is their any percentage at which it would bother you?

[sirineou]

26 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

170x4=680 buck a month, it was always underfunded

for todays life expectancy of 15+ years of only being a burden

You forget the opportunity cost. for which you will need differential calculus, but a simple rule is the  rule of 70. Fund invested at 7% will double in 10 years

So a variable earning  2.5% will double in 40 years (did i do my math right?)

 

"The rule of 70 is used to determine the number of years it takes for a variable to double by dividing the number 70 by the variable's growth rate. The rule of 70is generally used to determine how long it would take for an investment to double given the annual rate of return."

https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/051815/what-difference-between-rule-70-and-rule-72.asp

[sirineou]

10 minutes ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

 

 

Will you be taxed on your pension benefits?  If so does that bother you?  Is their any percentage at which it would bother you?

I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes. All I care is the bottom line

For instance if I paid more in taxes but had a better life, it would be a win.

Also if i paid higher tax to have medicare for all. lets say $8000 per year more in tax,  (numbersonly to make a point)but saved $12,000 on health care cost to private insurers ,and deductibles. and had better outcomes, would be a win  of $4,000 plus better health for everyone

But we are wandering off topic..