Level of Education for the Average EEVBlog Forum Member?

[lemmegraphdat]

Being rich doesn't make someone bad, and being poor doesn't make someone good.

its more about social responsibility and giving back (like paying fair share of taxes) when you have so greatly benefitted from the system.  the US system, at least, creates so many loopholes for the rich to evade paying taxes and the burden is covered by those who can afford it much less.  there is no sign of anyone changing this, either, any time soon.

the reason the rich are generally dispised is because they don't give back and don't share.  they have a 2nd set of laws that apply to the rich and powerful and this is not the set of laws that apply to regular people.

but I do think we're getting offtrack, here (lol).

A loophole is a legal tax deduction until some politician and/or a particular voting block finds a use for other peoples money.

[zapta]

the reason the rich are generally dispised is because they don't give back and don't share.  they have a 2nd set of laws that apply to the rich and powerful and this is not the set of laws that apply to regular people.

Spend more time watching EEVblog videos and less MSNBC.

If you daemonize success you will never be successful.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

"You don't understand. Ferengi workers don't want to stop the exploitation. We want to find a way to become the exploiters."

[linux-works]

first, I don't watch tv.  don't have a tv subscription and don't watch tv news (any of it).

second, you have no idea what I just said; or, you didn't really read it and just read what you wanted into it.

I don't resent 'success'.  I resent the ruthless pursuit of monetary gain at whatever it takes to get there.  that's the attitude and type of person that many people are angry with.

honest earned success and a give-back attitude endears people.  but that's not the typical Very Rich(tm) person.  and it has nothing to do with network TV (lol).

[zapta]

I don't resent 'success'.  I resent the ruthless pursuit of monetary gain at whatever it takes to get there.

I see, you not despise all rich people but just the subset of them that you consider 'ruthless'. This is not what your original post implied.

[electrolux]

Add Home education to the options.

[photonpunk]

I'd just like to say, that anyone who believes that gaining wealth makes good people into bad people, please PM me so I can give you an address where you send your extra money to.

[zapta]

I'd just like to say, that anyone who believes that gaining wealth makes good people into bad people, please PM me so I can give you an address where you send your extra money to.

Well said.

[tszaboo]

I find the question kinda pointless, as there is soo much difference between education systems, and courses. IE. for example even an MIT MSC (equivalent) student will never learn so much math as they teach in some east europe BSC students, and they teach the same math in highschool in india. On the other hand they teach at US how to solve problems and be creative, how to follow what the boss said in india (must be a culture thing), and how to be bitter at east europe (with more than 50% drop-out rate) but solve the problems at all cost.

[lemmegraphdat]

The rich don't need to give back. That's a false premise. The rich created a product or a service that you decided was worth more to you than the dollar in your hand. You made them wealthy through voluntary exchange. "Give Back" is the cry of the looter. If the wealthy give back and you don't give back to them then you are just a thief. Of course you don't get them to "give back" yourself. You have government do it at the point of a gun.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

I'd just like to say, that anyone who believes that gaining wealth makes good people into bad people, please PM me so I can give you an address where you send your extra money to.

A crazzzzyyyy social reformist once said:

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

[pickle9000]

I'd just like to say, that anyone who believes that gaining wealth makes good people into bad people, please PM me so I can give you an address where you send your extra money to.

Awesome reply. 

[Rigby]

I'd just like to say, that anyone who believes that gaining wealth makes good people into bad people, please PM me so I can give you an address where you send your extra money to.

Technically, you're right.  Money will not make a good person bad.  Money, in excess, WILL make someone who wants to be an asshole capable of being an asshole without much fear of repercussion, though.  Money is an enabler.  Lots of people are nice, and fit into society merely because they're forced to, or the consequences of being themselves have proven too much for society; give them a route to act without consequences and those people will very quickly become "bad."

In that way, money does appear to make people bad, but those people were bad anyway, and if it weren't for the money, they would be forced to play the part of a good person their whole lives or suffer the consequences.

[Tinkerer]

The rich don't need to give back. That's a false premise. The rich created a product or a service that you decided was worth more to you than the dollar in your hand. You made them wealthy through voluntary exchange. "Give Back" is the cry of the looter. If the wealthy give back and you don't give back to them then you are just a thief. Of course you don't get them to "give back" yourself. You have government do it at the point of a gun.

This is true. However, it increasingly doesnt apply to many of these people who benefit from legislation forcing people to give their money.(Obamacare comes to mind but lets not get into the arguement on this) In otherwords, gov handouts to businesses etc. I think my state deserves my tax dollars but not the federal government.(unfortunatly I will go to jail if I try resisting in that regard; and if I resisted going to jail, they would shoot me or otherwise do some kind of harm)

There have been studies on what money does to people and indeed, those with alot tend to view themselves differently from those without alot.
This is a very large topic and it would be easy to write pages on it, but I think that we should not get completely offtopic. One thing I would find interesting is education level vs money and how people view it.

[Rigby]

The rich don't need to give back. That's a false premise. The rich created a product or a service that you decided was worth more to you than the dollar in your hand. You made them wealthy through voluntary exchange. "Give Back" is the cry of the looter. If the wealthy give back and you don't give back to them then you are just a thief. Of course you don't get them to "give back" yourself. You have government do it at the point of a gun.

if they'd pay their fair share of taxes, I'd be happy.  Offshore this, shelter company that.  That's theft...

[linux-works]

The rich don't need to give back. That's a false premise. The rich created a product or a service that you decided was worth more to you than the dollar in your hand. You made them wealthy through voluntary exchange. "Give Back" is the cry of the looter. If the wealthy give back and you don't give back to them then you are just a thief. Of course you don't get them to "give back" yourself. You have government do it at the point of a gun.

if they'd pay their fair share of taxes, I'd be happy.  Offshore this, shelter company that.  That's theft...

we agree.  (is this a first, for the forum?  lol!)

no one wants to pay taxes, but they are needed to pay for infrastructure (other things too, but this is the most impacting thing for all of us).  yes, taxes also get wasted but that's beside the point; if none get paid, nothing gets fixed or expanded.

the poor HAVE to pay taxes (sales tax and income tax).  the rich have shelters to hide their money and its just not fair to the rest of us who have to shoulder THEIR responsibility.  I am not saying that what they do is not legal; but legal != moral.

[vk6zgo]

I'd just like to say, that anyone who believes that gaining wealth makes good people into bad people, please PM me so I can give you an address where you send your extra money to.

A crazzzzyyyy social reformist once said:

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Goddamn Commie!

[Tinkerer]

The entire tax system needs overhauling to begin with. It is far too complex.
I would put a tiered sales tax system in(to replace everything else) with things like basic raw foods taxed the least and things like luxery yachts taxed the most. This avoids taxing the poor heavily while still getting the rich and allowing people to simply not pay tax if they dont want to buy anything.

[casinada]

As far as I know, food is not taxed. Go to a supermarket and buy food, you will pay no taxes. If you go to a Restaurant on the other hand they will charge taxes as mandated by law for providing a service.This is really of topic already

[zapta]

A crazzzzyyyy social reformist once said:

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

He was right, needles do exist.

[mtdoc]

The rich don't need to give back. That's a false premise. The rich created a product or a service that you decided was worth more to you than the dollar in your hand. You made them wealthy through voluntary exchange.

Ha!, If only it were so!  Perhaps in a bygone era.  In the real world- here, now, in the USA - most of the truly rich have accumulated their riches working as  banksters, raiders and other such mega-corporate piglets suckling at the tit of government directed corporate socialism. They're the looters - accumulating wealth by sucking money out of the system - hollowing out the middle class and outright mugging the working class in the process.  The sick irony is that they've managed to fool large numbers into continuing to vote against their best interests and into believing in the kind of fairy tale America that you propose (thanks Rupert!). As Warren Buffet said "yes,  this IS class warfare and my class is winning!."

Of course there are plenty of run of the mill, lower level "rich" who have worked hard to create something of value and have contributed to society, but these are more and more becoming the exception.

True enough that goverment has an unhealthy role in redistribution of wealth, but the distrubuting is to the rich - who bankroll the politicians. It's quite a slight of hand they've mastered, convincing so many otherwise well meaning people that this is how "capitalism" is supposed to function...

[linux-works]

mtdoc: you took the words right out of my mouth.

thank you for saying what had to be said.  I'm glad that some people see what is actually going on.

[nanofrog]

As far as I know, food is not taxed.

It is where I live. 

Not just things like soda or other forms of junk food (ready to eat; just open and shovel into mouth), but basic staples that require preparation such as milk, eggs, bread, rice,.... are taxed as well. As are prescription medications and clothing.

[Rigby]

In Illinois, non-processed and non-cooked foods or "staples" such as milk, eggs, bulk water, bread, cheese, raw meat, etc. are taxed at 1%, and are exempt from local city, and county sales taxes.  1%, state-wide. 

Processed stuff like chicken nuggets, cereal, snack food, bottled water in single-serving bottles, everything that isn't raw, is regular sales tax rate and all local sales taxes apply.

It works well to encourage folks like myself to buy raw stuff and to learn to cook. 

[photonpunk]

I don't see the point in worrying about what someone else has or doesn't have, or their level of "rich-ness". I agreed to work for my current wage. If my neighbors are richer or poorer than me, it doesn't affect my income at all. It's just an excuse. When you're not happy with what you have, it's easy to blame someone who has more.

And for the record, the top 10% of wealthiest Americans pay over 70% percent of all taxes in America, so it's pretty silly to keep saying they don't pay their fair share when they are paying the vast majority.