Look, I don’t want to come across as callous, but I’m tired of hearing stories about people who clearly got themselves into messes … are now suffering … and yet seem unwilling to change or recalibrate the lifestyles they’ve come to expect.
This recent Wall Street Journal piece is a good example. I mean, a $650,000 house for a police offer and a real estate agent? That’s bad enough. But then a refinance to pay for college costs and a wedding?
And then there’s that quick little line about the HORSES!
Really, folks. This is entitlement at its finest.
But at least I can applaud the Gindlesperger for trying to stick it out and for taking their lumps in what was clearly their bad decision.
It’s the other stories that get me even madder – including the tales about highly-paid workers who have gotten laid off and have been turning down jobs either because the title wasn’t good enough or the pay was — while still WAY abovve me most salaries — not high enough for them. All the while, they collect unemployment, complain, and continue sending their kids to expensive private schools.
I read one story about a bank executive who has been burning through his $200,00 severance package and turning down jobs because they paid only $150,000 not the $200,000 he was accustomed to!
Like I said, I feel bad for the real victims of this crisis. The people who worked hard at their regular jobs and got laid off because middle managers were saving their own hides. The responsible savers and investors who are getting paid bupkiss in interest. The taxpayers who are footing the bill for all the extensions and credits being doled out now.
But I certainly do not feel any pity for people who cannot step back and to their current situations.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with you. Not everyone should own a home, and the $30,000/year millionaires who bought houses they couldn’t afford during the boom should not be allowed to refi their houses at a ridiculously low interest rate, like 3.x%. I am sick of the whiners. I have three degrees and took a job that pays half of what I made last year, and we are talking Arizona, so we are not talking about high salaries to begin with. But this is all part of “redistribution of wealth.” Those of us who saved now need to sacrifice for those who spent foolishly and helped crash the economy. I’ve had it. But now the relentless reporting of bogus housing data (NAR Enron accounting) and unemployment data (more fraudulent reporting on continuing claims) is going to lead people to spend foolishly again, and we will be right back here again, only worse.
to add to your “sick of it” list…
Wall Street employees & managers who are being rewarded for failure, with the dollars I had to get up and go to work to produce.
Welfare recipients who do NOTHING to change their circumstances, can afford things I can’t (even though they alledgedly receive no cash).
Employees who whine that “I am screwing them” by calling them back to work for a couple days here and there as needed. Doesn’t matter that their “vacation” and college time is being subsidized by my business – and I can’t draw a paycheck.
Governments that whine about needing MORE taxes.
Banks that are recalling commercial notes on paying customers – based only on reduced sales and market values of our assets – even though that is the EXACT reason Congress and the Fed bails them out.
TV news that acts more like a one-sided mouthpiece than the news. Or did you all hear about the hacker that has proven that lots of the “global warming” has been manufactured, and lied about with bad stats. Add the whole H1N1 hoax too.
Between your list, and mine, it is a pretty good start and I’m sick of them all too!
you must have read the same article I did last week. I liked the one who finally got a job offer in Wyoming but turned it down at the last minute because the ’severance package’
was not guaranteed ! My new saying is :Shut up and Produce!
Nilus Mattive Reply:
December 1st, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Yup … that’s the one! I couldn’t believe that guy or his story. I mean, really …