What am I missing with the payroll tax increase?

[disneymagicgirl]

Originally Posted by DisneyATlast

I'm honestly not sure if that's true or not. I know many people who have inherited money, houses, land, etc. but not many who are making 6 figures that didn't inherit anything. Of course they exist. I'm just not convinced that "most" is accurate. Either way, that's not really important.

My DH didn't inherit anything and makes 6 figures. He started as a teacher, then proved himself in a new profession, worked hard, and got promoted. We don't go on trips we would like to b/c he won't take that much time off work. I'd love to do a PC cruise....2 wks off work... No way. He answers emails/calls 24/7. Nothing is handed to him.
Likewise, my 2 best friends that make 6 figures weren't handed or inherit anything either. My inlaws make oodles of money but are married to their jobs. In fact, I don't know anyone who got what they have b/c they were born into it. I would venture to say that's the minority, not the other way around.

[OhioDisneyDad]

Originally Posted by dis-happy

Wow. Let's hope you don't have any language barriers, undiagnosed learning disabilities or other disabilities that make a high school diploma impossible, lower IQ due to genetics, or any other hardship. Believe it or not there are many people in this country who work very hard and will never get beyond minimum wage.

Here's just small sampling of successful people (millionaires & billionaires) who didn't finish high school - many of which have some sort of disability. There are many, many, many more. Sadly, many in this country have been brainwashed to believe that they can't achieve beyond their meager beginnings. It's simply a matter of drive and determination. Excuses are easy - doing is hard.

David Karp - Created Tumblr blogging site, has Asperger's syndrome, didn't finish HS
Richard Branson - Created Virgin Group and has dyslexia, didn't finish HS
Carl Linder - Created UDF, bought Chiquita Brands, didn't finish HS
Simon Cowell - Started out in the mail room of EMI records @ 16, didn't finish HS
Jim Clark - Created Shutterfly, Silicon Graphis, Netscape, didn't finish HS
John Chambers - CEO of Cisco and has dyslexia

[dis-happy]

Originally Posted by OhioDisneyDad

Here's just small sampling of successful people (millionaires & billionaires) who didn't finish high school - many of which have some sort of disability. There are many, many, many more. Sadly, many in this country have been brainwashed to believe that they can't achieve beyond their meager beginnings. It's simply a matter of drive and determination. Excuses are easy - doing is hard.

David Karp - Created Tumblr blogging site, has Asperger's syndrome, didn't finish HS
Richard Branson - Created Virgin Group and has dyslexia, didn't finish HS
Carl Linder - Created UDF, bought Chiquita Brands, didn't finish HS
Simon Cowell - Started out in the mail room of EMI records @ 16, didn't finish HS
Jim Clark - Created Shutterfly, Silicon Graphis, Netscape, didn't finish HS
John Chambers - CEO of Cisco and has dyslexia

I know from a first hand perspective what it takes to make it to the top 10 of the Forbes list. And believe it or not, there are millions of people who work equally as hard who will never make it out of the bottom echelons of society. I spend a large portion of my time volunteering to work with them and advocating for them, as they are often treated with callousness, prejudice, and judgment. To state that there are hinderances that cannot be overcome is ridiculous.

[bdcp]

Originally Posted by disneymagicgirl

My DH didn't inherit anything and makes 6 figures. He started as a teacher, then proved himself in a new profession, worked hard, and got promoted. We don't go on trips we would like to b/c he won't take that much time off work. I'd love to do a PC cruise....2 wks off work... No way. He answers emails/calls 24/7. Nothing is handed to him.
Likewise, my 2 best friends that make 6 figures weren't handed or inherit anything either. My inlaws make oodles of money but are married to their jobs. In fact, I don't know anyone who got what they have b/c they were born into it. I would venture to say that's the minority, not the other way around.

Absolutely true. The vast majority of wealth in this country was not inherited. Everyone I know who makes 6 figures per year or more made it on their own. Yes, there can be luck involved for those that become very wealthy, but there's often something else, something you can't always pinpoint that got them there. My godson who did go to college has already made his first million, but not in a traditional job. He's 26 and he started his own online business with his brother. They have "something" that makes it work beyond hard work. And that, they didn't learn in school.