POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE DAY
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The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you
lost all your money.
-- Bernard Meltzer (1914-) American Law Professor
"So, by sacrificing a couple of luxury items to help my less fortunate brothers and sisters I am actually increasing my wealth."
--Mark Woods, (1972-) American Bartender
This could seriously be one of my top 10 favorite positive quotes of the day. I guess I am a Commie because I don't mind "spreading the wealth". In fact, I do it all the time. Through charitable donations, lending money to friends, giving someone a friendly smile or a shoulder to lean on, being honest in my financial dealings, giving the harried server at my favorite breakfast spot a giant tip. While not immune to my little tantrums and swearing, I am twice as likely to be cracking a joke to make someone smile. I go out of my way to help others enjoy life.
I earn a a comfortable living. My wife and I both work hard. She is a primary school teacher, but also works part-time as a banquets server. I am a bartender (in case you didn't notice) who also earns money doing web design & maintenance. The median income for a household in my area is about $40,000. We are not wealthy by worldly standards, but we are at nearly double that number. My wife's car (used to be mine *sniff*) is about 6 years old, but reliable and in decent shape. I am sure many of you have seen the latest incarnation of the TikiMobile, a 1994 LeBaron convertible with a non-functioning passenger door, leaky top, and pealing paint. I have never been a "car as a status symbol" kind a guy anyway. It's a good thing too! Of course the ultimate status symbol is friends, friends who don't mind climbing in "Dukes of Hazzard" style. Those of you that have been in my house know that it is not new & not huge. Nor is it in a fancy neighborhood. It is, however, warm and welcoming. My couch has been occupied by many a body through the years (sometimes over mrs. tiki's objections).
So we earn decent money, are relatively debt free, and generally don't want for much. We have lots of financial "margin", which is very liberating. Mrs. Tiki can spend money on our new nephew without real consequence. I do grumble about it, but that is really only to let her know that I notice, and that it is really okay. We can support charitable causes through our friends by buying in to fundraisers (Girl Scout cookies and the like), donating to the MS-150, helping save the ta-tas, making donations to the United Methodist Children's home in central Florida, etc. I am always willing to lend a few dollars to a friend in need (that is not an invitation people LOL).
I am thankful every day that we are able to do what we do. We are very blessed that we have somewhat recession-proof jobs with above average inc0me.
It's really a philosophical stance, the "sharing of wealth". I guess the NOBAMA wing takes issue with the idea of being forced to do it, which is a fair stance. At the end of the day, I have always said there are two types of people: Those who say "what can I do to help others" and those who say "how can I help myself". I have always considered myself the former, which is one of the reasons I have historically voted to the left. I will take that into the voting booth on Tuesday.
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