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  4. Can you build a life from $25?

Can you build a life from $25?

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  • O oilFactotum

    Chris Austin wrote:

    The real question to me

    A question that cannot be answered. Because Adam, unlike Ehrenreich, provides no information about what he actually did(like, perhaps cheat).

    Chris Austin wrote:

    I think she went

    That's what you think, but it is based on no information at all. You haven't read the book.

    Chris Austin wrote:

    I belive that anybody who plans their work and works their plan will eventuly be sucessfull.

    Yes, that is your notion.

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    Chris Austin
    wrote on last edited by
    #32

    oilFactotum wrote:

    That's what you think, but it is based on no information at all. You haven't read the book.

    Enlighten me then. Why did she walk out on her work? Did she fail to plan? Did she even have a goal?

    oilFactotum wrote:

    Yes, that is your notion.

    Certainly, one that I've seen proven time and time again.

    A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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    • S Stan Shannon

      Don't worry, I think this is one of the things Obama plans to change.

      Please excuse my refusal to participate in the suicide of western civilization

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      led mike
      wrote on last edited by
      #33

      Stan Shannon wrote:

      Don't worry, I think this is one of the things Obama plans to change.

      I don't normally do predictions but I would be willing to bet like a dinner that rich people will still be able to pretend to be poor after attending college and receiving a bachelors degree regardless of who is elected president.

      led mike

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      • C Chris Austin

        I'm looking at it that he left every of that behind. And, I never seen a university teach the ethics and benefits of a hards day work. Also, I don't see how attending school helps him as a day laborer. Admittedly, being a former athlete probably helps in my opinion, most of the good athletes I know have developed a great work ethic.

        A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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        led mike
        wrote on last edited by
        #34

        Chris Austin wrote:

        I'm looking at it that he left every of that behind.

        You can look at it however you like, that doesn't make it true. How do you leave behind all the lessons learned the abilities gained the wisdom grown from experience. No way that story qualifies as "starting from scratch", period. No way.

        led mike

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        • L led mike

          Chris Austin wrote:

          I'm looking at it that he left every of that behind.

          You can look at it however you like, that doesn't make it true. How do you leave behind all the lessons learned the abilities gained the wisdom grown from experience. No way that story qualifies as "starting from scratch", period. No way.

          led mike

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          Chris Austin
          wrote on last edited by
          #35

          Ok, I'll accept your point for the sake of the argument. :) But, this really makes me wonder about Ehrenreich and her failure.

          A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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          • L led mike

            Stan Shannon wrote:

            Don't worry, I think this is one of the things Obama plans to change.

            I don't normally do predictions but I would be willing to bet like a dinner that rich people will still be able to pretend to be poor after attending college and receiving a bachelors degree regardless of who is elected president.

            led mike

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            S Offline
            Stan Shannon
            wrote on last edited by
            #36

            No, I'm actually pretty sure that is what "change" means. Otherwise, why Obama?

            Please excuse my refusal to participate in the suicide of western civilization

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            • R Rob Graham

              oilFactotum wrote:

              You see what you want to see.

              Wait a damn minute. You started this by disputing the validity of the "experiment' in Al's link, and threw out Barbara Ehrenreich's experiment as counter example. When i challenge your counter-example you fall back on accusing me of "seeing what I want to see". Unable to counter the logic, you attack the person. What a poor loser you are.

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              oilFactotum
              wrote on last edited by
              #37

              Rob Graham wrote:

              When i challenge your counter-example

              No, what you did is cherry pick a few items from a wiki and drew some unsupported conclusions. That is "seeing what you want to see".

              Rob Graham wrote:

              Unable to counter the logic

              Sorry, logic wasn't involved.

              Rob Graham wrote:

              What a poor loser you are.

              Can't say that I've lost anything. A rich boy's lark doesn't prove a thing about the life of the homeless or the working poor.

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              • O oilFactotum

                Rob Graham wrote:

                you're about to vote for Obama

                Sure am!

                Rob Graham wrote:

                why should his background or education invalidate the experiment?

                Didn't say that, did I?

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                Stan Shannon
                wrote on last edited by
                #38

                oilFactotum wrote:

                Sure am!

                Me too!

                Please excuse my refusal to participate in the suicide of western civilization

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                • C Chris Austin

                  oilFactotum wrote:

                  That's what you think, but it is based on no information at all. You haven't read the book.

                  Enlighten me then. Why did she walk out on her work? Did she fail to plan? Did she even have a goal?

                  oilFactotum wrote:

                  Yes, that is your notion.

                  Certainly, one that I've seen proven time and time again.

                  A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                  oilFactotum
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #39

                  Chris Austin wrote:

                  Enlighten me

                  Read the book, broaden your horizons.

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                  • S Stan Shannon

                    No, I'm actually pretty sure that is what "change" means. Otherwise, why Obama?

                    Please excuse my refusal to participate in the suicide of western civilization

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                    led mike
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #40

                    Stan Shannon wrote:

                    No, I'm actually pretty sure that is what "change" means. Otherwise, why Obama?

                    What's he, or anyone else, going to do? Create the Anti Acting Poor Act?

                    led mike

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                    • O oilFactotum

                      Chris Austin wrote:

                      Enlighten me

                      Read the book, broaden your horizons.

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                      Chris Austin
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #41

                      I see no value in the book. I find much more value in finding stories of success and trying to understand why and how people achieved their long term goals.

                      A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                      • C Chris Austin

                        I see no value in the book. I find much more value in finding stories of success and trying to understand why and how people achieved their long term goals.

                        A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                        oilFactotum
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #42

                        Chris Austin wrote:

                        I see no value in the book.

                        We wouldn't want anything to complicate your notions.

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                        • C Chris Austin

                          Ok, I'll accept your point for the sake of the argument. :) But, this really makes me wonder about Ehrenreich and her failure.

                          A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                          led mike
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #43

                          Chris Austin wrote:

                          But, this really makes me wonder about Ehrenreich and her failure.

                          Good, they are both experiments and all they can do is approximate the scenario. From experiments like that you can compile information about the scenario. Those pieces of information can be helpful in trying to decide how to move forward in problem solving. However they are not a testament to anything. They don't provide any sort of holistic revelation of the scenario. Something that a person with a bachelors degree should be able to comprehend. I would say that if anything he has proven that his education was a waste. "The book, he says, is a testament to what ordinary Americans can achieve." My ass! Only for people that think a rich person with a bachelors degree qualifies as an "ordinary American". Rich people like that guy don't know the first thing about not being rich. Him and his book and his experiment and his point of view are all garbage, period.

                          led mike

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                          • O oilFactotum

                            Rob Graham wrote:

                            When i challenge your counter-example

                            No, what you did is cherry pick a few items from a wiki and drew some unsupported conclusions. That is "seeing what you want to see".

                            Rob Graham wrote:

                            Unable to counter the logic

                            Sorry, logic wasn't involved.

                            Rob Graham wrote:

                            What a poor loser you are.

                            Can't say that I've lost anything. A rich boy's lark doesn't prove a thing about the life of the homeless or the working poor.

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                            Rob Graham
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #44

                            Thank you for proving my point by continuing the ad hominem attack.

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                            • L led mike

                              Chris Austin wrote:

                              But, this really makes me wonder about Ehrenreich and her failure.

                              Good, they are both experiments and all they can do is approximate the scenario. From experiments like that you can compile information about the scenario. Those pieces of information can be helpful in trying to decide how to move forward in problem solving. However they are not a testament to anything. They don't provide any sort of holistic revelation of the scenario. Something that a person with a bachelors degree should be able to comprehend. I would say that if anything he has proven that his education was a waste. "The book, he says, is a testament to what ordinary Americans can achieve." My ass! Only for people that think a rich person with a bachelors degree qualifies as an "ordinary American". Rich people like that guy don't know the first thing about not being rich. Him and his book and his experiment and his point of view are all garbage, period.

                              led mike

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                              Chris Austin
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #45

                              led mike wrote:

                              My ass! Only for people that think a rich person with a bachelors degree qualifies as an "ordinary American".

                              Nonsense. He is no less ordinary than you or I.

                              A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                              • O oilFactotum

                                Chris Austin wrote:

                                I see no value in the book.

                                We wouldn't want anything to complicate your notions.

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                                Chris Austin
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #46

                                It's more of a case of polluting my mind with defeatist attitudes.

                                A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                                • C Chris Austin

                                  led mike wrote:

                                  My ass! Only for people that think a rich person with a bachelors degree qualifies as an "ordinary American".

                                  Nonsense. He is no less ordinary than you or I.

                                  A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                                  led mike
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #47

                                  Chris Austin wrote:

                                  Nonsense. He is no less ordinary than you or I.

                                  Ok. Nice talking to you. Have a great weekend :beer:

                                  led mike

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                                  • C Chris Austin

                                    led mike wrote:

                                    My ass! Only for people that think a rich person with a bachelors degree qualifies as an "ordinary American".

                                    Nonsense. He is no less ordinary than you or I.

                                    A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                                    Patrick Etc
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #48

                                    Chris Austin wrote:

                                    Nonsense. He is no less ordinary than you or I.

                                    Relatively speaking, those who post on this board are unusually well-to-do by benefit of our profession. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I think that stands as a rule. We here have benefits we can't imagine others not having, so they are biases fundamental to our worldview.


                                    It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein

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                                    • L led mike

                                      "A former college athlete with a bachelor's degree," :laugh::laugh: I guess "starting from scratch" didn't mean what I thought it did! :laugh::laugh:

                                      led mike

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                                      Tim Craig
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #49

                                      led mike wrote:

                                      I guess "starting from scratch" didn't mean what I thought it did!

                                      And he always knew he could end it any time he wanted to. A simple phone call to the family and they'd have sent him a ticket home. You hear the same thing about how Bill Gates was so successful and he's a college dropout. What they fail to tell you is that Bill Gates was a rich kid who dropped out of Harvard. He came with a safety net that meant he didn't have to worry about feeding himself in the event of failure or while he was playing budding entrepreneur. It's a lot easier to attempt success when failure has no consequences.

                                      Doing my part to piss off the religious right.

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                                      • C Chris Austin

                                        It's more of a case of polluting my mind with defeatist attitudes.

                                        A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. - -Lazarus Long

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                                        oilFactotum
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #50

                                        I see. Since you want to believe that "it's 100 percent attitude" you want to be sure not to learn anything that might suggest that attitude alone is not likely to be enough.

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                                        • T Tim Craig

                                          led mike wrote:

                                          I guess "starting from scratch" didn't mean what I thought it did!

                                          And he always knew he could end it any time he wanted to. A simple phone call to the family and they'd have sent him a ticket home. You hear the same thing about how Bill Gates was so successful and he's a college dropout. What they fail to tell you is that Bill Gates was a rich kid who dropped out of Harvard. He came with a safety net that meant he didn't have to worry about feeding himself in the event of failure or while he was playing budding entrepreneur. It's a lot easier to attempt success when failure has no consequences.

                                          Doing my part to piss off the religious right.

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                                          Patrick Etc
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #51

                                          Tim Craig wrote:

                                          It's a lot easier to attempt success when failure has no consequences.

                                          e.g., that credit card he carried around in his back pocket for emergencies. I have friends who are stuck in go-nowhere jobs in the middle of hicksville because they don't have the money to move to places with better jobs. The cost of attempting to better their lot is prohibitive when it's a choice between their children eating and spending that same money to move. I won't say this makes such attempts impossible, it doesn't; only much harder than the well-off can ever comprehend.


                                          It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein

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