*** Quoting Ryan Bagueros from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***
CS> advantages of a better house, more money etc over the guy who only 
CS> works 5  hours a week and expects me to support him.
RB> But you are missing two fundamental points: (1) there are plenty of pe
RB> don't work at all who are millionaires, simply by inheritence or luck,
RB> decisions that affect both of our lives, and (2) the more you work doe
RB> mean the more you make. My father worked 40-50 hour weeks, went to all
RB> training sessions, played the game the whole way. Now, with 9 years to
RB> he retires, his plant is closing and he probably won't even get a pens
RB> that's what I'm talking about.
Nope.  I'm not missing any of the fundamental points.  You feel it is 
'unfair' that something like 1% of the population is extremely wealthy 
(presumably because you arent one of them).  Many of those folks are selfmade 
but not all.  Some got there because their parents/ancestors worked hard, and 
left wealth behind to make life easier for their kids/decendants.  That 1%, 
fund investments and ventures which result in jobs for the rest of us.
If working harder/longer doesnt suit you, then dont do it.  But dont be upset 
when those who do, get mad if they have to pay higher taxes to support those 
on welfare etc who could work, but choose not to.  (I'm not talking those who 
are disabled or too old to work or even those with single parent situations 
and in the catch-22 that leaves sometimes.  Folks understand those things).
My friend, sometimes life just isnt 'fair'.  You are talking to a group of 
regular folks here, not that 1% (actually, it's possible one of them would be 
here but I bet if so, they worked for it and saved money well).
I wont be one of the 1%, but I should be comfortable enough.  I have an IRA 
building slowly and I should be able to put more than 25$ a month in it soon 
(I estimate I'll have the credit card line down to a manageable 5,000$ in 2 
more years and pay off at about 2.5 years from now which will let me start 
serious savings and max IRA contributions).  At age 65, I will have Military 
Pension, IRA returns, and hopefully social security.  House (If we stay here) 
will be paid off that year or sooner. I *may* inherit the MIL's house and if 
so, I will rent it and use the money to give Charlotte a college education, 
then leave the house to her once she's old enough to need one. (She's only 
4).  Charlotte has a possible chance to be that 1% but will have to work hard 
to get there.  I can only give her a small 'edge'.  If the MIL leaves her 
house to the other grandkids, or splits the money from the sales evenly, then 
the 2 other kids, who's mother and father are Doctors with 3 houses already, 
will definately be that 1% and Charlotte will probably have to work her way 
thru college with only part covered by the legacy and nothing left after it 
til I die and leave her this house or whatever I have then.
My income may be a bit higher than the average LEO.  I'm not sure. One thing 
I do know, it's not *much* higher.
                                       xxcarol
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