“Today, only 3 years later I’m making $95,000 gross before tax. On top of that I’ve made an additional roughly $57,000(so far this year) that I will be able invest tax free until I’m 65 years old if I so choose. I probably will claim it as income and take the tax hit so I more liquid. Next year with lots of hard work, some calculated risks, and a little luck; I will double that $57,000.”

With all your experience (being 27 years old), can you tell me (44 yrs old) what kind of an industry you work in. Where did I go wrong, when I chose computer science. Somehow I don’t believe that it’s WalMart that is your employer. So instead of just bragging, can’t you give potentiel competitors – or are you too afraid of that, information assymmetry, the enemy of free markets – some clear indicators of what you are doing.

Yes I did know that it’s possible to get free health care, food, heat in the winter, and housing in the US from government programs.

Thanks for replying. I agree with you on that it’s possible to become a millionaire with hard work, I just think a little luck is required, meaning that you need to find a good job and get it. You need to stay relatively healthy to perform it for decades. Things like that.

There are a lot of people who work hard and don’t blow it all but they still don’t get to be millionaires. It’s simply because those high-paying jobs are not that common. I calculated that you need to put $1666~ aside each month for 50 years if you want to become a millionaire when you retire. Could a hard working and fiscally responsible school teacher do that? What about a McDonald’s cook? You said fiscal responsibility alone is enough so don’t try to tell me that a hard worker would get better jobs eventually.

This is the hypothetical argument of the lazy and envious.

In short, I think all Americans could become millionaires in their lives. This assumes one thing, which is that our population keeps growing.

Yes, I know it’s possible to get free education and such in the US. Yes, I know it’s possible to become a millionaire with hard work in the US (like almost everywhere). Those are not that interesting facts to me probably because I’m a brainwashed leftie.

I am interested, however, in the limits to a nation’s wealth. There are only so-and-so many workers. There are only so-and-so much natural resources. Workers can make use of only so-and-so many percent of the natural resources. And so on.

Maksalaatikko, if everyone in the US suddenly turned into hard working people with fiscal responsibility would they all be millionaires eventually? Would the resources really support that? I asked this question for the third time, maybe now it makes even a little sense

Thanks.

Why is their no response to the fact that the government paid for my health care, education, heating bills and food?

You see, In the US we have a welfare state(of course to brainwashed leftists this never registers); but only poor people qualify to use the benefits. The unpoor have to fend for themselves.

So you DON’T believe that everyone can be a millionaire? Only that ANYONE can? Then we agree.

If it’s anyone, then luck is required. If there is a natural limit to the amount of millionaires, you need more than hard work and fiscal responsibility.

The Finnish welfare state is in bed with corporations who can afford to do business in the welfare state. Small business, which is the best vehicle for upward mobility, has the screws put to it by state which regulates them out of business. The only companies that can afford to comply with regulations and taxes are the large corporations.

For some reason, if you have an apartment, a bike, and no assets in Finland; you are not poor. But if you are in the same situation in the US, you are dirt poor. It’s the amazing double standard of this board.

According to a recent Forbes survey the most likely business person to become a millionaire is a plumber.

There is know real way to survey who is a millionaire and who is not because of privacy laws.

“A nation of 300 million millionaires. A chicken in every pot indeed.”

Once again putting words in my mouth. I said anyone can become a millionaire through hardwork and fiscall responsibility. Many people in the US are hardworkers, but most are not fiscally responsible.

Anyone can get an education in the US, IF they want it. Nothing is given unless there is initiative. All poor people can qualify for goverment grants(free money) and scholarships.

I believe it when I see it.

Do you have any surveys to back this up? Because it’s my impression that recent ones conclude the opposite. That social mobility is very small in the US. Smaller than in many European countries where education is accesible to everyone.

Read my 2nd post.

“my currency’s value hasn’t fallen through the floor”

Whose has?

At this point the strong Euro is good for European tourists in foriegn countries and validating the Euro as a currency. At this point it would probably be better for you if the Euro went down in value.

I’m doing several projects for a company right now who is selling raw material around the world. One of the biggests risks they are taking is banking on the value of the dollar staying low and the Chinese not floating their currency. If these to conditions change they will go from robust growth to stagnation and maybe bankruptcy. can’t finish i have to leave