The Land of "Not Enough"

[Peregrin Toker]

I think it could be a cultural thing.

Example: Here in Ireland there is a HUGE amount of people who own their own houses. Something that is quite apart from many in mainland Europe who could happily rent for their entire lives.

Just a question: Aren't there some people who are quite wealthy, but don't demand any better housing than a decent apartment??

[LadyTevar]

I think it could be a cultural thing.

Example: Here in Ireland there is a HUGE amount of people who own their own houses. Something that is quite apart from many in mainland Europe who could happily rent for their entire lives.

I believe, and many of my Business & Economics lecturers have noted that it is based mainly in Irelands past, where it was impossible for many to own land under British Rule.

Dispite most of the bad jokes about Appalachian hillbillies, the majority of the population owns their own homes. Some have theorized that it is for the same reason as the Irish, considering many poor Irish wound up in the Appalachian region. Others say it's because trailer homes are cheap.

Still, my two cents in this topic: I work 40+ hours a week at $8/hr. I have a car, because the grocery store 4 blocks away closed and the next nearest is 5 miles. I rent an apartment with SirNitram, and pay for cable and phone service, as well as insurance and doctor bills. I spend $15-20 at the laundrymat every payday, as well as $50-75 at the grocery store. Three (3) days after each payday, I have no money left. I can't save any money, because it all goes to bills. My mother is even worse off, as she's on SSI and Retirement. My brothers both work getting about the same pay, and they also have no money.

That's why I keep hoping that my $2 ticket will win the lottery, so I can pay off all my debts, pay off my mom's debts and fix everything broke on her house, gift my brothers with at least a million each so they can get out of debt, and have enough left over so that I only have to work if I *want* to. Maybe I'd open the first CyberCafe in the area . .. .

[XPViking]

People in any country will always want to have "just one more". When it comes down to it, this attitude isn't all bad. It gives people the drive to get up and actually do something instead of drooling on themselves. Answer me this....how many of you would get up and go to work if you didn't get paid? Although I'm sure a couple people will say they would...I doubt if more than 10% of the population would agree. Mike's discussed this on his website...how those Feddies are commies. Damn commies

If everything else was already taken care of, yes, I still would go to work, though maybe not necessarily at the same place. Sure, I might go travelling for a while and maybe even back to school. But I'd still work in some kind of capacity. As is, most of us don't have that luxury of quitting knowing that the mortgage, children's education, personal savings, taxes, are all accounted for. Another way to look at it would be, if you won the lottery, would you still work? For me, yes. But you would have more options.

XPViking