Hellobee Boards

I agree with @Mrbee and some others above - it's really concerning to me to see so many people putting down success (in the greater world, not here in this thread) because isn't that what I want my child to have? Someday? I think a lot of people assume that wealthy people just fell into it - my dad was the first in his family to go to college, married at 20, my mom left college to work full time putting him through, he graduated with $150k in debt, became a doctor, and has worked 80+ hours a week his entire working career to successfully own a private practice. There were a lot of sacrifices that no one gives any credit for... there were years when my mom learned to sew all our clothes, years where she and my dad ate peanut butter sandwiches every day because they couldn't afford lunch meat. Small business owners don't wake up one day with an idea and then suddenly, boom they're rich.

I am so proud of my parents because they both came from very poor backgrounds and have truly changed not only their fortunes, but their kids' fortunes. I hope I'm able to provide that kind of legacy to my children, which is why we are careful to work really hard to try to pay off debt now so that we can be more financially free later. Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for, I think.

@eiko2010: I agree about the insurance issue. But it's not just that.

I'm a generalist and am compensated fairly but not outrageously. Specialists who can bill for doing surgery or scopes or caths get paid pretty extremely. It isn't unusual for a surgeon to make 5 times what I make... It comes back to insurance because they bill more and recoup more for what they do. Until there is equity in the insurance/billing process, there won't be equity in pay for specialists vs generalists.

But I still absolutely love what I do!

I don't worry about this at all. People who make a lot of money are usually entrepreneurial (we aren't talking about the Kardashians here) and innovative. Since i also work in the technical industries, I see this a lot. These people are typically smarter than the average individual.

Yes there is inequality. You have people who go to college for certain degrees that likely make more money--sciences, business, etc. And the people who have lots of money usually go to the 'better' schools. Being successful usually starts with a good education. Making that available to everyone would be fantastic. Even then, you'll always have people who pick the easier route and then ostracize people who choose the more difficult one.

I think it comes out sounding like backlash against money or financial success, but it is coming from a place of frustration & resentment. I feel like often those types of statements say less about the situations they're remarking on & more about the situation of the one making the statement.

I absolutely agree with @Mrsbells: about the state of of economy, where people are stuck and with a growing divide between haves & have nots, it's harder and harder to jump from growing up a have not to a have adult, or even to stay within the haves. With the increase in the number of people struggling to get by and the growth of social media/independent recording/publishing, it seems to make sense that the voice of those struggling would be louder & spread further than before. I think the backlash against wealth is saying that the divide is too great, that those struggling don't feel understood by those that aren't struggling the same way & that something needs to change so our children have opportunities that are quickly vanishing. Many of those opportunities are taken away because of a lack of funds, so when you see someone with the means to help make a situation better and you don't feel like they want to do what you perceive as their part, or what you'd like to think you'd do given their circumstances, that negativity come out.

I also agree with @highwire: that entitlement is a huge issue within our culture- across all economic levels!

I don't have an issue with successful people or people who have money. I do have an issue with the huge -- and growing -- void between the haves and the have-nots, and the disappearance of the middle class. I think unfortunately that many people equate the issue with the privileged, which is not the way it should be. That kind of logic creates an even deeper divide that creates an "us against them" mentality that virtually ensures the problem will never be solved.

@MamaMoose: I know a fair amount about that stuff and Mr. Jacks almost decided to take a job with Goldman Sachs working on derivatives, so while I absolutely know the individuals are not evil (after all the mister was almost one of them), the practice is not exactly beneficial for the state of our economy. I mean look what happened in 2008!

@MamaMoose: We do and it is ok! But I will acknowledge that there was more to the 08 crash than just one or a couple of financial instruments. My sense of fair play just gets all snarled up when I think about people betting against home owners (though I understand why these instruments exist). If you really want to get into the weeds, I think the real problem is the deregulation that led to changes in the risk ratios that were used and considered appropriate.

for others who are interested in more on CDS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_default_swap

@meredithNYC: I completely agree that there are many factors that go into being a success.
I am also really concerned. As Mr. Bee said, other cultures do have guilt with success but America is supposed to be the land of the second chance. AND the land where it is celebrated when that second chance (with hard work) leads to success.

Like @crumbs, America looks like the land of the starving and that is not a good image or a good reality. I am very concerned about the loss of the middle class in America! (like @mrs ladyfingers)

I don't know a whole lot about finances though so I feel a little dumb posting here (I'm a scientist/teacher).

@MamaMoose: Scary right? It was a useful financial instrument that got way over leveraged.

@MamaMoose: We are big time nerds... and that's why I love ya, baby!

@MamaMoose: This nerd is going to go get a house inspection and then work all night. True nerds never sleep

@Cole: I totally agree! Being conservative with money and working hard has helped us get where we are but I totally feel self conscious about it.

I don't think there is an anti-success sentiment. I grew up a doctor's kid (GP) in a really poor area, and people did begrudge that my dad made way more than they did. To be fair, yes he did work long hard hours, paid a lot for schooling, and made WAY less than if he was a specialist or even a GP somewhere else. But he'll also be the first to tell you it's ridiculous to get billed $250 for a 5 minute OB visit where the doctor says "heartbeats good see you next month!"

I do sometimes think that entrepreneurship is kind of glorified as an answer to problems. Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur just like not everyone should become a doctor. And so there are people who work hard in professions that aren't well rewarded. I have friends who are social workers, spent a lot of time and money in school, work long hard hours, but society doesn't value their work at the same rate we do other things so they won't be as financially successful. I think it's OK to realize something is wrong there too.