What an economy!

[Tookalossfellbackcameback]

I know most of this board isn't messing with old school jobs...paper mills, steel mills, oil refineries, trade work...but it might be time to stop fantasizing about that gravy IT job and start learning how to read a tape measure, learning blueprints, learning how to weld/metal fabrication...shyt your grandfathers probably did.



I've been in a paper mill for 9 years, averaging over 90k and business is thriving. We can't find enough people to stay fully staffed because young folks don't want to work in a rugged, hot environment with a lot of physical labor.



Time to man up.

 

[IIVI]

Replacing income taxes with Tariffs is the last thing the average person would want. Basically this is their way of getting their flat tax. Progressive income taxes increases the cost for the wealthy, correctly, and minimizes the burden on the poorest.

Tarriffs to replace income tax is basically a flat tax. The consumers and small businesses are going to bear the brunt of the cost of that while the wealthier corporations and individuals get away with a very very low tax burden, lower than what they already have.

Any normal person cheering this on is dumb, but the reason why these people can convince dirt poor folks this is a win is precisely because they know they are dumb and they will buy it as long as the right person is saying it.

They literally simply tell their voter base what they want to hear.

It’s like talking to little kids.


Conman: “Hey kids, do you like robots and skateboards?!”

Kids: “Yeah! ”

Conman: “How about no rules and Freedom of Speech?!”

Kids: “Yeah!! No rules!! ”

Teacher: “Ok, well that’s dangerous and you need to respect…”

Kids: “Booooooooooo!!!!!! KIDS RULE!!!!”

Conman: “I got two words kids: ‘Pizza’!”

Kids: “YEEEEEAH! Can you teach us everyday Mr.???? ”

Their brains have not moved past 9 years old.

 

[null]

And this, to me, is the heart of the matter.

Objectively, you can say Norway and La Suisse are better places than the US in that they offer better public amenities, are safer, have better food quality, etc. But life isn't 100% about the objective measurable stats. There's the subjective part, too

no one said better. i directly countered OP on income, economy (per cap) and living standards.

but you seem to be agreeing with me anyway.

An aside: the scale of the US in size, demographic diversity and population don't make for clean comparisons to places like Norway and/or Switzerland.

"comparisons" like these?

In some ways this is what we have now. People don’t realize how much each of us in the United States have compared to the rest of the world. We’re talking our basic needs that we’ve taken for granted are insanely cheap for us compared to every single other country.

It’s why we are difficult to replace as trade partners because we buy a ton of imports as Americans have so much money to spend compared to everywhere else. If you’re one of the 5% of the world born in America, you’re extremely “wealthy” compared to most people.

comparisons to "everywhere else" as per OP

maybe you want to let breh know.

 

[Eternally Jaded]

I know most of this board isn't messing with old school jobs...paper mills, steel mills, oil refineries, trade work...but it might be time to stop fantasizing about that gravy IT job and start learning how to read a tape measure, learning blueprints, learning how to weld/metal fabrication...shyt your grandfathers probably did.



I've been in a paper mill for 9 years, averaging over 90k and business is thriving. We can't find enough people to stay fully staffed because young folks don't want to work in a rugged, hot environment with a lot of physical labor.



Time to man up.

Breh I'm not coming for you and a viable job but what state do you live and work in.

Town of residence as well?

 

[lib123]

Private equity and private credit are imploding. Also, a lot of jobs in the financial services industry are obtained via connections and relationships. When things start going south, they can get rid of many of those people without impacting operations.

 

[IIVI]

no one said better. i directly countered OP on income, economy (per cap) and living standards.

but you seem to be agreeing with me anyway.



"comparisons" like these?



comparisons to "everywhere else" as per OP

maybe you want to let breh know.

Sorry breh, I don’t think you’ve convinced many here to go to Europe

I know you don’t convince me one bit.

The situation is far more nuanced than a few numbers.

 

[IIVI]

Private equity and private credit are imploding. Also, a lot of jobs in the financial services industry are obtained via connections and relationships. When things start going south, they can get rid of many of those people without impacting operations.

Yeah, it’s funny because those industries voted for Trump big.

Now they have to deal with A.I and their hope is the Republican Party to find the solution.

Members of the Republican Party who can’t even define inflation, much less figure out a solution against A.I.

 

[JT-Money]

I know most of this board isn't messing with old school jobs...paper mills, steel mills, oil refineries, trade work...but it might be time to stop fantasizing about that gravy IT job and start learning how to read a tape measure, learning blueprints, learning how to weld/metal fabrication...shyt your grandfathers probably did.



I've been in a paper mill for 9 years, averaging over 90k and business is thriving. We can't find enough people to stay fully staffed because young folks don't want to work in a rugged, hot environment with a lot of physical labor.



Time to man up.

That's like a 40 or 50% paycut for some people in tech. Most people would rather wait to be laid off instead. That's why you don't see tech people pivoting until it's too late. People in tech who saved their money ain't tripping like that.

 

[Tookalossfellbackcameback]

I live in West Michigan and work in a small town outside of Three Rivers.



Here's the thing though...I MOVED out here from Detroit to find a job that would change my life...I was willing to sacrifice my body and my time to start making the kind of money that led to a comfortable life.



Went from production, to paper tester to lubrication tech. A lot of scars, blood and sweat but it paid off.



I think brehs have to embrace busting their ass again. It's work out there but it's demanding.

 

[null]

Sorry breh, I don’t think you’ve convinced many here to go to Europe

I know you don’t convince me one bit.

The situation is far more nuanced than a few numbers.

lawd ha mercy



i can see i haven't convinced you to think.

i don't work for the tourist board e-grow.

do what the f*ck you want.

 

[Eternally Jaded]

I live in West Michigan and work in a small town outside of Three Rivers.



Here's the thing though...I MOVED out here from Detroit to find a job that would change my life...I was willing to sacrifice my body and my time to start making the kind of money that led to a comfortable life.



Went from production, to paper tester to lubrication tech. A lot of scars, blood and sweat but it paid off.



I think brehs have to embrace busting their ass again. It's work out there but it's demanding.

Thanks for answering the question.

You might be right, keeping it a buck.

I'm in sales and tbh, everyone is feeling the economic contractions.

I'm thankful I have a sellable talent that can put good money on the table totally separate from my career.

But yeah, freaky times

 

[Tookalossfellbackcameback]

That's like a 40 or 50% paycut for some people in tech. Most people would rather wait to be laid off instead. That's why you don't see tech people pivoting until it's too late. People in tech who saved their money ain't tripping like that.

It's not only tech getting hit hard though. It's fed jobs, UPS, Amazon...not everybody getting laid off was making 200k a year at Google.

 

[O.T.I.S.]

I live in West Michigan and work in a small town outside of Three Rivers.



Here's the thing though...I MOVED out here from Detroit to find a job that would change my life...I was willing to sacrifice my body and my time to start making the kind of money that led to a comfortable life.



Went from production, to paper tester to lubrication tech. A lot of scars, blood and sweat but it paid off.



I think brehs have to embrace busting their ass again. It's work out there but it's demanding.

Bro you not the only one making sacrifices for what they got

nikkas know how to pivot. The point is they shouldn’t have to for this goofy shyt

 

[lib123]

Yeah, it’s funny because those industries voted for Trump big.

Now they have to deal with A.I and their hope is the Republican Party to find the solution.

Members of the Republican Party who can’t even define inflation, much less figure out a solution against A.I.

Actually, as far as the workforce in high finance (eg NYC) is concerned it's fairly evenly divided politically.

 

[lib123]

same, the job market has been downward in tech since 2022, and now it seems a lot of white collar employment has been stagnated or declining since 2024. literally nothing is looking like it will turn this around given "the economy" - ie corporations - is still doing well. plus we got 3 more years until a new jackass takes office so there's a lot of time for the government to make things worse. i've never felt this pessimistic in my life

If white collar workers start losing their jobs in droves the economy is gonna tank. White collar spending and AI have been propping it up.