Negative Poverty

Not as in the opposite of poverty.  And not like wealthy either.  But as in below poverty.

Apparently that is what our "leader" and Republican Presidential nominee considers our family's level of income.  I know, I know.  I should have never clicked on that "news" link on my email page.  But I was weak being without the internet for a whole five days (eye rolling) and I read the article.  Well, some of it anyhow.  I couldn't finish it.  And then I remembered why I don't read the news anymore.

But honestly?  One is generally considered middle-class if one's family income is $250 thousand dollars a year?  Really?  What the hell are people doing with that amount of money each year?

This little irrelevant piece of newsgarbage made my head spin in so many directions.  I had always thought that our family was one of those "Middle-Class" people when my sister and I were growing up.  We had a house in the suburbs.  We got to go to restaurants.  We went to a private school until high school.  We always had presents under the Christmas tree, birthday parties with all our friends, even went to Disney World.  We had a VCR (with a "remote" connected to the contraption with a wire....remember that???), a microwave (as big as a conventional oven!) and eventually had window A/C units in our bedrooms!  But now that I think about it - and it's too bad that I had to - I guess we really weren't so Middle-Class after all.

Because now, most of those things are almost considered a "right" or something that one is entitled to.  Even the "poorest of the poor" have these things.  And what makes things even worse, is that there are people who think that those luxuries should be given to them for "free".  There are government programs providing (at taxpayer expense, as all are dependent on tax money) "free" cell phones, food, clothing, utility payments, health care, even air conditioners.  But I digress.  Must.  Stop.  Welfare.  Rant.

Anyhow.  I was actually a bit depressed after reading above mentioned news (cough) article.  I suddenly felt that our family was poor.  That we were somehow inadequate.  That we were now unable to take care of our family because some dipshit just told me that I'm more than ten times poorer than the lowest middle-class family.

But after a while, I started getting angry (imagine that).  First of all, WTF does a holier-than-thou, lying-bastard-politician know about being Middle Class anyhow?  And if he really believes that a quarter-million dollar yearly salary is middle class, he really, really has no frekking idea what it is to be living on a tenth of that.  And how many millions of people do that for their entire lives, some even with much less that that?

These are the people that we want to represent our Country?  People so out of touch with the masses that I bet they've never written a check for their utility bill.  Or bought a bag of pinto beans.  Or even glanced at the prices at the gas pump (except to use in some ignorant political speech) as their chauffeur already filled up the limo before picking them up for their next $10K-a-plate dinner.

Another thing that makes me fume (imagine that, again) is that people actually believe them when they talk.  About anything.  How is it that people honestly think any of these political hacks have anyone other than their cronies or themselves in mind?  I almost choked a few weeks ago when an acquaintance on FB said something like, "I'm voting for Romney because he really cares about the people!".  Really?!  Are you serious?!  (Not just picking on him, I would have said the same if she had said "Obama".)  I'm sorry, but every time a politician lies, s/he is saying to you, "You are so completely ignorant that you will believe me no matter what I say, no matter how many times I am caught lying."  They have absolutely no respect for you.  At all.  Wake up, people.

So what does this all mean?  The $250K thing.  Is it that they cannot honestly contemplate someone living in on a smaller income?  Or is it something more calculated and conniving?  If they say $250K is Middle Class, then everyone under that is poor.  And nobody should ever be poor.  So if everyone under that magical number is poor, then the government needs to do something about that.  Or give more "free" stuff out to the poor so they don't feel so deprived anymore?  Just another way to incite more class-warfare?  Let's be angry with the Rich and Middle Class instead of with the way our government has been ruining our country.

Ugh.  Where was I going with this post anyhow?  See, this is what happens when I don't post for a while, I get all blog-rant-constipated.

Oh, let's get back on track (as if I ever were on one).  So since I've progressed from upset to angry, now was time to let it all go.  It was time to get back to reality.  Our reality.

We have a home.  We have working vehicles.  We have food in the freezer.  We have eggs, meat and milk just outside the door.  We have plenty of entertainment in the form of farm animals and outdoor activities.  And we have luxuries like a television set, DVD player, computer w/internet, cell phone, air conditioning.  We occasionally treat ourselves to a movie, a dinner out, an outing to the big city.  We we have our health.  And we have our family.  I don't care what any politician or census report says about our level of income.  We are wealthy beyond any of their calculations.

Paul's Take
Why does she even look at those headlines?  It's pure nonsense.  She's giving me a stroke just having to hear about this blog post in it's pre-published form.  Here, have a drink.  I'm seriously considering getting rid of all electronic devices.