No to increased taxes

Free said:

dankind said:

rr165892 said:

A degree is good and all but A combine tractor mechanic working for Catapiller makes 150,000 a year.My point is There are many good options other then 200k in dept.So no need to stress.You can still be very successful without a college degree.Hard work and good mind will take you wherever you need to go.If your passion needs a degree then go get it.But many paths you can follow.

I've always said that I just wish that I followed in pop's shoes and apprenticed with him to be an auto mechanic. I'd be fucking rolling in it instead of more than $200,000 in debt that will basically be passed on to my kids when I die. Following my bliss was so not worth it.

So your preoccupation is with money and not happiness, huh? The American Way.

Perhaps he is unhappy with the debt he indicates he has Vs. what the schooling the debt went toward provided him. How do you know anything about his life to make that comment?
Judgmental, assumptive, and mean. The 'AMT way.'

dankind said:

Free said:

dankind said:

rr165892 said:

A degree is good and all but A combine tractor mechanic working for Catapiller makes 150,000 a year.My point is There are many good options other then 200k in dept.So no need to stress.You can still be very successful without a college degree.Hard work and good mind will take you wherever you need to go.If your passion needs a degree then go get it.But many paths you can follow.

I've always said that I just wish that I followed in pop's shoes and apprenticed with him to be an auto mechanic. I'd be fucking rolling in it instead of more than $200,000 in debt that will basically be passed on to my kids when I die. Following my bliss was so not worth it.

So your preoccupation is with money and not happiness, huh? The American Way.

I was being facetious about the "rolling in it" part, but I thank you for your judgmental note. It reminded me of why I steer clear of AMT.

But to recap: It was my preoccupation with happiness that got me into an insurmountable (and growing) amount of debt that now depresses the hell out of me and makes me feel like a worthless piece of shit every day I draw breath.

Thanks again.

It was a shitty comment and you're not alone with the debt so don't feel worthless. Unfortunately the reality is that you have to use your 20's to 40's to build up what you can, so you can try to relax in your 50's and beyond.

dankind said:

Free said:

dankind said:

rr165892 said:

A degree is good and all but A combine tractor mechanic working for Catapiller makes 150,000 a year.My point is There are many good options other then 200k in dept.So no need to stress.You can still be very successful without a college degree.Hard work and good mind will take you wherever you need to go.If your passion needs a degree then go get it.But many paths you can follow.

I've always said that I just wish that I followed in pop's shoes and apprenticed with him to be an auto mechanic. I'd be fucking rolling in it instead of more than $200,000 in debt that will basically be passed on to my kids when I die. Following my bliss was so not worth it.

So your preoccupation is with money and not happiness, huh? The American Way.

I was being facetious about the "rolling in it" part, but I thank you for your judgmental note. It reminded me of why I steer clear of AMT.

But to recap: It was my preoccupation with happiness that got me into an insurmountable (and growing) amount of debt that now depresses the hell out of me and makes me feel like a worthless piece of shit every day I draw breath.

Thanks again.

Don't go, Dan. I appreciate your comments, and can totally relate to your struggle. That's needed perspective. I'd rather the person making the shitty comment to you take a break from the AMT and go get laid. There is sure a lot of pent up hostility here this week. Between this thread and the Scalia thread people seem to have bailed on civility and reason.

mrussel1 said:

ehbacon said:

Smellyman said:

rr165892 said:

EH,I echo what Lolo said.We are a bunch of cranky old fuckers.Like walking into a red ant hill.
I've put 3 thru college.2 are still there.We know all about your struggles and commitment and I can tell you all of us Moms and Dads on here are in your corner and pulling for you,regardless of the debate de jour.We are not as disconnected from youth as you may think.

Just remember. A degree is good and all but A combine tractor mechanic working for Catapiller makes 150,000 a year.My point is There are many good options other then 200k in dept.So no need to stress.You can still be very successful without a college degree.Hard work and good mind will take you wherever you need to go.If your passion needs a degree then go get it.But many paths you can follow.And I'll echo something my 25 yo son said recently when we were discussing this stuff."No one has ever asked to see my degree or diploma in any interview.just a piece of paper.How you interview and your personality makes more of a difference"

I know someone who never went to college, but his resume said he did and is very high up in a very big tech company. All because of that first job he applied for.

Yeah that would never happen for someone in my generation. That's great that generations before us got to do that, but now the world is just simply expecting more of us.

And to people who think that it isn't harder to get into good colleges now, you need to look at simple stats. More people are applying now than ever, which brings in more competition and a better applicant field. The worlds changing and not for the better, the least people can do is not be ignorant towards it.

EH is right. It's ungodly expensive, bachelor's are a dime a dozen, almost equivalent to a HS diploma for those coming into the work force. The trade jobs are great and I have tremendous respect for them, but I would not want my son working construction at 50, or hanging drywall. Someone has to do it and I respect that work, but I'm pushing my kids for something different.
Factory jobs are too risky long term. They will be automated or outsourced.

Your thinking to narrow minded.If your son is bright and works hard,gets his license he could be a developer,custom home Builder,Specialty tradesman,Own that multi million dollar drywall company,Own his own garage.Run job sites,become a specialty trade builder etc.
Parents as a whole think white collar is the only way.And truthfully look down on trades even though they respect it.
I can tell you without any hesitation,you can make fuck you money with a trade and a brain.

Free said:

Sorry to those offended. But he said it himself. I didn't say it to be mean I said it to be hurtful, it's an obvious statement.

I sure hope this was a mis-edit.

(and pretty sure most of us are too damned familiar with how fleeting life can be)

That said, really proud of some of my fellow posters here

rr165892 said:

mrussel1 said:

ehbacon said:

Smellyman said:

rr165892 said:

EH,I echo what Lolo said.We are a bunch of cranky old fuckers.Like walking into a red ant hill.
I've put 3 thru college.2 are still there.We know all about your struggles and commitment and I can tell you all of us Moms and Dads on here are in your corner and pulling for you,regardless of the debate de jour.We are not as disconnected from youth as you may think.

Just remember. A degree is good and all but A combine tractor mechanic working for Catapiller makes 150,000 a year.My point is There are many good options other then 200k in dept.So no need to stress.You can still be very successful without a college degree.Hard work and good mind will take you wherever you need to go.If your passion needs a degree then go get it.But many paths you can follow.And I'll echo something my 25 yo son said recently when we were discussing this stuff."No one has ever asked to see my degree or diploma in any interview.just a piece of paper.How you interview and your personality makes more of a difference"

I know someone who never went to college, but his resume said he did and is very high up in a very big tech company. All because of that first job he applied for.

Yeah that would never happen for someone in my generation. That's great that generations before us got to do that, but now the world is just simply expecting more of us.

And to people who think that it isn't harder to get into good colleges now, you need to look at simple stats. More people are applying now than ever, which brings in more competition and a better applicant field. The worlds changing and not for the better, the least people can do is not be ignorant towards it.

EH is right. It's ungodly expensive, bachelor's are a dime a dozen, almost equivalent to a HS diploma for those coming into the work force. The trade jobs are great and I have tremendous respect for them, but I would not want my son working construction at 50, or hanging drywall. Someone has to do it and I respect that work, but I'm pushing my kids for something different.
Factory jobs are too risky long term. They will be automated or outsourced.

Your thinking to narrow minded.If your son is bright and works hard,gets his license he could be a developer,custom home Builder,Specialty tradesman,Own that multi million dollar drywall company,Own his own garage.Run job sites,become a specialty trade builder etc.
Parents as a whole think white collar is the only way.And truthfully look down on trades even though they respect it.
I can tell you without any hesitation,you can make fuck you money with a trade and a brain.

Listen dude. My father was a Ukrainian immigrant who never got out of the 8th and was an electrician. He broke his back when I was 2 years old when he was a custodian in Cleveland City Schools. I watched him wither away and he was dead by my 19th birthday. I worked in restaurants from the time I was 14 until I lucked out my senior year in college and landed at a great company and went straight white collar. So as I said earlier, I'm having my kids play the probabilities. I don't want them to be blue collar. I am from a straight blue collar, immigrant family and it's hard as hell. I watched all my uncles, father, etc. die early and debilitated. Could they start a chain of home builders or import Chinese drywall? Yeah, of course. And if one of them struggles to get through college, then I'll adjust how I try to coach or lead them through the next phase of their life. So my thinking isn't narrow, but while they are in HS getting ready to college, I'm not preaching the trades to them. I'm playing the odds.

Free said:

hedonist said:

Free said:

Sorry to those offended. But he said it himself. I didn't say it to be mean I said it to be hurtful, it's an obvious statement.

I sure hope this was a mis-edit.

(and pretty sure most of us are too damned familiar with how fleeting life can be)

That said, really proud of some of my fellow posters here

Proud of your fellow posters for attacking me when I didn't mean to personally offend? I even apologize!

I said no such thing and not sure how you jumped to that conclusion (despite your lack of clarification in what I quoted; the intent was to be hurtful or it was indeed a mis-edit?).

I am proud of their eloquence and their character.