Democrat's race based gerrymandering is in trouble at SCOTUS

[Incogneeto]

The system has flaws, but it's not set up to fail. If you just take a step back and look around, this country has thrived in ways that no other country has. we tend to concentrate on the flaws rather than look at the big picture. In a trade that tends to draw perfectionists, it would be easy to listen to the conversation here and think it's all shit. But in reality there are just negatives and positives to any given system. we shouldn't lose sight of the positives in discussing the negatives.

"Dr. Doom"

[neurosis]

The system has flaws, but it's not set up to fail.

Sorry, I should have worded it this way - it's set up to fail the average American.

Things haven't been getting better for the average American over the years. But hey, the market is kicking butt?   

[beej]

Things haven't been getting better for the average American over the years.

I disagree. I think I could make a case that things have got significantly better, if you compare the lifestyle we are living today and compare it to our parents generation. but all to often people use the comparison of our lifestyle today compared to billionaire's lifestyles. That is a dumb comparison. but I would grant that home ownership has gotten hard. that has happened here, mostly in the last 5-6 years.

[neurosis]

That is a dumb comparison. but I would grant that home ownership has gotten hard. that has happened here, mostly in the last 5-6 years.

I'd say that things have become more difficult for the middle class than it was for my parents generation. We've had this discussion before so I won't drag us down that hole again.   You (or maybe someone else) mentioned before that my perspective could be skewed due to the cost of living in my area. I think it's a broader picture.

And yes, homeownership (even renting) is one reason. It was bad during the bubble of 2008 as well. I knew several people who lost their homes during that crisis. My condo purchase was a short sale. I benefited from it That bubble bursting opened up a great opportunity for me. Who came out of that crisis sitting pretty? Banks at the expense of the tax payer. 

I'd say that healthcare is another. I was easier able to afford healthcare when I was making 1/2 the salary.

[YoDoug]

Article is a little old, but still holds true. I'll just put this here......

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/08/07/for-most-us-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

[Incogneeto]

I disagree. I think I could make a case that things have got significantly better, if you compare the lifestyle we are living today and compare it to our parents generation. but all to often people use the comparison of our lifestyle today compared to billionaire's lifestyles. That is a dumb comparison. but I would grant that home ownership has gotten hard. that has happened here, mostly in the last 5-6 years.

It's called Bidenflation.

[mowens]

Article is a little old, but still holds true. I'll just put this here......

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/08/07/for-most-us-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

I get paid a good wage and my company has been generous with salary adjustments. However, my new insurance year started July 1st so we had to go in and pick our plan and benefits again. I got just over a 4% raise about then also. When the dust settled, I'm taking home almost exactly what I was last year.

[YoDoug]

Here is the truth about wealth and income gap. GDP grows yoy at a pretty consistent rate. For the top .x% to grow their wealth at exponential rates, it has to come from somewhere. If the "pie" is not growing at the same rate as the top earners, it coming from someone else's portion of the pie. the whole "a billionaire is not responsible for your troubles" FB memes like to ignore that fact. In the next decade we will see a set of people with net worth in $1T range and we will still see the $15 minimum wage argument or something ridiculously low compared to living costs. In a few decades the middle class will be gone. UBI will be normal for most people. Likewise the income gap will keep changing from a curve to a more hockey stick graph as the gap will be too far to reach by current wealth creation principals.

[neurosis]

However, my new insurance year started July 1st so we had to go in and pick our plan and benefits again.

Is your insurance covered, or do you have to pay for some/any of it?

[neurosis]

Here is the truth about wealth and income gap

Careful. They'll start calling you "Dr Doom". 

[Jeff]

I get paid a good wage and my company has been generous with salary adjustments.

I've been here 18 years. 3 raises total. ONLY because I asked for them.
Recently, I asked for another raise. A significant one and got it after pleading my case because they truly didn't know how much I do.
Almost 65% more than what I was currently making.

[mowens]

Is your insurance covered, or do you have to pay for some/any of it?

I pay for some of it. That's why, even though I got a raise, my take home pay didn''t changed much this time.

I've gotten a raise each of the 16 years I've been here. Plus my job code changed which bumped me up considerably. My pay has almost doubled in that time.

I currently pay about $400 a month for medical and I put $250 every two weeks into an HSA. I have a $6000 deductible and the company contributes a lump sum into the HSA every year when the insurance starts over.

[neurosis]

I've gotten a raise each of the 16 years I've been here. My pay has almost doubled in that time.

Cost of living raises in this shop are almost non-existent. I got about a 30% raise 6 years ago because the boss knew that trade wages were increasing, and I hadn't seen a raise in a while.

It sounds like the shop I work in is similar to Jeffs in that respect. 

[Jeff]

Cost of living raises in this shop are almost non-existent. I got about a 30% raise 6 years ago because the boss knew that trade wages were increasing, and I hadn't seen a raise in a while.

It sounds like the shop I work in is similar to Jeffs in that respect. 

Yeah, if you don't ask, you won't get. My problem is that I always feel guilty about asking for a raise. It's a small job shop and I've known the owners since the late 80's. He's good people, just a little out of touch with how much someone in my position should have been making.

[mowens]

I probably wouldn't get one without the contract with the engineer's union. (SPEEA)

We're supposed to become Boeing in October, but they keep telling us nothing will change, at least at first.