here's the issue I see with our economic system, and I do believe Marx called it out in the late 1800s, the profit motive, is inherently self destructive as a sole motivator.
Note; this comment is by no means an insult to any particular forum member. But I call it how it is. Marxism is Evil not liberal. No I am not saying Karl Marx is evil, just his philosophies breed evil. You heard it from a life long liberal here folks!
Im sorry, call it a personal opinion but I cant help but say this if people are bringing up Marky boy.; Karl Marx was an awful thought leader. And has caused the dawning of some of the most catastrophic and vile regimes in international history. The National Socialist German Workers' Party (Bet none of you knew that's what Nazi stood for? Yarp, stop calling republicans Nazis if you call yourself a socialist.... Cuz, that's just so ironic. By the literal definition of irony. In such a way that it is literally just sad.) , Soviet Union, and modern day regimes like North Korea, China and more. Put simply; Marxism is a great idea! For people that have control issues. If anyone can name me one country, just one that is successfully even a little socialist they earn a cookie from me. And no, Sweden is not socialist. Swedes I've met are in fact, on average insulted by the notion. Their country has a constitutional framework with a successful capitalist framework to it's economy that allows them to afford all the free health insurance and education they give people. That's right! How does Sweden afford all those sweet sweet benefits? Capitalism! Because like it or hate it; Capitalism is here to stay baby! Dog it all they want, revile it as this awful thing people seem to think it is. Call it evil. But know; It's the closest thing to a perfect economic system this world has ever gotten without the wanton suffering of others. While Marxism is the father of our worlds most atrocious regimes. Remember; Equal opportunity is possible, equal outcome is not. At least not without allowing the elites to make slaves of the people.
If anyone wants me to, I can write my own thread and make it a whole damned thesis on here about how Marxism is an atrocious thing that is naturally heir to horrific outcomes in history rather then it simply being poor implementation. (Cuz it's not poor implementation; Marxism is just genuinely really good at really fucking up a massive amount of peoples lives. No it's not "No ones done it right yet
![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
" People have done it. The issue is Marxism, not the people doing it or how they implement it. Or a whoopsie here and a uh oh there. The issue's; MARXISM.) And if I make such a thread I'll ask people to change my mind. They probably wont change my mind though, not because I'm stubborn. But rather because I am well researched and strive to think for myself. Unlike many a liberal I know in my personal life who take what their self important professors say to heart. Thank god for Mass Effect, because of it I knew what Indoctrination meant from an early age.
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Im looking at you modern education system. Im looking at you.......
So, guess I should finally tackle what the original poster said;
I don't know how you guys feel but I'm tired of being pressured to buy into this false dream of working and working my whole life and then getting to do what I want "someday" later when I'm old and full of health problems after a lifetime of stress
It's not a false dream, most people just don't know how money works. Or were never instilled the proper drive to go out and accomplish some trade, skill or idea that has a market for it! But I guess it depends on your definition of success. Because if your definition involves those influencer lifestyles of the rich and famous, you have whack priorities and should realize that is a fantasy sold to you. Happiness is in the self man. Anyway, heres some advice to people for simply starting a saving portfolio for themselves. To at the very least have some work put into retirement.
1. Get a roth IRA; You can only put 6000 in it a year, but after a while it builds up much quicker then any other savings account. Let's say your 21, or better yet (Lucky you if you are reading this.) 18. If you work your ass off, live off what you need only and put even 2000 dollars a year in a roth ira, you will have a low cost living retirement levels of money by the time you are 30. Which for most guys and gals is a great age to go traveling the world and stuff. There is means to take your IRA money out early, suffers a little penalty but if you dont want to wait till 50 you dont have to. What I did.
2. Dividend based investments. Go on Fidelity right now, make an account, start putting 10 dollars a day every day into the Fidelity index fund. Or the fortune 500 if you want. I don't care, just choose one long living index with good track records and invest. They are safe for people who don't want to take risks on growing markets and ideas. There is literally 0 excuses for anyone reading this, not to be doing this after reading if they haven't already. It is simply easy. Invest ten dollars a day every day into a index fund. Or more! If you can afford it.
3. As stated previously live off only what you need. How do you think the rich actually got rich? Not spending their money. Or at least, not their own money. (Loans from banks.) Especially on things they know they do not need. I only afford myself 1 video game purchase a year, to put it in perspective.
If you at least did either of those first two things when you were 18 and since you were 18, or be like me and did both. Then you would be in a very good money situation. And if you are not; Then the fault is not on capitalism but actually on the abysmal education system that has teachers and professors more interested in turning students into activists then properly educate them on how being a person works or making them prepared for life outside academia. If more teachers actually gave a fuck about their kids over their own politics, then we would have a generation of more proportionate wealth where our youth actually fucking knows how money works. How to pay for their own taxes. And more. Cuz if they, I DONT KNOW, teach people how it works; Then that's the problem solved then is it?
My point is, if whoever reading this is not where you want to be. It is not because of him, or her, or capitalism, or rich guy bad. It is because of you. Take responsibility for your own inability to strive for success in the western world. There is no excuse not to try for it. The west is where you can easily invest in people who have ideas to offer the world and conversely will prop you up if there is a market for YOUR ideas and what YOU have to OFFER. It's that simple. There is a reason people all want to come here. If the west is really so awful, why is there consistent migration both legal and illegal? Why would people be coming here in droves be it the US, Europe or Canada If we are such a god awful people? Is it Ignorance? Did asking if the western world is racist or not just, slip their minds? Some one give them the wrong spiel? I don't know about that. Something fishy going on with this America is evil and anti American exceptionalism talk. Because *Puts on his best cynical George Carlen impression* "People want to be here and not there. I wonder fucking why? Columbian Neckties sound nice after all, I like imports from Columbia."
If your not happy, do something about it. Start up a business like the Hattian I know. Get into a trade skill like my friend Brandon, A Sushi Chef born of VERY successful Vietnamese immigrants that ran and still run to this day a whole Sushi chain here where I live. Invest your money like me. Or, be a burger flipper if that's what you want, I'dunno do you. Hey, best yet! Just don't care. Life isn't about money or travel. Not even about sex, I've had very little sex and while it has all been with very attractive people, aside from the occasional WooHoo with my FWB I really can care less about it. I enjoy forum rp way more then actual sex, which isn't sad when you consider how boring and pointless even good mind blowingly kinky sex is. (The reason for me is because sex is only a temporary fulfilment by the way.)
I save and invest my money, that's what I do. But I also don't spend money much. I live a monastic lifestyle damn near. Im typing this away on an ancient laptop that, mayhaps, counts as a piece of archelogy. Just none of us should complain about how bad our life is as if it is somehow outside our control. (Not to say you are complaining about your life.) If you live in the west, your life is yours to take over. More so then ANY one else ANYWHERE else. So take control of it. Doctors orders.
And if you think I am full of shit. Then explain to me how so many immigrants come to America with hardly anything; But manage to be twice as successful then most millennials darn near 30 to 1? Starting their own businesses and learning trades they had no access to before? My favorite Greek restaurant is owned by a man named Vulcan, came to this country with fucking lint in his pockets. (I know weird, I like talking to my community. Gross. lol) But ya, came with nothing but now owns a successful restaurant. Maybe they are doing something right we don't know about? Something they get that we don't? Well, the answer is simple. They find the motivation to get up in the morning and change their world one step at a time. Everyday.
And if anything made people mad, just know it wasnt my intention.