Is America really becoming a nation of instant gratification? Is it fair for them to let us sacrifice for the future?
My friend said this to me the other day. "This is a nation of instant gratification. Quite frankly, we are screwed and nothing can be done to change it." I didn't react. I didn't know how. This being his favorite topic and I'd be chewed to death if I had a different opinion or two.
I saw two examples. My friend's company decided to outsource some Info Tech functions to Accenture. The package given to those being released was very generous, with at least 4-6 month pay (minimum .. long time folks got more than two weeks pay per year of service). A colleague of his (who was also released) had only been with the company about 2 years. The company had just paid out a mid-year bonus. So overall this person had a nice chunk of change.
Here's the thing. Someone looking to the future would save the money, and spend it slowly until they got another job just to be safe. But this typical American went out and put a down payment on a speed boat. Yes, a speed boat!
He figures unemployment will get him through until he gets a job. He even plans to spend two weeks once released in August to do some boating and relaxing. Another example, last year as the housing market melt down began, we all got out year end bonuses paid out in March.
Another friend of mine, after he accepted a huge compensation package from his company, decided to spend the money on taking his wife and kids on a European vacation. Of course December comes along and his mortgage rates reset. And all we heard was his complaints on how unfair the system was and how he and his family was struggling, and on and on and on.
You see, that's all most people want. Immediate and instant gratification, screw the future, the government will take care of it for them. Whether they build homes next to the ocean and get angry when a hurricane washes them away, or invest their money in schemes that say they'll get back 18% per year (which then go belly up), they all show a lack of any use of gray matter. On the other side people like you (not me) save your money, invest wisely, and sit there with no debt and paid for homes, ready to enjoy life without fear! And now you have to pay for their stupidity and mistakes. My friends say all of these idiots need to be put to work on chain gangs to pay back to society all the help we have to give them to save them from their own moronic natures.
To a certain extend, yes, I agree with them - that this country is screwed. But this is America, home of the braves, land of the free and opportunity.
I saw two examples. My friend's company decided to outsource some Info Tech functions to Accenture. The package given to those being released was very generous, with at least 4-6 month pay (minimum .. long time folks got more than two weeks pay per year of service). A colleague of his (who was also released) had only been with the company about 2 years. The company had just paid out a mid-year bonus. So overall this person had a nice chunk of change.
Here's the thing. Someone looking to the future would save the money, and spend it slowly until they got another job just to be safe. But this typical American went out and put a down payment on a speed boat. Yes, a speed boat!
He figures unemployment will get him through until he gets a job. He even plans to spend two weeks once released in August to do some boating and relaxing. Another example, last year as the housing market melt down began, we all got out year end bonuses paid out in March.
Another friend of mine, after he accepted a huge compensation package from his company, decided to spend the money on taking his wife and kids on a European vacation. Of course December comes along and his mortgage rates reset. And all we heard was his complaints on how unfair the system was and how he and his family was struggling, and on and on and on.
You see, that's all most people want. Immediate and instant gratification, screw the future, the government will take care of it for them. Whether they build homes next to the ocean and get angry when a hurricane washes them away, or invest their money in schemes that say they'll get back 18% per year (which then go belly up), they all show a lack of any use of gray matter. On the other side people like you (not me) save your money, invest wisely, and sit there with no debt and paid for homes, ready to enjoy life without fear! And now you have to pay for their stupidity and mistakes. My friends say all of these idiots need to be put to work on chain gangs to pay back to society all the help we have to give them to save them from their own moronic natures.
To a certain extend, yes, I agree with them - that this country is screwed. But this is America, home of the braves, land of the free and opportunity.