Originally Posted by
Marker
It's wonderful that so many people find themselves in situations where and extra $100 per month doesn't matter. But I think I would be very uncomfortable with the assumption that people in situations that make that $100 per month a hardship are there because of lack of hard work, ambition, or intelligence. Sure, there are those for which that is absolutely true. There are also those for which misfortune can take many faces, health issues, lay offs, natural catastrophe, etc. Circumstances that don't care about how hard a person works can leave them financially, and socially devastated.
Likewise, one's career choice may leave them with less earning potential than other, but still just as vital to our society. As an example, I have friends and family who are teacher, and farmer who are definitely not in high earning careers, but heaven forbid they weren't there. And those are just 2 of many examples.
I would also be very uncomfortable equating earning with success. If I may use my own household as an example, we made a conscious choice to have a parent at home to raise our children. A choice we felt very strongly about that definitely had a consequence in earning/saving potential. A consequence we were well aware of and that we felt was well worth it. If anyone were to imply that that loss of earnings was due to lack of hard work and motivation I would have to very strongly disagree.
I would consider someone raising children of good character and high moral fiber, who stuggles to make ends meet to be far more successful than someone who "falls into" money and lives a life without significant effort. Working hard for a good way of life is fine, but there can also be rewards for hard work that don't involve dollar signs.
I am happy that so many seem to be in a situation that allows them to not really care about rising gas ( or anything else) prices, or the effect it will have on them. However, I am also concerned with the people who are not in such a fortunate situation.
Back to the subject of gas prices, as long as people on willing and able to pay, the price is destined to rise. It will rise until it cuts deeply enough to truly effect the population's ability to pay. Sounds like we're destined to see higher prices.
Hey, you had to know I'd have to chime in on this.