I have a graduate degree in the sciences, I work in a field related to my degree. My wife is a medical professional and we make more than the supposed cut for middle class, but we live in Multnomah county and it feels like we are scraping by much of the time. I don't really know what these arbitrary categories based on raw income mean anymore.
It is quite possible to receive over $1,000,000 income value per year solely from public assistance. More if you're not a Caucasian male and even more if you are not a US citizen. We talking gross, net, after-tax, pre-tax, earned vs trust-fund, under the table, over the table, foreign donations to the MARIS61 FOUNDATION...?
I certainly am not skeptical of any claim you might make, you always stick to the facts and avoid hyperbole - but exactly how is that possible? I'd like to know the programs and the payout amounts, and the family size that creates a $1M overall income from public assistance. I look forward to the data. barfo
It varies from state to state. California has and will continue to divert limitless taxpayer funds from other programs simply to defend illegal aliens against deportation. Oregon has no limit on medical expenses covered by taxpayers for illegal aliens. None at all. Not to mention Obamacare covers the entire $20,000+ per year premiums for anyone who refuses to work for a living.
Klamath County the middle class range is $25-$80k. Not sure if that's where you are or not though. barfo
Well, the air is thinner in beautiful central Oregon, so maybe thats where he pulled that figure out of.
Here in Beautiful Central Oregon there is a very public wage war going on throughout the fast food spots, with them all advertising multiple positions on their reader boards. Wendy's is the lowest at $10.50, Mac's is $11.00 and BK is $11.25. Wendy's actually had to shut down the dining inside for a couple weeks due to lack of help. Dairy Queen seems to be the best employer as they have not joined in the fray, apparently retaining their employees.
It just depends on where you live right? Shit we'd be balling out of control if I lived in Hermiston but scrapping by in LA most likely.
Pisses me off that my sons upcoming college financial aid basically punishes us for working hard and earning a good living. He'd get more free help if my wife and I chose to be lazy and have shitty jobs or not work at all and get government assistance.
We are in a different situation. My wife works and her checks as little as she thinks they are is at least consistent income we can count on year round. I on the other hand, ,my work is VERY seasonal. I'm slammed from October they May 1st.......then barely work the rest of the time. So it has taken us years to find a balancing budget. How to stay "above water" in late summer early fall. Portland and our neighborhood is expensive as shit, and we know if we moved out to the burbs, we would be doing much better, but its a sacrifice we have been willing to make to be where we want to be.
You know, sometimes people just make less money than others and it's not a result of being lazy, or having a shitty job or whatever else you said. #mindblown
Just out of curiosity, what do you consider the "burbs"? Is that out of the Portland area, or do you just consider anything outside of Northeast Portland the "burbs"?
