…or zoom out and see the hypothetical scenarios I listed as exactly that. Hypothetical scenarios. You can sit and nitpick probably about half, but I came up with all of those things in about 4 minutes. You’re not getting down voted because this is Lemmy and corporations=bad or whatever. Corporations and their executives making way too much money tax-free is the popular opinion world wide. If they’re billionaires after a 45% tax rate, then holy shit! Good for you CEO! But that’s not what is happening. They’re making billions and paying 0% on it because they’re investing it and borrowing money from banks against their company. That’s why the democratic party has won the popular vote for decades. Everyone is able to see this and are tired of getting fucked by the wealthy and Reaganomics. The middle class is paying 13% on $40K while Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are paying less in total taxes while earning multiple billions. I shouldn’t have to forgo a $250 tv in order to invest for retirement. Quality of life should be rising along with technology. There was a point at which interior lighting and electricity was a luxury and wasn’t necessary for daily life. Should that mean that I should be expected to go without in order to invest? No, it became a public necessity due to it’s net benefit to society. There’s a huge benefit to society each being able to turn on the news/sitcoms/movies in their own house. It allows children to see the outside world and become familiar with pop culture, noteworthy news, documentaries etc. It isn’t just an entertainment box that melts your brain and destroys your cornea…
Let’s entertain your deck criticism for the fun of it, what happens when you have a few friends over? You’re standing on the deck grilling for everyone and the railing someone is leaning against breaks and they fracture their leg? Sure you could have repaired the deck, but you chose to save a few hundred dollars. Now your friend has a hospital bill for $40,000 because he needed reconstructive surgery for a displaced fracture. He doesn’t have the money and would lose his house if he goes into medical debt, so he has to file a claim against your home owners insurance. They tell him to scram because it’s YOUR fault the deck was falling into disrepair. You’re expected to keep up with the maintenance of your house. Now he’s forced to sue YOU for the money. So do you spend the $1000 to repair your deck or do you risk someone getting injured on your property because you don’t have an “emergency fund” and Jim Cramer told you the only way to get rich is by investing and letting your money work for you.