You Are the 53%

the53:

Awesome.

I have worked since high school

I am starting a business

I work to support my family not those who feel entitled to my income

I spent the last 8 years building my home out of pocket, with my own 2 hands, so that I didn’t have to have a mortgage I OWN MY HOME

I taught myself all of the skills that have made me successful

I get 4 hours of sleep a night so that I have enough time to spend with my family and fulfill m responsibilities

I don’t bitch about how unfair life is.

It only stands to reason that where there’s sacrifice there someone collecting the sacrificial offerings.  Where there’s service, there is someone being served.  The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and master, and intends to be the master. -Ayn Rand

My name is Jason and #iamthe53

The only thing that I can say to this is: you know that Ayn Rand took social security, right?

You must really hate people that demand sacrifice and service from you like she did.

the53:

53%ers figure it out early.

I work 60 hours a week on a salary that pays me for 45 hours.

I have worked full time since I was 18—even as a full time college student.

After college I worked two jobs to pay down my debt.

I began paying for my own health insurance at 21.

I am the 53%

Another guy trapped in a lousy job because of the unstable job market.  It’s really too bad, because with that work ethic I bet he wishes he could find a job at a corporation that pays him 60 hours worth of money for the 60 hours of work that he’s willing to do.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if hard work and long hours meant that he was paid more, rather than simply being able to keep his job?

the53:

Semper Fi!

Poor guy.  2 jobs with no health insurance.  At least he’s got the VA to fall back on.

the53:

The 53% believes in itself and it’s abilities.

My right arm became paralyzed in an accident in 1998.  I could no longer be a chef.  I re-educated myself, got off welfare & food stamps.  It wasn’t easy, but nothing worthwhile is.  I am now a small business owner & landlord.  I am the 53%.  I am the American Dream!

ABakedFlounder

Well, I guess it’s a good thing that you’ve taken a stand against the in the 47% mooching off of the 53%.  All those greedy people on welfare and food stamps.  After all, it’s obvious that they never make anything of themselves … 

Wait … 

the53:

You want $20/hr regardless of employment status? Go get it yourself.

I own a small business. 

I’ve lost everything before.  It could happen again.

I take risks so my kids can have a better life.

Not so you can sit on your ass at my expense.

I am the 53%

You seem like a good guy, working so that your kids can have a better life.  But I think you’re missing a couple of things.

First, although your business is small enough to fail, the Wall Street bankers run banks that are “too big to fail.”  Why are they that different than you?  Especially since your kids (and my kids although I don’t have any yet) have to pay for the bailout?  Aren’t you angry that no one was held responsibility for the massive fraud perpetrated on both you and me?  I am.

Why are you taking their side?

And, you say that you’re taking risks so that your kids can have a better life?  Why should you have to take such risks?  Shouldn’t your kids be able to have a better life even if you fail?  Maybe it’s just my crazy liberalism, but I think your kids should be able to have a better life even if you fail at providing for them.

the53:

Are you friggin’ kidding me? ANOTHER ONE!? This guy even has stuff to complain about! How is it that HE’S one of the 53? He should be protesting something somewhere, no?

I WAS BORN POOR.

HAD to join the Army to afford college.

Never had the option of parental Health Insurance to Age 26.

Never had the option of not working.

Never had the option of full-time school.

House Lost 50% of it’s value.

I AM BLESSED.

This is America.

Drive On

I agree, why isn’t he protesting somewhere?  Why shouldn’t he have been able to find reasonably priced loans for college without having to enter the military, or a trade school?  After all, if he never had the option of not working and he was laid off tomorrow, chances are he’s going to be unemployed for 27 weeks unless he’s exceedingly lucky:

And then there’s the fact that he lost 50% of the equity in his home in the housing bubble.  That must have been horrible for him, but what exactly is his point?  That somehow poorer people were responsible for that drop?  Did they come over and tear down his two car garage and rip out his lawn?

So now, presumably, he’s got a job and insurance and pays taxes.  But all those years in the military means that he was living off of the government, getting paid by the 53% (and it sounds like he used his government benefits to go to school too).   What did he think of the 53%ers then, when he wasn’t one of them?

the53:

@ewerickson Declares he’s one of the 53.

I work 3 jobs

I have a house I can’t sell

My family insurance costs are outrageous

But I don’t blame Wall Street.

Suck it up you whiners

I am the 53% subsidizing you so you can hang out on Wall Street and complain

So, you can’t make ends meet on one job, you can’t sell your house, you think your insurance costs are outrageous, but you don’t blame Wall Street?  Uh, why not?  That seems a bit misdirected.