From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rafal@smigrodzki.org)
Date: Wed Apr 16 2003 - 18:03:16 MDT
cryofan wrote:
> Rafal Smigrodzki <rafal@smigrodzki.org> said:
>
>> owner-extropians@extropy.org wrote:
> gee, I really hate to drag cold numbers into your little
> conversation, but I just cannot resist:
>
> --A single male working at ~ min wage == ~ $6/hr =~ 12k/yr;
>
> --from the USA tax table --> standard deduction == 7.7K;
>
>
> -- so taxable income ==~5K
> and from the tax table, that person would owe about $500 in income
> taxes taxes. Plus about 8% goes to Social Security and medicare ==~
> 12K (.08) == $1000.
> So he now has a take home of 12K-1.5K == 10.5K, or about $800/month.
>
>
> let's see how it looks to the single male getting 12K/yr.
> An apartment here in Houston costs about $400, and that is distinctly
> low- end. == $5000/yr, counting deposit, etc.
### An appartment shared with one person will be only 2500/yr, with three
persons (as I did for many years), 1250 $/yr.
That leaves 9250 $.
-----------------------------
>
> That leaves 5.5K;
>
> Electricity =~ $40/mon ==~ $500;
> -leaves 5K;
### Forty dollars! I am paying 25-30 $/month, for a whole house in
Pennsylvania. Make it 20$ in an appartment, divided by four is 5$/month,
120$/yr.
------------------------
>
> Phone =~ $300/yr.
> leaves ~ 4.4K
### Now, why would yoy want a phone? You can use single-use cell phones for
emergencies, otherwise phones are not indispensable.
---------------------------
>
> Food =~ $/day (rice,beans, oatmeal, etc) =~ $1500/yr;
>
> leaves ~ 3K.
### Leaves about 7.5 K.
-----------------------------
>
> transportation: car payment = 200/month for a used car, insurance ==
> 100/mon totals ...hmmm ~ 4K with registration taxes etc...
### Vanpools, bikes, walking, buses - easy transportation at no more than
100$/month. I lived in the US for years without a car, and even now I
commute to work by bike, also in winter. Cars are a luxury.
--------------------------
>
> So, no transportation unless he lives near a bus line, which drives
> the cost of the apartment up to $500/month.
>
> So what is left? Maybe 2K for "emergencies" such as medical care.
### So you have no less than 6.5 K, if you are prudent in your spending. You
could invest in some ITI training courses and get a better job, too.
Sounds like the horrors of life at the minimum wage are vastly
overestimated.
----------------------------------
>
> Now THAT is the way to keep the poor boys down. That way it is harder
> for them to pass on their genes, and *our* successful genes will have
> a better chance of survival and being passed on.
>
> Well, maybe *that* part is not covered all that well in the tax
> tables, etc. But isn't that what life as a social animal is all
> about: once the successful animals reach a position of power, they
> use that power to hamper reproduction by the less successful animals
> in the society....
>
> So therefore we gotta take that 1.5K in taxes away from the poor boys
> (Here in the USA, women are able to get welfare, BTW; men are not
> unless disabled). Otherwise they might use that 1.5K to get a flashy
> bower, err....car, and thereby compete with us for women's attention,
> and thus weaken our chances for genetic dominance....and we just
> can't have that....
>
> Now, for someone like me or you, lets see:
> suppose I make 55K, which gives me 47K taxable, and I pay 9K fed tax
> + 4K SS tax. That leaves me with > 30K left over, and suppose I spend
> 10K on my condo, and food etc.
>
> That leaves me with 20K to build a great bower....er, get a nice
> flashy car...I think I will get a big loud stereo and one of those
> neon license plate holders....the women won't be able to miss me in
> that thing.
>
> GENETIC DOMINANCE, HERE I COME!
### Yep, a big red Corvette, this is my dream, too (but not to get chicks,
of course).
Rafal
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