"I can't live on $168,000."
Tony Snow resigned as Bush's press secretary citing the low salary as the reason for his leaving. He said "I can't live on $168,000."
Now, I know it costs more to live in the up-scale region where he resides; and I understand that he used to make far more when working for Fox News; and I also understand he's dying of cancer and likely spending money on medical treatments. But there's something about the statement "I can't live on $168,000" that sticks in my conscientiousness.
The average income where I live is about $28,000 per year. I think the national average is about $36,000 (I may be wrong on these numbers as I am doing this from what I recall reading but I think they are close). That means for every doctor or lawyer making $200,000 there are several people making $15-$20,000. Lots of folks get by on even less.
$168,000 a year sounds like a fortune to me. I make $37,000 (I know, it's my fault for choosing a career that generally doesn't pay well) and I can't even imagine having that sort of income. I would feel rich. Hell, the Democrats would consider me rich and want to tax me death.
I guess it's all relative. Snow can't get by on an income that sounds like fabulous wealth to me. I just wish I was in a place where I complained about being underpaid at $168,000.
Now, I know it costs more to live in the up-scale region where he resides; and I understand that he used to make far more when working for Fox News; and I also understand he's dying of cancer and likely spending money on medical treatments. But there's something about the statement "I can't live on $168,000" that sticks in my conscientiousness.
The average income where I live is about $28,000 per year. I think the national average is about $36,000 (I may be wrong on these numbers as I am doing this from what I recall reading but I think they are close). That means for every doctor or lawyer making $200,000 there are several people making $15-$20,000. Lots of folks get by on even less.
$168,000 a year sounds like a fortune to me. I make $37,000 (I know, it's my fault for choosing a career that generally doesn't pay well) and I can't even imagine having that sort of income. I would feel rich. Hell, the Democrats would consider me rich and want to tax me death.
I guess it's all relative. Snow can't get by on an income that sounds like fabulous wealth to me. I just wish I was in a place where I complained about being underpaid at $168,000.
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What does a house cost where you live? Together my wife and I make $200K a year and we just live ok. My entire salary, after taxes, pays for our mortgage and house expenses like utilities and such. Our house is nothing special and we had to move out 45 miles from where I work to find one we could afford. And everyone I work with is in the same boat. I am telling my boys to move out of here as soon as they get on their own, you just can't get ahead here, it is too expensive. Most of our local cops,firemen, teachers,etc. live in West Virginia, since there is no way they can buy a house in the town where they work. The next town over actually built subsidized houses for their cops so that they could live in their own town. That is sad. 0 -
After working for the feds for 34 years, my monthly gift from them is currently $1,600 per month. Roughly $19,000 per annum.....I could live on his salary.....[:)][:)]
rider0 -
I know it sounds crazy for him to say he can't live on what he makes now but I understand it. Think about it. He probably has a big house, big taxes, big upkeep and big cars. Maybe he send his kids to private school. Dunno. I would think his insurance covers pretty much all his medical costs. My sister has "decent" insurance and it covered all but $2500 of my nephews costs. However, he probably had twice the income or more before taking this job. He took a loan to pay some of the bills and now that money is gone. Obviously his expenses are very high. But think what your life would be like if you suddenly took a 50% pay cut or better. If he wanted to sell his house, the big cars, put his kids in public school I'm sure he could "swing it" on the 168K. Guess he isn't willing to sacrifice these things all of us do without. Can't say as I blame him though. If I could make twice what I am making right now I would jump at the chance. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by SaxonPig
Tony Snow resigned as Bush's press secretary citing the low salary as the reason for his leaving. He said "I can't live on $168,000."
Now, I know it costs more to live in the up-scale region where he resides; and I understand that he used to make far more when working for Fox News; and I also understand he's dying of cancer and likely spending money on medical treatments. But there's something about the statement "I can't live on $168,000" that sticks in my conscientiousness.
The average income where I live is about $28,000 per year. I think the national average is about $36,000 (I may be wrong on these numbers as I am doing this from what I recall reading but I think they are close). That means for every doctor or lawyer making $200,000 there are several people making $15-$20,000. Lots of folks get by on even less.
$168,000 a year sounds like a fortune to me. I make $37,000 (I know, it's my fault for choosing a career that generally doesn't pay well) and I can't even imagine having that sort of income. I would feel rich. Hell, the Democrats would consider me rich and want to tax me death.
I guess it's all relative. Snow can't get by on an income that sounds like fabulous wealth to me. I just wish I was in a place where I complained about being underpaid at $168,000.
Da-aaaaaamn I know folks that live 7-8 yrs on $168,000.0 -
To each his own. My wife is an associate professor in the UC system and makes a lttle over $100K and she's satisfied. I walked out of a nearly $100K job as a senior engineer for Fluor many years ago because (among other issues) they were never going to pay me the kind of money I wanted to earn, which was about five times that amount. 0 -
[:(!] 0 -
What he meant was "My wife can't live on $168,000/year."[:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by jimdeere
What he meant was "My wife can't live on $168,000/year."[:D]
[:D][:D][:D][:D]0 -
Big city life is expensive. 0 -
I agree with Kristov and Tony Snow. Those with remarkable talent deserve to make huge amounts of money, and that not making huge amounts of money when you have that talent is untenable.
And, truly, it's all a matter or perspective. Say you make $30,000 a year for your family of three and you live in a single family home. A friend at church has a baby shower. Your wife goes. She would probably spend $20 to $30 on the gift. If she showed up with a bent fork she got for 35 cents from the thrift shop, it would be greatly embarassing to her and you. Well, when Tony Snow's wife goes to a baby shower people give $200 to $300 gifts, and probably more. If Mrs. Snow handed out a $25 present, she'd be greatly embarassed.
People expect Tony Snow to look good on television. They expect him to be in a sharp suit ($1500) to have his hair cut every week ($25) to be in good shape ($75 a month gym membership) and to be up on all the issues ($100 a month in magazines and newspapers). If he failed in any one of those things, people would ridicule him just as people would ridicule you if you weren't keeping up with your lifestyle.0 -
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
When it was time for you to go to school ... you should have
taken advantage of your educational opportunities until it hurt.
"Average in is average out - and average all the way." It's as
simple as that. Sorry to see so many Americans settle for
'average' and then whimper and whine about not making
the big bucks.
Sorry ... life is hard when you make it that way, isn't it?
[:D](RET.)0 -
i really #@^%^**%#$$^)()%(&^% FEEL for him..."ask not what you can do for your wallet, but what can you do for your country"...guess that concept is long out of date..... 0 -
[8D]-Living in California can be a real strain, unless (as Zip said), you take advantage of your opportunities EARLY--
--If you don't, you'll suffer later-
--I've been retired from the Navy for 15 yr's, Feds 8yr's, LE (state) 5yr's, I have a comfortable income, Right at the 15% (retired)tax BKT-
--California has SO MANY wonderful things to do and places to go,it is very manageable if you ALREADY OWN PROPERTY, every thing else is RELATIVE--
--[:D][:D][:D][:D]--JIMBO0 -
ZZ- Not sure if are talking to me, but if you are, I went to school. But I chose a career that I enjoy, and makes me feel like I'm doing something useful to others and society as whole, but it doesn't pay much. I knew that going in and I don't whine about it now. I do sometimes wish I made a little more, not necessarily "big bucks" as you put it, but my brother-in-law makes $140,000 selling dog food and I'd like to think that what I do is it least as important as dog food, but apparently it's only about 1/3 as important.
I said it's a matter of perspective. To Snow $168,000 is beneath poverty level. To me it would be a fortune and I find it startling to hear someone say "I can't live on $168,000."
Maybe what he should say is "I can't live the way I like..."0 -
zipperzap: This may come as a shock to you, but not everybody has the mental or emotional horsepower to put themselves through college and get (and keep) a high-paying job. It's not a matter of settling, or laziness, the building blocks just ain't there.
SaxonPig: I just saw an article on the most popular $100,000+ jobs; all but one was in sales. It seems BS is one of the primary building blocks for monetary success.
Cost of living: Despite all the news about how the real estate bubble has burst, massive foreclosures, buyers market, etc., the median home price in California (that includes the 98% of land that's outside the big cities) is just under $600,000. Median income is under $50,000.
Tony Snow: My heart pumps purple peanut butter for you.0 -
A few things you have to consider about tony snow. prior to taking the job at the white house he was reported to be making about $1.5-$3.5 million a year in the private sector. he had been making that amount for at least 10 years. that is taking a pay cut of over 70%. imagine if any of you took a pay cut of that much. his lifestyle was built around a salarly of that amount. he has 3 kids and a wife and lives in a VERY expensive city. $168,000 a year actually ISNT that much. after state and federal taxes its about $100,000 a year. now throw in medical costs for cancer and his previous financial committments and you see that for a family it isnt enough to live on.
he wasnt saying that its impossible to live on $168,000 he was saying that given his current state he cant sustain on that amount.
many people in LA and NY know that for a family of 3 or 4, $168,000 salarly a year is sometimes barely enough to make ends meet.0 -
making that first 10k in cash is the hard part, after that all you have to worry about is not running out of inkjet cartridges 0 -
quote:ZZ- Not sure if are talking to me, but if you are,
Nope - I don't 'talk trash' about people - I've never made that choice, unless someone was aching for a tussle. 'Success' is a funny thing. I've seen some use it, abuse it and toss it away. I've also seen some who couldn't handle it and pull a 'Richard Cory' and put it to bed, permanently!
My credo is everyone should do what they are happy doing - just accept it as a life choice and speak no more about spilled milk.
quote:zipperzap: This may come as a shock to you, but not everybody has the mental or emotional horsepower to put themselves through college
Sorry, I don't believe I mentioned the word 'school' - rather 'educational opportunities.' My father - an orphan in the Depression - put himself through trade school and later was recognised as a mechanical and electrical engineer - good enough, matter of fact, to be accepted by NASA for the seven years he was with the program.
When I was 18 my father gave me two things and my mother, one.
My father gave me a brand new $100 bill and a firm handshake like nobody else could ever duplicate - and my mother handed me my suitcase. Dad said that he'd send me to one semester to any college or university for which I could qualify - and he did. For the next five and a half years I worked three jobs (every day, including weekends) and with the exception of six days driving to (three days) Pennsylvania to the steel mills and driving back to the Coast to school (three days) I worked every one of those 365 day/yrs. I even lived in a mortuary for two and a half years to save some money.
For 32 years I worked between 16 and 18 hours on the week days - played hard on the weekends - retired at 55 and have never looked back.
My point? The only reason for failure in America is the failed person in question - for whatever excuse. 'Horse power' has nothing to do with it - matter of fact, if you've ever had anything to do with horses you'd probably know they work a lot harder than most of the fatties bounding all over their backs!
Yep, as simple as that.
[:D](Ret.)0 -
Very seldom does the Bush press office tell the truth.
So in this case, the truth probably is that Snow is another rat jumping from the sinking ship of state.
Who would want to work in the final 15 months of this disastrous presidency?
Also, Tony Snow looks gaunt. I wouldn't be surprised if he has learned that the cancer is killing him, although he denied that his illness was the reason for leaving.
If this is true, then, God bless you Tony Snow, I hope you can beat the cancer.0 -
I also suspect that he is going downhill, and wants to spend time with his family, before his days end, and just didn't want to "air" it on TV for entertainment, and speculation. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by zipperzapquote:zipperzap: This may come as a shock to you, but not everybody has the mental or emotional horsepower to put themselves through college
Sorry, I don't believe I mentioned the word 'school' - rather 'educational opportunities.' My father - an orphan in the Depression - put himself through trade school and later was recognised as a mechanical and electrical engineer - good enough, matter of fact, to be accepted by NASA for the seven years he was with the program.
When I was 18 my father gave me two things and my mother, one.
My father gave me a brand new $100 bill and a firm handshake like nobody else could ever duplicate - and my mother handed me my suitcase. Dad said that he'd send me to one semester to any college or university for which I could qualify - and he did. For the next five and a half years I worked three jobs (every day, including weekends) and with the exception of six days driving to (three days) Pennsylvania to the steel mills and driving back to the Coast to school (three days) I worked every one of those 365 day/yrs. I even lived in a mortuary for two and a half years to save some money.
For 32 years I worked between 16 and 18 hours on the week days - played hard on the weekends - retired at 55 and have never looked back.
My point? The only reason for failure in America is the failed person in question - for whatever excuse. 'Horse power' has nothing to do with it - matter of fact, if you've ever had anything to do with horses you'd probably know they work a lot harder than most of the fatties bounding all over their backs!
Yep, as simple as that.
[:D](Ret.)
Would rephrasing help?
Not everybody has the capability to do what you or your father did, and it's not a choice they made.
Do you need a midget-in-the-NBA illustration?
And please note that I'm not complaining about it or asking for a handout, just saying the way it is.
allen griggs, Marc1301: Good points. I can see him wanting to say something hard like "Hell, this crappy job don't cover my utility bill" instead of admitting he felt weak and near the end and wanted to spend his remaining time at the hearth.0 -
I think Allen has it dead on. Snow can't hang with a guy who he absolutely disagrees with on half the things he's done in the second part of his administration. He's had to bite his tongue for the last couple of years and pretend to stick up for this globalist shmuck.
The ship is sinking and Snow is a rat going overboard.0 -
Let me be more blunt. TONY SNOW IS LYING. This is why he was hired in the first place. The problem is that this administration is so inept that they can't even put together a good lie, and can't tell when there is no lie necessary.
If the guy is dying, he can say his health is an issue.
If he disagrees with the prez, he can say "I'm looking for new opportunities"
Or, he can say nothing and thank the president for this opportunity.0 -
Exactly. It is a perferct example of the type of arrogant dude that runs our country.
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
Big city life is expensive.
Having a HUGE ego and/or keeping up with the Jones's is too. [B)]0 -
Bill Clinton had 4 press secretarys quit. How come none of them got the same vileness from the press that Snow is getting ? Could it be......hypocricy ? 0 -
I suppose if I tried real hard and watched my wifes spending, I just might be able to make it on that. If the demoncrats didn't take it all in taxes. 0 -
The federal reserve is who gets your income tax. Private, for profit bank who prints our money out of thin air, loans it to the government at full face value, THEN charges interest on its payback. All while the federal government has the right and responsibility to print its own money, and not have to pay itself back, or pay interest. It ain't the democrats. We have taxes on all sorts of stuff that pays for the bureacratic nonsense that goes on, and the income tax goes needlessly to the federal reserve.
IRS and Federal reserve were both founded in 1913. Coincidence?0 -
quote:Originally posted by Jgreen
Let me be more blunt. TONY SNOW IS LYING. This is why he was hired in the first place. The problem is that this administration is so inept that they can't even put together a good lie, and can't tell when there is no lie necessary.
If the guy is dying, he can say his health is an issue.
If he disagrees with the prez, he can say "I'm looking for new opportunities"
Or, he can say nothing and thank the president for this opportunity.
Of course he is, he is well off and white.........0 -
i can live on 168k but with my wife and kids it is a constant battle to not have them spend it as fast as it comes in. 0 -
We haven't seen his medical bills from the cancer. If he doesn't have insurance and has to pay them out of his pocket, that could eat up his entire yearly wages in a few weeks.[V]
Personally, I could live on just the $68,000 and put the rest away for a rainy day at the gunshow each year![}:)]0
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