Overworked America: 12 Charts that Will Make Your Blood Boil

There is already a class war. Unfortunately it's being waged on us.

stfu all our leaders suck balls, don't try and pin this on the dems you hate

Fair point. But employment was also much higher, Wall Street hadn't destroyed the economy, millions of people hadn't lost their jobs and homes and the middle class hadn't been swindled out of trillions of dollars to protect the fat asses of the wealthy. Additionally, the GOP was far more subtle about screwing the middle class then they are today.

This will sound cynical but if you're going to allow the wealthy to accumulate exorbitant sums of money at the expense of the unwashed masses, you have to ensure that the ones being financially raped aren't aware they're being raped. So you have to ensure, at a minimum, that they can get a job, can afford to put a roof over their head, food in their mouths and have a few bucks left over to buy Chinese made shit from Wal-Mart that used to be manufactured here. See the diff?

There is NO WAY the current trend can continue, history has proven that with 100% certainty. You can only push people so far before they begin to push back very forcefully. We are not there yet but getting very close. If Obama caves and the GOP starts cutting Medicare and Social Security without raising taxes on the rich and cutting the defense budget, their WILL be (another) revolution and it won't be pretty.

I don't hate anyone. I disagree with liberal ideology. It made sense the rich got richer during the Clinton era. It was the dot.com boom. People with money invested in dot.coms. They made a killing. I bought a thousand shares of a dot.com stock that increased fourteen times in value in a matter of months. Imagine if I could have afforded ten thousand shares!

With people living longer Medicare ad Social Security do need to be revamped even if there aren't cuts. The real problem is out of control spending by our government. I don't believe for a second any raising of taxes will be used for anything other than increased spending.

The problem we have with our government is they are not spending their money. They have an expense account. It's the people's money. It's time to fire them for expense account abuse.

Wow, where did you get a statistic that says city dwellers work 2x harder that rural folks. I have lived in both enviroments and I can't say that rural living is a picnic. What are you talking about ...... gentleman farmers?

The cost of living is going to be higher in a metropolitan area. But it's a personal choice to live there.

Bravo on taking an affirmative action on a deplorable situation. You remind me of the great many who do not have the opportunity to retire, like those whose pensions were stolen in corporate m&a's, however. That's another situation which should be addressed. Nothing will happen until there is sufficient public outrage, and government will possibly continually throw us little bones to keep us accepting the abuse, like the roman emperors providing gladiator games to it's citizens while many went without food.

My wife and I are doing the same exact thing! We have a 3 - 5 year plan to call it quits not only from the corporate world gone mad, but from this country as well. It is astounding how many places you can live quite luxuriously on a fraction of the cost! We've invested quite nicely over the years and should have the assets to retire, live well, and start doing the things we want to do, not have to do. Sure, we'll be giving up some of the convenience factors we've become accustomed to, but for getting rid of 90% of our stress factors, it is well worth it! The new adventures we're about to embark on are going to be incredible!

You're welcome for the health care coverage, since I'll be paying for it with my 80 hour a week job.

No johna- you will not be paying for our healthcare. We are paying $ 400 monthly like we have been the past few years, (the company use to pick up the total cost) and his company will be paying the rest. That is how companies use to run, and since he has been there for over 30 years it is a benefit he gets. It amazes me that so many people think the government pays for peoples healthcare with the new reform bill. You also don't pay for my College daughter's healthcare, we do, and have always paid for her health insurance. The only thing the reform did was allow us to keep her on our insurance. The facts are always important.

Who do you think pays, the health care fairy? Either my taxes will go up or my costs will go up, there is no third way, nothing is free, someone always has to pay, and it will be the working American taxpayer. I said you're welcome.

you act as if people have been working for 30 years or more and paying nothing...we are all paying for far worse than health care coverage. Might I remind you that the lion's share of your tax dollars go to the DOD and government contractors?

No, someone else doesn't have to pay, unless of course it is the fat cats who have been running the insurance scam in this country for decades, and they don't want to let go of a single dime john, but we are going to force it out of their greedy hands, one way or another.

You do not pay for my health insurance. I pay and our company pays as a benefit they provide. Helathcare Reform made it possible for us to keep our Employee Insurance that we and the company pay for, and also to keep our College daughter on our insurance that we and the company pay for. You do not pay for my family health insurance. I don't know what part of this you don't understand.

So what are you going to do in 2014 when the company drops it's employee plan because it will be to expensive to keep under Obamacare. Or when they double your premiums to $800 a month because of the cost of Obamacare. That will blow a hole in your retirement pretty quick, don't you think? Someone has to pay for people to get free health care, and it sounds like you will be one of us that will be paying. So why aren't you pissed off about welfare cases and illegal aliens getting free health without working for it while you and I pay? If you are not going to be getting it for free, you will be one of us that will pay for the ones that will. Good luck.

Sounds good, but I already know who is going to pay, the American taxpayer, we always do.

Will all be paying a lot more now the Obama is going to be giving it away for free to everyone. Somebody has to pay, nothing is free, so who do you think that will be? You and me, the taxpayers, just like we always do.

"We are also able to keep our 19 yr old daughter insured while she attends College, thanks to Healthcare Reform."

Before ObamaCare college students could be on their parent's plan through age twenty-four. The new law allows basement dwelling, couch potatos to be covered by their parents.

In RomneyCare premium costs shot up. ObamaCare has a lot of taxes and fees built in. Plus there are ten years of taxes and fees to pay for the first seven years of ObamaCare. What happens in year eight?

So if a 19 yr old wasn't able to afford College right now but worked at a job that did not provide insurance, as most jobs don't, they do not deserve health insurance? Even if their parents are willing to pay for it? How kind.

Of course, nothing is free, there are costs. Obama is not Jesus, he cannot feed the minions with fishes and loaves. Somebody has to pay. And it will be the the people that work and pay taxes that pay.

Your not a true patriot if you don't care about your people!

Your not a true patriot if you don't care about your people!

Your not a true patriot if you don't care about your people!

Your not a true patriot if you don't care about your people!

You can thank the GOP for your 80 hour a week job inasmuch as they sent your 40 hour a week job that paid as much, to China.

It's really that simple to you isn't it? The government is going to raise your taxes and force you to pay health care for someone else who doesn't work?

Fine. Now a question. What are you going to do for medical insurance if you lose your job? What is your family going to do. Answer that single question.

The best I can I suppose. But I am not going to rely on the corrupt federal government for anything, I can assure you of that. I'll make out one way or another, I believe in a little thing called personal responsiblity, and attribute sadly lacking in America today.

I do care about the American people. I don't care at all for the American government.

I think you stumbled on to the whole problem with America right there without even knowing it. What's this "deserve" shit? You don't deserve anything, bub. Life is not fair and no one said it would be. You do the best you can with what you have. No one deserves my money I work for and earn but me. We've got a nation full of people think they deserve something just because they are walking around. Well that isn't the way it works.

Wow, amazing that you have time to post comment after comment on this site when you're working twice as hard (80 hours a week) as any of the rest of us. You must be a fisherman -- "you think this one's big, you should've seen the one that got away." Methinks you 'inflate' how many hours you work ... if you work at all!

First off, I am not bub. I know you do not read what I am posting because I was responding to a comment about parents being able to pay for their 19 yr old's insurance so that they have coverage. Not once have I mentioned anything for free, we pay pay pay with our hard earned money for our health insurance. 19 year old's do deserve health insurance that they or their parents are paying for. If you believe they do not deserve health insurance that they or their parents are paying for than you differnet than most people I know. Maybe you just need some sleep. You said you work 80 hrs a week yet you are taking time to post alot. Maybe you are angry because you are tired.

My husband is a disabled vet of the Vietnam war -- I want to thank you for paying taxes that go directly to supporting me and my husband -- keep up the good work!

You may be right.

A nineteen year old who is not in college is an adult. They should be taking care of themself. It's just another burden on business to have to insure your adult offspring.

You can blow hot air or you can do what I do. I donate a lot of money and time to charities where I can see the results. I don't accept the track record of the government's war on poverty.

What part of "we pay" don't you get?

Really? How are you going to make out if you have a malignant tumor and no private health insurance? You have to look beyond your current situation and think this through. Life is unpredictable. You may be employed now, be healthy and have a good health plan. Someday you may not and be in dire need of some very expensive health care. Are you going to choose death over a government health plan that might help you get cured?

I think that you care about CORPORATE welfare first!!

Nope

No, it isn't that our betters know what is best for us working folk, it is that that they were divinely chosen to be in the positions that they have. God put them there so they could do as they please.

Really; I just got RIF'd, was out sick, got calls all the time while recouperating from someone "covering" my department. Came back and guess what? I was no longer needed; seems this guy could cover two departments at less than half the cost. I am still getting numerous calls; where is that, how do I do this, what would you recommend (tell your boss to hire someone who could do the job)(jack ass).

Your answer to those calls should be,"for a consulting fee of $---, I will give you the answer".

Corporate will not start hiring, it would be a benefit to Obama's reelection! If Republicans win the Presidency they may begin hiring again, but it will be under pre 1930 conditions. You can make book on that!

bravo ! +^d

Great post. Voted up!

yepper. voted UP. +^d

The rich are protecting themselves from us! We are coming!

Kinda funny that they are afraid of us enough to hire protection. When I was a kid my brother used to take jabs at me without ever even touching me -- I just thought he was going to 'attack' me. It would appear the fascists in this country haven't learned that their fear of us gives us control over them. I think we need to use that fear to our benefit!

Power to the Peons!

Right on, wolfess!

I really don't think you need to worry about people in cyberspace affecting you safety, but if you are as awful in the physical world as the cyber world it is probably necessary for you to carry a firearm

On behalf of many posters who have incurred the wrath of Warren Merrill I thank you (hat tip and waist bow :-)!

Now tell me Warren, WHAT in Gaia's green earth does your comment have to do with MY comment? I used the word 'fascist' ... are we feeling guilty about being or behaving like one of those? Do you think I am 'jabbing' you like my brother used to 'jab' me? I assure you, it was never my intention to call you, your life, or your behavior into question. if you want me to respect your opinions/comments then you must also respect mine.

Power to the Peons!

Boy howdy do I need to take part in a raucous, joyous, proud protest; and I need it YESTERDAY!

Power to the Peons!

you go girl, we do need protests to get things really moving.

July and August will be heating up here in WI if your interested!

That right, wynmeg61!

I love seeing those WI protests, I do believe that peaceful protest can in fact work change, You all did it in the first part of the 20th century you can do it again. Go WI!!!!

Thanks, wynnmeg61!

Walker and his posse really did push the wrong buttons didn't they

You read my mind! Mike is still in rehab, but hopefully by August we will actually be able to make the trip up there. Like I said, I need to protest!

You better believe they did!

Sounds good, wolfess! :))

I'm a well respected member of the community. I've been very involved in community affairs and helping people who need help for years. I don't encounter people who detest America and want to turn it into a socialist country in my community. I feel very safe.

Disagreement is wrath? You should see the vulgar insults tossed at me that I ignore due to their lack of intelligence.

I do not hate Amercan and I don't think that Socialism would be better.

I do have a serious question for you though

Hypothetically you are the owner operator of a widget factory and I work for you. You sell your widgets for make a profit of $4.00 each and you give me $0.01 because you "made the money so you should keep it all" Then after I have spent 15 years making you $3.99 each widget and I have never joined a Union because I didn't want a Union causing my boos trouble. Then I get Cancer and you fire me because you don't want your emplyee insurance to go up.............Please do tell me how this is so fair and how this helps the community

I feel very safe.
How does this square with the comment you made to me about buying a gun because you were afraid someone was stalking you? You are so fox-not-the-news.

And where, at any time, do my comments to you equate to 'wrath' and 'disagreement'?

In the first year the three of us who started the company didn't take pay. Even in the second year we took less pay than the people we hired. At that point in time it was more important to have the right personnel than personally make money. In the second year there were times the three of us met to discuss if we could go the month without a paycheck so we wouldn't have to make decisions affecting employees.

Everyone we hired was a professional. None would dream of joining a union. When we hired people to answer the phone they were also skilled office workers. In the first two years two of us (owners) answered the phones depending on who was in the office so our employees wouldn't be distracted by phone calls. If we got distracted it just meant we had to work late to get our work done.

Starting in the third year we had enough employees and revenues to make providing health insurance workable. We paid the entire amount for entire families until we had to start taking some money for employees when we covered the family.

When employees hit the five year mark we gave them a percentage of the company. It meant they got a profit sharing check at the end of the year. It meant they received a significant check when we sold the company. We had very low turnover. When we lost people it was usually because a spouse was relocated. I can only remember firing two people.

We did have an employee get breast cancer. We hired a temp. Her job was waiting for her when she was healthy enough to return. We had an employee whose wife died of cancer. Given our ages at the time there were a lot of maternity coverage in the office. Not that we would, but it's illegal to fire someone over their health. It's also illegal to ask specific health questions in a job interview. The only question a prospective employer can ask is, "Are there any physical limitations that would prevent you from performing the described tasks in the job description?"

In your widget scenario there's a risk an employee runs by being a low skilled worker. They're not adding a lot a value to the organization. They can be easily laid off and replaced later if needed. I suppose it would be possible to target a low skilled employee in poor health and cover it up as a lay off. But it sure isn't a good way to create high morale and a sense of teamwork.

We provided a lot of freedom and flexibility. It was such a great workplace we often had to tell people to go home at the end of the day.

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

hahaha you sound so funny saying that

I'm free too -- free to spend the money that YOUR taxes pay to take care of the veterans of our wars; and thank you for giving me a lifestyle that I HAVE become accustomed to!

Power to the Peons!

Are you proud that you have some inferior rights than the people of the middle east?

Thank yourself for your lifestyle. You chose it.