I don’t get it. Why do say, “There can only be a class of financially free people if there is another class of people who are financially bound?”

I don’t see how that follows from the shooting part.

By the way, I think the word you are looking for is striveded.

George

If we truly lived like the 1950s, no cell phones or cable, one car, homemade dinners, vacation at Grandma’s house, 800 sq. ft. homes, most of us could do this and survive just fine. We just don’t find that kind of lifestyle acceptable anymore! My mom was one of six kids in a middle class 1950s home and she never got new clothes or had toys, save maybe a doll. She had to work in the family store for any spending money from age 10. I imagine if I raised a kid like this now it would be considered child abuse!

But until people realize this, we are having a good time!

And on the subject of living on $10,000. That’s been kicked around over the past few years as a happiness threshold after which the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=/data/opinion/2009/October/opinion_October41.xml&section=opinion

But yeah, I love learning just for the sake of learning too. And in the right university environment it’s a lot of fun!

If someone can learn to live on less, that person can free their mind from some economic worries. Less worry will translate directly to better health. Who doesn’t want to be healthier? Apparently, over 90% out there.

I would LOL, except it is true.

also, it’s

“I have striven for”.

“Strived” would be used like this: “I strived for”.

But in your sentence you would use: “I have striven for”

I don’t know the names for these verb tenses so that’s the best I can do explanation-wise.

Also, on a grant, I got hooked up with an organization that helped me get contacts for a research project I did in a small African village–I lived out there on my own in a tent for some time and I learned a lot of extremely useful things: ranging from gathering wood and food in a desert climate to the ways in which people’s notions of time differ depending on their context–ie: no electricity, no travel etc. I suppose I could have done that on my own, but it was a fairly dangerous expedition even with contacts and support.

I don’t think I could have gotten that from martial arts or the football team. I agree though, college didn’t make me smarter or more analytical, but it did open my mind to a whole new world of possibilities–it was a major shift. Not that college is a major shift for everyone. I will give you that.

For the feds, for instance, a BS/BA essentially guarantees a minimum starting wage of GS-5, a Masters at GS-7, and a PhD at GS-9. If you don’t have a degree, it’s incredibly difficult to start above a GS-4.

In my brief federal employment, I started as GS-5 and exited as GS-11 after 4 years. My mother, who never had a degree but was certainly smart and hard working, did not get above GS-4 after 20 years. I actually started working for the feds at a salary higher than she retired on 3 years earlier.

Jacob, you (and several others) mentioned the futility of getting a 4 (or more) year degree if your objective is getting higher pay or landing in the middle class or whatever. And the comment was made, if you want an education, just use the library.

But I do think that my education is perhaps one of the most precious luxuries I’ve permitted myself in my life, and that it was worth every penny. It can never be taken away, and it allowed me to become the free-thinker I am today.

It kind of brings me back to the idea of mastering a new practical skill. Yes, you can use the library and the internet to learn to do these tasks, but there’s something really great about having a mentor. University gave me mentors. I had several people who really watched over me, challenged me, inspired me and showed me things I just wouldn’t have figured out on my own or even known to explore on my own. And I’m picky and rebellious. I won’t even sit through a class if I think I can learn it better alone.

Also, not every university education has to cost you money. My education technically cost around $120,000–but it was basically paid through grants, scholarships etc. I took out $12,000 in loans for all 6 years(that included my costs for living expenses). The interest was about 3% on that. It’s the only loan I’ve ever taken in my life, but I think it was worth it. I spent 6 years thinking, learning, being inspired and mentored. I would not be the same person had I gone into welding and done the rest myself by library.

Now, during those six years, I was not putting money away to retire and it took me 2 years to pay off my loans, but I still have plenty of time to benefit form all that knowledge. I don’t know, I think it was worth it.

But I agree, not as a money-making strategy. I have a friend that dropped out of high school and became a hair dresser who has earned many, many times what I have. But that’s ok with me.