What is "rich"?

[scott411]

this has come up in a few thread's here, in the election result, and the Occupy ones as well,

at the moment their is a ground swell of people wanting to burn these rich pricks that own everything at the stake,

but what do you consider rich? is it an income level, is it a level of assets,

When i was a kid everyone talked about wanting to be a Millionaire, but is that really considered rich anymore, i mean having a million $$'s in assets,

just interested in peoples opinion's,

[Hitcher]

"Rich" can usually be defined as "more than I've got".

This is part of the lexicon for the politics of envy or belief systems based on a view that nobody should have more than anybody else, irrespective of the talents or efforts of either party.

And there's no apostrophe needed in "opinions" but one is needed after the s in "peoples' "

[Ocean1]

This is part of the lexicon for the politics of envy

Along with my favourite: "Income equality"

[scott411]

And there's no apostrophe needed in "opinions" but one is needed after the s in "peoples' "

cheers for the english lesson, the 51% i got in School C english doesn't get me far

[bogan]

Too much fuel, not enough air!

I'd consider it disposable income, a father of 7 on the same salary as a bachelor, ones going to be 'richer' than the other.

[unstuck]

If you are healthy and happy you are rich,IMO.:msn-wink:

[SMOKEU]

When you see a $100,000+ car parked in the driveway of a $1,000,000 house in one of the best hoods in town, then you know they're a rich cunt.

[unstuck]

Ok, are we talking about being wealthy, or being rich?:wait:

[bogan]

Ok, are we talking about being wealthy, or being rich?:wait:

"rich", you must not forget the air quotes. Which seem to mean the wealthy kind, maybe?

[JimO]

most of the occupy people would consider anybody with a can of deodorant rich

[tri boy]

When you see a $100,000+ car parked in the driveway of a $1,000,000 house in one of the best hoods in town, then you know they're a rich cunt.

Or they owe the bank/investors/finance companies a heap of doe.
The "rich" actually owe alot of $$$$ to alot of people at any given time.
Their desire, (sometimes greed) for money leads them to it.

Some rich people are good people.Some are total low down blood sucking yellow bellies.Just like the poor/middle class,and even so called crims. MHO

[blackdog]

I have no money, very few assets but consider myself rich. A loving wife, enough to eat everyday. Enough power to heat and light and even an extravagance like sky tv. Broadband for being able to communicate to friends and family overseas that I might be luckily to see only once or twice in my lifetime. Family and pets who love us aswell makes me consider myself extremely rich..

Wealthy though? That's a different question. Doesn't matter though because we do what we have to do to get by and If I had to give up being rich for being wealthy? Actually I could probably give up the cat for a nice new bike, but the truth is I wouldn't.

[mashman]

"Rich" can usually be defined as "more than I've got".

:rofl: only for those with little imagination

Rich is having enough money to live with the minimal of effort.

[Headbanger]

A good woman, warm shelter, a full belly. Toilet paper.

Fuck yeah.

[Spearfish]

Rich to me is financial independence or dark chocolate.

[Ntoxcated]

And there's no apostrophe needed in "opinions" but one is needed after the s in "peoples' "


cheers for the english lesson, the 51% i got in School C english doesn't get me far

Peoples' opinions are held by peoples.

People's opinions are held by people.

:whistle:

[Oakie]

'Rich'. To me, being able to buy something expensive without having to work out if you can afford it.

[Hitcher]

When you see a $100,000+ car parked in the driveway of a $1,000,000 house in one of the best hoods in town, then you know they're a rich cunt.

Not necessarily. Often ostentatious displays of wealth mean that Other People's Money(TM) is involved. Remember Terry Serepisos?

Very few people who spend more than $75,000 on a motor vehicle have paid their own cash for it. Most often vehicles like that are leased, or owned by a company, so as to derive maximum value for tax purposes.

[Winston001]

I have no money, very few assets but consider myself rich. A loving wife, enough to eat everyday. Enough power to heat and light and even an extravagance like sky tv. Broadband ......

Wealthy though? That's a different question. Doesn't matter though because we do what we have to do to get by...

Nicely put. Old people will tell you money (wealth) is pointless if you are lonely and/or your body is failing.

Food, family, friends, a safe house, and a bit of fun. Ultimately that is a rich life.

I'd guess we can all think of wealthy individuals we've come across who are bitter unpleasant people.

[Winston001]

Rich is having enough money to live with the minimal of effort.

Unfortunately that describes some of our community who think a welfare benefit is a good life choice.

[Pedrostt500]

I have no problems with a Rich Person, Rich to me is some one who has enough of what they need to do what they want to do.
But the Enemy is GREED, and Greedy People, they see life as a comodity shortage, ie money, oil, food, etc, and live in fear of not having enough, & will do what every it takes, to make sure that they get as much as they can using any means available to them, and not caring about who, or what they trample and destroy on their path to aquiring what they wish to get.

[unstuck]

So, not all rich people are wealthy, and not all wealthy people are rich.Kind of what I figured. It would depend on circumstance a lot too I would imagine,Someone from Ethiopia for example may consider themselves rich earning $50 a week.:argue:

[mashman]

Unfortunately that describes some of our community who think a welfare benefit is a good life choice.

Welfare is a good life choice for some, can't see what's unfortunate about that.

[ellipsis]

....i would have appreciated a little more rich than lean when i burned holes in some fucking good pistons at Levels...

[Paul in NZ]

I have no problems with a Rich Person, Rich to me is some one who has enough of what they need to do what they want to do.
But the Enemy is GREED, and Greedy People, they see life as a comodity shortage, ie money, oil, food, etc, and live in fear of not having enough, & will do what every it takes, to make sure that they get as much as they can using any means available to them, and not caring about who, or what they trample and destroy on their path to aquiring what they wish to get.

Pretty much how I feel. I've know a lot of rich folks over the years. Mostly very nice people who live modestly but I've also met some real arseholes who are mostly wanna be rich guys. While the poor and vunerable will see anyone with some security in life as 'rich' I dont think thats really what they are protesting about. Its more the excesses that some people go to thats the problem and it will be a problem if we can't find a way to curb it. I'm not hopeful about this as we humans tend to get addicted to 'too much' very very easily.

[MSTRS]

This has it's parallels in the ATGATT debate.
Everyone has different ideas as to what is acceptable, as in amount or type.

[Headbanger]

Hmmm...all the people I know with money are extrely clever, hard working to the point of being fanatics, and support dozens of families by employment, And hundreds if not thousands of people in the community by way of commercial and industrial patronage.

If we want high employment then we need companies to be doing well, and that means making money, so those closer to the top are going to be getting a bigger share. This in turn creates jobs all the way down the line.

If you don't like being at the bottom then start climbing.

If you think everyone else should come down to your level, then fuck off to Russia.

[oldrider]

this has come up in a few thread's here, in the election result, and the Occupy ones as well,

at the moment their is a ground swell of people wanting to burn these rich pricks that own everything at the stake,

but what do you consider rich? is it an income level, is it a level of assets,

When i was a kid everyone talked about wanting to be a Millionaire, but is that really considered rich anymore, i mean having a million $$'s in assets,

just interested in peoples opinion's,

So many men, so many opinions! :corn: Pick one! :banana: Any one! :confused:

[Fatjim]

This has it's parallels in the ATGATT debate.
Everyone has different ideas as to what is acceptable, as in amount or type.

This is nothing like ATGATT!

Definitions.
Rich: someone who has more than me.
ATGATT: someone who wears less gear than me.

[nudemetalz]

Not necessarily. Often ostentatious displays of wealth mean that Other People's Money(TM) is involved. Remember Terry Serepisos?

Very few people who spend more than $75,000 on a motor vehicle have paid their own cash for it. Most often vehicles like that are leased, or owned by a company, so as to derive maximum value for tax purposes.

Reminds me of that movie "Other People's Money" with Danny DeVito in it.
Great movie (if you can find it).

Mr S's Ferrari (if it was actually his) sold for less than what was owed on it........

[avgas]

When you see a $100,000+ car parked in the driveway of a $1,000,000 house in one of the best hoods in town, then you know they're a rich cunt.
What makes you think they are rich?
Bank could own the lot.

One of the richest people I have met drove a Isuzu Piazza with no bonnet. Live in a normalish house, drank the cheapest bourbon mixes.... but would put 10 x 20K bets on the horses every day.
He has a Mercedes in the garage. But didn't like driving "flash" cars.

But I also have a friend in Sydney, 2009 BMW 335i, $900,000 house.........he owes the bank over $1.5M

[avgas]

Welfare is a good life choice for some, can't see what's unfortunate about that.
The choice part.

[jonbuoy]

Scary thing is a million is not enough for a lot of people to retire at a very young and not have to worry about money.

[jonbuoy]

:rofl: only for those with little imagination

Rich is having enough money to live with the minimal of effort.

Whatever makes you happy, but can't help but think its a bit of a sad attitude, exactly why the old first world countries are going to fall back.

[nudemetalz]

I have a friend who reminded myself and another mate of mine that he was richer than both of us and could go around the world tomorrow if he wanted to.
However, he's a lonely widower who keeps buying toys and then selling them shortly after when they don't fill the void.
Money doesn't buy you happiness...

[MSTRS]

Money doesn't buy you happiness...

But it does buy you a more comfortable class of unhappiness...

[oneofsix]

Don't care about the slightly better off most of you are talking about. This is the 'rich' the bitching is about ;
The richest 1 per cent of the population owns three times more than the combined cash and assets of the poorest 50 per cent.

and the sadness of have the egalitarian society stolen by the greedy


Though it is often lauded overseas as an egalitarian society, New Zealand's income inequality statistics are much worse than those of most other developed nations

[shrub]

I define rich as having everything one wants and more than one needs.

I live in a warm, dry house that is plenty big enough for us all to live in, and it even has a second lounge where I have an HD TV and an excellent hi fi system. I eat well including fresh vegetables from my garden, it's a rare day that there isn't enough beer in the fridge to quench my thirst and offer a visitor one to share and I always have good bourbon and Laphroiag in my cupboard, a couple of decent cigars tucked away and a bit of the good herb in my tin. While I whinge at my daughter for wasting power with long showers, I pay my mortgage and the bills on time and even have a bit left over for savings. In my shed i have a bloody good bike with rego on hold, good tyres, oil that is never older than 5000 kms and a full tank of gas sitting beside a project bike, and if I need a tool or part I go and buy it.

If I want to have a holiday, i do. It may only be a long weekend in a beachfront motel in Kaikoura, but I'm not sure i would enjoy a week in Huka Lodge much more - if any more at all. If I want to buy a new pair of jeans or shoes, I do. They may be from Hallensteins, but they aren't any more comfortable than if I had bought them from a designer shop and nothing makes me look good these days. I drive a 1992 Nissan Bluebird that cost me $500.00 4 years ago, and I doubt the trip to the supermarket would be any more enjoyable in a $200,000 Mercedes and if someone bumps it with a trolley I doubt I'd even notice let alone care. But none of these things make me rich.

I have had a hell of a lot more money and 15 years ago I was earning nearly 4 times what I earn now, but I wasn't as rich then as I am now. What makes me rich is the fact that I have good friends I can meet for a beer or a ride whenever I want. What makes me rich is a son who is a good man doing well that I ride with, and a daughter who listens to me, respects me and (mostly) does what I tell her. I am rich because i have a bloody good partner who supports me, lets me do my own thing and is my best friend. And I am rich because I can get up in the morning and choose what I do today. As for money, I actually don't have all that much so I'm thinking being rich and having money are not the same thing.

[HenryDorsetCase]

this has come up in a few thread's here, in the election result, and the Occupy ones as well,

at the moment their is a ground swell of people wanting to burn these rich pricks that own everything at the stake,

but what do you consider rich? is it an income level, is it a level of assets,

When i was a kid everyone talked about wanting to be a Millionaire, but is that really considered rich anymore, i mean having a million $$'s in assets,

just interested in peoples opinion's,

its all relative, which is why the 1% 99% thing is actually a useful comparison. Particularly when the top 1% of incomes have increased in real terms by Y% over the last ten, twenty, thirty years, and the 99% of incomes have decreased in real terms.

I put Y% because I saw a sign or some statisticoid or something that I dont remember. also the term.

Basically it was to demonstrate that it is in fact true that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. And the middle class (which most of us i suspect are or aspire to be) get squeezed.

Meh whatever.

I am much poorer than I was two years ago.

[Headbanger]

I live like a king.

expect I can't order beheadings.

And the wife just rolls her eyes when I order her to her knees.

[lakedaemonian]

For me, I start measuring "wealth" as assets FAR exceeding liabilities......or preferably no potentially dangerous liabilities at all.

As some posters have already mentioned having a flash house, a flash car, and a heap of liabilities covertly living paycheck to paycheck is not wealth.....it's just a flasher form of debt slavery.

And that's where I think a lot of folks get stuck....often in voluntary...and sometimes in involuntary...debt slavery.

They HP themselves to death.

I also measure wealth in time......even the uber wealthy can't live forever(although their access to the highest quality of health care and lifespan/lifestyle enhancement choices can add a couple years for some).

And I think a lot of successful Kiwi small business owners have it more "right" compared to their US and Australian peers.....it's a balance of ambition to financially succeed but with a bit of caution and common sense to realise that working an extra 20 hours a week for 20 years to make another million or two isn't necessarily going to buy you what matters.....things like more time with their family and friends...or enjoying their hobbies....or most of all.....going for a week long ride because you can....it's hard to buy time once it's gone.

WAY back in the day during the dot com boom, people strived for what was referred to as "fcuk you money". The number in their head where they could say "fcuk you" to their boss and walk out the door.

I reckon wealth = time = real freedom to do what you want when you want(within reason).

[HenryDorsetCase]

But it does buy you a more comfortable class of unhappiness...

better quality blow and more attractive hookers too

[Paul in NZ]

I live like a king.

expect I can't order beheadings.

And the wife just rolls her eyes when I order her to her knees.


You know I'd be REALLY careful about that. Ordering a woman to her knees and then talking about beheadings is just ASKing for it. Heads COULD roll

[Paul in NZ]

The problem is not rich people - its rich pricks.... There is a difference. Fortunately I'm just a prick....

[merv]

If you don't like being at the bottom then start climbing.

If you think everyone else should come down to your level, then fuck off to Russia.

Lol where all the new billionaires are from :devil2:

No matter how rich anyone is money-wise, remember unless they actually are a country that can print its own money, then the money they have, came from someone else - paying for either a service or a product or whatever. John Key was lauded as a money trader that did good - who were the money traders that did bad and lost the money he gained? If the true rich pricks, the 1%, didn't have greed making them so rich, the 99% could be better off paying less to make the 1% richer. Its all a money go round, so you can see why Robin Hood became popular. I think we do need to rediscover our socialist roots a bit if we want the planet to survive in harmony. I call myself a socialist capitalist of course.

[Paul in NZ]

Money doesn't buy you happiness...

It does if you know where to shop....:msn-wink:

[MSTRS]

Houses of negotiable affection? Surely not...

[ellipsis]

....i heard from an American Indian that after he had wiped out Custer at Little Big Horn, Sitting Bull was mystified by why the few remaining survivors who were also carrying a box of money which was army pay for an outpost they were heading for, were more interested in crawling around on their hands and knees, scooping up the cash that was blowing away, he likened the greenbacks to 'frogskins', of no use to man nor beast, but these crazy europeans were more interested in catching the money than defending themselves....of no relevance to this thread other than I have a similar opinion to Sitting Bull....but I cant go racing without the stuff....couldn't own the house we have, the shed, have brought up the kids as we did, have the ( too many) motorcycles,in that shed...hopefully take my wife on the first real holiday we will ever have....rich is having the sense to know that what you have is what youv'e got and being happy with it...we are all just heading towards the day when we get carried out , toes up in a pine box...rich peoples look just as dead as those who are not so rich....and who remembers the rich anyway....

[Swoop]

But it does buy you a more comfortable class of unhappiness...
Or a much faster class of unhappiness!:Punk:

[HenryDorsetCase]

this is interesting:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5989843/Revealing-the-gap-between-NZs-rich-and-poor


its on stuff so, you know, it must be true....

[Winston001]

this is interesting:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5989843/Revealing-the-gap-between-NZs-rich-and-poor


its on stuff so, you know, it must be true....

Yeah it is correct, I looked at the Dept of Statistics data a while ago. Mind you its from 2004.

The 1% owning three times as much as 50% looks alarming but then the article goes on to point out that 1% still only amounts to 16% of our nations wealth. In other words, 84% of the wealth is held by everyone else.

10% of the population have median individual wealth of $255,000 (if I'm reading correctly) which actually isn't startling or even a lot of money. Many families live in $500,000 homes and certainly won't consider themselves rich.

[Ocean1]

Yeah it is correct, I looked at the Dept of Statistics data a while ago. Mind you its from 2004.

The 1% owning three times as much as 50% looks alarming but then the article goes on to point out that 1% still only amounts to 16% of our nations wealth. In other words, 84% of the wealth is held by everyone else.

10% of the population have median individual wealth of $255,000 (if I'm reading correctly) which actually isn't startling or even a lot of money. Many families live in $500,000 homes and certainly won't consider themselves rich.

It's wonderful how scary a strategically blinkered snapshot of a bog standard bell curve can be made to appear.

[FJRider]

So, not all rich people are wealthy, and not all wealthy people are rich.Kind of what I figured. It would depend on circumstance a lot too I would imagine,Someone from Ethiopia for example may consider themselves rich earning $50 a week.:argue:

But ... both the RICH and the WEALTHY ... never worry about not being able to pay the power bill ... <_<

[Bikemad]

well...........cant be arsed readin the whole thread..........i havent worked or had an income since april.......slippin further into the red on a daily basis...........but.....im leavin for the burt sunday morning with a bunch of like minded misfits............bills all paid .......bike sorted and legal.......pets and property safe and catered for thanks to some other like minded misfits that couldnt make it.............so yeah.........lifes pretty rich for the moment

[AllanB]

Rich?

Based on our taxes anyone earning over 40K.


Stupid shits .......

[jonbuoy]

Don't care about the slightly better off most of you are talking about. This is the 'rich' the bitching is about ;

and the sadness of have the egalitarian society stolen by the greedy

Maybe the 1%´ers worked 99% harder than the 99%érs

[Headbanger]

Lol where all the new billionaires are from :devil2:
.

Yeah, they got sick of having to be as broke as the cleaning ladies.