damn, Oslo is the most expensive city in the world..

[Urchin]

They can't, and that is what is going wrong with our society today.  Right now I'm a college student, I work as a substitute teacher, and I work in a gym (ok, ok, I probably wouldn't HAVE to work in the gym, but I like working there).  I make 6.50 an hour at the gym, figure 130 or so every two weeks.  Since I just started going back to school, I can only work 2 days a week as a sub, making 90 a day.  Thats 180 a week, 360 every two weeks (before taxes.... the government TAKES 25% of that... and I still don't get free healthcare or education or anything that those evil socialists over in Europe get).  I also don't ALWAYS work 2 days a week because sometimes the jobs just aren't there.  I'm 25, I live at home.  Now thats partly because I'm chicken**** and assume I couldn't make it out on my own on that paltry amount of money (without getting several roommates anyway), and partly because I'm realistic and know I couldn't make it out on my own on that paltry sum of money.  

Now, am I a ****up?  Sure, that isn't even an issue.  Fortunately, I'm not a ****up with a family, or I could guarantee you MY kids would turn out just as ****ed up as I am, and probably worse.  I think even Grunherz would understand that if someone makes less than ~$20 an hour with full benefits, they can't support a family.  Want to guess how many kids have parents (or even worse, parent) working two jobs with no benefits just to feed their kids and keep a roof over their head?

[_Schadenfreude_]

Up to $45,000 we pay 22% tax, healthcare is free, most companys offer health insuarance to cover full medical, dental and vision -  mine costs me $10 a month - company picks up the rest.

Education - tuition fees are low - you have to pay towards them - about $2,200 for a 3 year degree - Gov picks up the tab - if you are bright enough and work hard enough an Oxford degree is yours for the taking.

If I lose my job I get benefits for 6 months, bout $300 per month thereafter means tested - Gov pays for the interest on my mortgage so I won't lose my house if I do lose my job.

This is for Uk - France, Germany etc have far more generous benefits

I also get a 10% bonus 25 days leave a year with a further 8 days public holidays - subsidised meals in company canteen, share option etc.

I've spent quite a lot of time in the US on biz - great weather, lots of space, nice people....but

[Siaf__csf]

Apparently Grunherz still feels his ears wet from swimming after a jump from his refugee boat.

Don't worry bud, I'm sure the immigration office is assured already that you love your new country.

[Nilsen]

"Stealhead" ... il like it ripsnort

If there is anything i have learned about this BBS is the ability to see when im getting hooked... i then try to gently pull it out using a

Sometimes it takes awhile for me to realise tho...especialy if im drunk when posting

Grunherz is the one that usually keeps me hooked the longest

[Maniac]

Im just happy that we beat sweeden in EVERYTHING

Huh? whats this drivel? you are happy that Oslo is the most expensive Town?

[Nilsen]

no maniac, best in EVERYTHING

[Maniac]

Well i have a bigger dick then you, thats one thing that _never_ gonna change...

So there, have an nice one...

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Nilsen10
no maniac, best in EVERYTHING

he means "Everything from the Waist up"

[Nilsen]

Such foul language maniac, your mother should wash that mouth.

Ripsnort.... im not that fat, my waist doesnt start at my toes............yet  

[Frogm4n]

the way things are going, free school and healthcare make up for any taxes you end up paying in the long run. Plus you end up with a healthier more educated society. of course who knows if it could work in a country like the US. The closest example's would be japan or france.

[Staga]

Last spring the company I've been working for moved their factories and storages 100km north and I wasn't interested to move after them. Got a nice "golden handshake" and my unemployment checks are bigger than what some of my friends earn in their jobs (got pretty nice salary = paid more money for union = bigger checks if unemployed).

Last monday I was interviewed by a couple consultants for a course for process managers, done with co-operation with EU, consultant office and companies offering works, and later at same day a "human resource manager" from a company near where I live called and asked if I'd be interested to visit them and talk about if we could find a way to use my skills in their company.

Yeah; I've paid chitload of money as taxes but now it looks that I got most of them back as a unemployment checks, free courses in management schools, free health care etc etc.

Sigh, it looks like I'm heading back to office again... anyway the summer is about over and I don't have any better things to do right now (it's getting cold and windy in the sea so it's not that fun anymore to skip from wave to wave at 40knots...)

[GRUNHERZ]

So basically you have been an unemplyed unproductive lazy  leech for 1.5 years while "earning" more than your employed friends...

Wonders!

[GRUNHERZ]

Originally posted by Urchin


Sorry Grunherz, I know capitalism is the "holy grail" and all, but your "average joe" gets ****ed up the bellybutton in our system.  Maybe you come from a wealthy family or something, who knows.

I came from a stagnant communist country... My father came to this country alone with a few dollars and made a better life for our family through his hard work and constant learning. We're not rich. I plan to do the same the best I can with my education. Stop whining (no offense) go to school and do the same for yourself and your family. FWIW youre on the right track... Could you live with yourself as a man if you got a system like Stagas where you are a lazy unproductive jerk leeching off for 1.5 years your fellow hardworking citizens who struggle to pay 100% car taxes and all the other taxes while you go play watersports and recieve income that is HIGHER than most of them?

Oh yea its a wonder, why even bother to get a job when youre $$$$ better off being unemployed, not mention the free time...

I guess I'm curious as to what you actually want Urchin.. You say the gym job pays you 6.50 an hour. Well do you want the govt to raise that wage by law, lets say set a min wage above that to lets say 7? 8? 10? More?  Then what? Imagine you are the Gym manager and you have a certain budget, well that would mean the cost of one of his purchases, your work, has gone up with no real increase in productivity - youre still doing the same exact thing but now at a higer cost to him.  In your personal life what do you generally do when the price of a certain good goes up? Chances are you consume less of it or find a substitute. Why do you assume the gym manager will be any different? He might cut your hours, maybe fire you and replace your services with some cheaper alternative like maybe a bussiness that provides personal trainers to gyms at a lower unit cost - for example this happends to janitors sometimes. Of course he could raise prices, but then fewer people might go the gym and revenues would fall.  

I guess my point is that you are not isolated from everyone even if seems to be imperonal and uncaring, which it is.  So your best bet is to stick it out at school, get a skill, and make more money - in the long term thats the best way to get ahead in the USA. This way you are in stronger position for yourself and present better reasons for employers to hire you at the wage level you desire.

[Staga]

Originally posted by GRUNHERZ
So basically you have been an unemplyed unproductive lazy  leech for 1.5 years while "earning" more than your employed friends...

Wonders!

err are you having problems to understand my english?
anyway in here last spring was 4months ago.  
I really wouldn't have to tell you this but actually I've been trying to find a new job for me but as you know (well you would know if you'd been working for last 17 years) in holiday season it's pretty hard and after all I'm not a bus driver or a sanitor
In last 17 years I had to split my summer vacansies to two or sometimes to three parts, sometimes I was called back to work when I was already in my summer place, I spent new years eves in the work makeing inventories and so on... Yes, I've enjoyed my first real vacation in a frigging decade  

Dear Grünhertz; after you have been working as long as I, spent too many weekends at work and 16 to 20 hour workdays then you might have a right to judge my doings

[GRUNHERZ]

Took last spring to mean last year spring... But still unemployment payment greater than that of many working people are an invatation to abuse. Thats why I dont think its so wonderful a setup.