"The Number"

[Gone4Good]

Being 51, and with a port slightly north of $300k, I can say that I've missed ER, per se... As far a a magic number, at this point, it's 60, as in age. Unless all hell breaks loose, whatever I have then will be the magic number.

Roll your own!!

My parents both retired in their late 50's with a little less then $300k in the bank. They both have small pensions and health insurance that helped carry them to SS, which they will start collecting next year. They also have the extraordinary ability to pinch nickels until the buffalo craps.

 

[REWahoo]

According to Marketwatch.com curmudgeon Paul B. Farrell (Greg, are you two related?):

'The Number' is an anti-American myth!

"... the book is merely an engrossing, personal memoir, like "Angela's Ashes," written by another disenchanted boomer searching for the meaning of life in a world controlled by an elite conspiracy that's trapped him and you and me in an illusion, a myth, a fantasy. That myth says somewhere out there is "The Number," a magical mix of stocks and bonds and annuities and insurance and cash and gold and real estate and pensions that will make you feel safer, sleep sounder, feel more secure about your future.

Who implanted this absurd illusion in your brain?

Good question, now we're getting at the real truth here. That illusion was imbedded in your mind by a secret conspiracy, a loose but very real behind-the-scenes network that links Wall Street, Corporate America and Washington insiders with special interest lobbyists. Remember:

Wall Street's insiders split $21.5 billion in bonuses last year, while the stock market lost an average of almost 3% of your money annually the past five years.
The compensation of Corporate America's top executives continues to soar, while worker pensions and health-care insurance are cut and inflation eats away incomes.
And in Washington, your elected representative and civil servants enjoy guaranteed pensions and health insurance and cater to shifty lobbyists like Jack Abramoff.
Yes, they all got "The Number," their number! Wake up folks, you're living in an "I got mine, forget you, world." And with the help of the media, what this "conspiracy" has implanted in your brain is a classic double-bind, a conflict putting you in perpetual anxiety, forced to live with a near-pathological pursuit of two irrational and inconsistent goals.

They want you to believe the myth that you are rational, capable of balancing long-term needs with short-term wants; balancing, for example, buying a new plasma TV or investing that money in an IRA.

But here's the truth: In spite of all the hype about helping you achieve "The Number" (enough to retire on comfortably, says Eisenberg), they not only know that most Americans will never achieve this goal, they don't want you to save for retirement!

Ironic, but true. They need you to keep spending, not saving! Consumers are the engine driving the American economy, even though our out-of-control spending has turned our savings rate negative and our foreign trade deficits will soon implode your retirement as well as the world economy."

http://tinyurl.com/c3y3o

 

[haha]

Completely true. Expect voluntary euthanasia to be introduced within 15 years, to deal with the detritus from this social experiement.

Remains will be incorporated into pet food.

Ha

 

[Nords]

Has anyone actually read the book yet? Can someone tell me what Hawaii financial advisor was consulted by the author?

Completely true. Expect voluntary euthanasia to be introduced within 15 years, to deal with the detritus from this social experiement.
Remains will be incorporated into pet food.

Yeah, I think Harry Harrison wrote a book about that once. Everyone assumed it was science fiction...

 

[Martha]

That myth says somewhere out there is "The Number," a magical mix of stocks and bonds and annuities and insurance and cash and gold and real estate and pensions that will make you feel safer, sleep sounder, feel more secure about your future.


Well, 10 million would probably do it for me.

You're living in an "I got mine, forget you, world"

I see this more all the time. Look at all those on this board who identify themselves as Libertarian.

 

[brewer12345]

Well, 10 million would probably do it for me.

Wow, really, that much? I think if I had 2 million (today's ducats) and a paid-off house I would walk away a free man.

 

[Martha]

With 10 million I could more likely take care of other people I want to take care of. And then I could sleep soundly, despite sleeping next to the bear.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

You're living in an "I got mine, forget you, world"

I see this more all the time.  Look at all those on this board who identify themselves as Libertarian.

I guess I wonder what's wrong with the foregoing perspective.  Believing that people actually care about you as much as they profess is foolish.  Everyone in this world has an agenda.  You are either helping someone achieve their agenda, or they are helping you to achieve yours.

 

[greg]

"(Greg, are you two related?):"



No. I try avoid everything on the internet because it's tainted . Plus, I try to avoid reading/doing/thinking anything that's popular. It's an ethics thing. Not much porno either. But I sure like 7 of 9 from Star Trek: Voyager. I wonder if there's a naked picture of her somewhere out there?

PS: Martha, we're you're having Italian-type bread-io pizza for supper. Whether you like it or not. And the car is still dirty too.

 

[brewer12345]

But I sure like 7 of 9 from Star Trek: Voyager.  I wonder if there's a naked picture of her somewhere out there? 

Greg, you should know by now that there is a naked picture of just about *everyone* somehwere out there on the internet.

 

[greg]

Well, 10 million would probably do it for me.

Not enough for complete safety though.

 

[greg]

Greg, you should know by now that there is a naked picture of just about *everyone* somehwere out there on the internet.

Really, how do you know?

 

[Dawg52]

With 10 million I could more likely take care of other people I want to take care of.   And then I could sleep soundly, despite sleeping next to the bear.

Please include me in "other ppl" and I will go ahead and quit now.  

 

[brewer12345]

Really, how do you know?

pick someone, anyone and plug it into google images. With enough diligence you will find them in the buff. Sometimes its a faked picture (Gillian Andersen had a famous one that she sued to get taken down), but a picture is a picture...

 

[Martha]

I guess I wonder what's wrong with the foregoing perspective. Believing that people actually care about you as much as they profess is foolish. Everyone in this world has an agenda. You are either helping someone achieve their agenda, or they are helping you to achieve yours.

Because it is immoral?

You must do things for some people simply because you care about them, don't you? Or because it simply is the right thing to do?

A social contract is a good thing.

 

[REWahoo]

Not enough for complete safety though.

This from a guy who's supposedly trying to talk his DW into retiring.  Right.

 

[peggy]

Because it is immoral? 

You must do things for some people simply because you care about them, don't you?   Or because it simply is the right thing to do?

A social contract is a good thing. 

In my marketing class, way back in the day, we were taught that to sell something you could not appeal to man's "higher instincts"--buy this because it's better for the environment.

Instead, you had to appeal to his baser instincts--buy this because you'll be better if you do.

Most people are that way--I'll take care of me and mine first, and then if there's anything left over, I'll consider taking care of (in rough order) my town, my state, my country, my world.

That said, I absolutely believe people should help each other--especially and primarily within family and friend circles/groups.  Humanity seems to be hardwired that way.

 

[uncledrz]

Wow, really, that much?  I think if I had 2 million (today's ducats) and a paid-off house I would walk away a free man.

Hey, you gotta keep at it. Who else is going to be paying in to cover our social security?

 

[Martha]

I
Most people are that way--I'll take care of me and mine first, and then if there's anything left over, I'll consider taking care of (in rough order) my town, my state, my country, my world.

You're probably right. That is why the social contract.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

Because it is immoral? 

You must do things for some people simply because you care about them, don't you?   Or because it simply is the right thing to do?

A social contract is a good thing. 

What does morality have to do with being self-interested? Morality is simply a matter of perspective, that is, labeling something as "right" or "wrong". Putting yourself first is ammoral, not immoral.

 

[greg]

Greg, you should know by now that there is a naked picture of just about *everyone* somehwere out there on the internet.

Brewer: I just started looking for her on Google and realized that if I found a n-n-naked picture of her, I wouldn't want to watch Star Trek anymore. The . . . um . . . mystery would be gone. I'd probably want to do something else instead . So, I'mmm back. That's better for every one--or not.

 

[brewer12345]

Brewer:  I just started looking for her on Google and realized that if I found a n-n-naked picture of her, I wouldn't want to watch Star Trek anymore.  The . . . um . . . mystery would be gone.  I'd probably want to do something else instead .  So, I'mmm back.  That's better for every one--or not. 

Well, in that case, here is something to keep you "busy"

http://www.oneofthelads.com/carwash.php

 

[greg]

IMO :: Real happiness is always found in making things/life better. If you are small minded about happiness, you'll probably make yourself happy first and then possibly forget about the rest of the world while you're busy with that. If you're larger minded, oftentimes the very best types of happiness come from making other people happier, making things better for them. It's good to think outside one's own emotions and mind as much as possible. It makes life larger, better, and more real. In fact, it's something we all attempt to convey when educating our children.

--Greg

 

[greg]

Brewer, , thanks.

 

[Martha]

What does morality have to do with being self-interested? Morality is simply a matter of perspective, that is, labeling something as "right" or "wrong". Putting yourself first is ammoral, not immoral.

Philosophers have long discussed reconciling morality and self interest. Or perceived self interest.

Putting yourself first may be immoral (bad) or moral (good) or maybe neutral. The person putting themselves first may be amoral--without moral standards.

I would say that an attitude of "I've got mine--forget yours" is bad and may not be even in the speaker's self interest. (especially if you believe Plato )