Jump to content


One Millennial's Thoughts from the Coffee Shop


Recommended Posts

I wonder where this country would be at if we'd always had a bunch of people saying "everything's great, why are you complaining?" It's people who want things to be better and look for the things we're not doing well at and try to think of ways to fix them (and newsflash, sometimes that's with laws) that make this a great country.

Link to comment

9 hours ago, funhusker said:

I did a quick Google search, nothing in depth.  But it looks like the average cost of health insurance per month is around $475 (without subsidy), family plans average around $1100 per month.  This doesn't include deductibles or co-pays.  The median US income is around $32000 per person ($2666 per month), or $60000 per household ($5000 per month).  That's 18% of income spent on premiums for just one person, or around 20% for a family. 

 

My wife is a nurse at Methodist in Omaha, it's descent insurance (not the best, but definitely not the worst).  The deductibles paid the year we had our kids, the year our kids had RSV, the year our kids had tonsils out, the year I had a melanoma removed, etc...  all different years, all a significant amount more than what we paid in premiums.

 

Pretty close to where Im at. My premium at 31 years old is $469 per month with united healthcare and a $1500 deductible. 

Link to comment

I read this last night on the way home and wanted to take time to think about it and respond from an actual computer instead of my phone.

 

When I read things like this, I find myself being bi-polar.  In one sentence, I'll say, "Hell ya". Then the next, I'll say, "Well that's BS".  

 

It is true that we are an extremely successful country where the vast majority of our population is living very well.  It's also true that many people who are living very well, don't recognize how nice they have it and only concentrate on the negatives of the day.  I find myself falling into this.  I'll be frustrated about whatever happened that day, go home and be frustrated all day while I'm living in a nice house, able to take care of a very nice yard (my baby during the summer) drink a very good beer on the back deck while my kids are off to college earning a good degree to live a nice life on their own.  

 

One heck of a lot of that is due to living in a great country with capitalism that has allowed me to earn a good living.

 

That said, capitalism is not the only force that has made this country successful.  Ever since the founding of our country, we have lived in a combination of capitalism and socialism.  I believe we are as successful as we are BECAUSE throughout the years this country has existed, we have found a pretty good balance of the two.  When the west was settled, socialism allowed the government to go through with the Louisiana Purchase and have the Homestead Act that allowed people to come out and claim the land.  Capitalism allowed them to take the land and make a good living off of it.  Socialism has allowed farmers to have a steady income throughout the 20th century and into the 21st.  Capitalism has allowed for their products to be developed into marketable commodities to be sold.  

 

This is just one example of how both forces work together.  And, it is a good example of how people can be hypocritical in this debate.  Our form of government shouldn't be about which one is good and which one is evil. It should be about where that balance is.  Sometimes each one goes too far and needs corrected.

 

Another part of the op-ed that I have problems with is the fact that, just because we are in an extremely wealthy and successful country, this doesn't mean we don't have people struggling and problems that need solved.  An extreme example of this is the state of California and their housing issues.  One could look from 30,000 feet and proclaim...wow...what an extremely successful state.  Look at all the wealth.  Meanwhile, so many people can't afford a house there that they are literally living in campers.

 

As Knapp said.  This is a propaganda piece that was written to get a lot of "Hell Yas".  The problem is, like many pieces like this, it doesn't tell the whole story.

 

All that said.   I wish more people would recognized really how well off we have it in this country.....while working to fix the problems.

  • Plus1 1
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
12 hours ago, TheSker said:

Where did you get your numbers for this?

 

I pay for my own health insurance and it is just under 6% of my gross annual income.

 

There is so much exaggeration and political theater from both sides of the aisle that I did some real math on myself.

 

And I acknowledge it's a sample size of 1.

 

About a year ago, I went on the exchange to just see where the premiums were for a family like mine.  I was absolutely shocked.  For a family of 5 (3 kids) and all very healthy, our premiums were something like $35,000 per year.  That would be one hell of a lot higher than your 6% for my income.  

 

Pardon me if I don't do that again.  I received phone calls constantly for the next 9 months trying to sell me health insurance.  

Link to comment

19 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

I read this last night on the way home and wanted to take time to think about it and respond from an actual computer instead of my phone.

 

When I read things like this, I find myself being bi-polar.  In one sentence, I'll say, "Hell ya". Then the next, I'll say, "Well that's BS".  

 

It is true that we are an extremely successful country where the vast majority of our population is living very well.  It's also true that many people who are living very well, don't recognize how nice they have it and only concentrate on the negatives of the day.  I find myself falling into this.  I'll be frustrated about whatever happened that day, go home and be frustrated all day while I'm living in a nice house, able to take care of a very nice yard (my baby during the summer) drink a very good beer on the back deck while my kids are off to college earning a good degree to live a nice life on their own.  

 

One heck of a lot of that is due to living in a great country with capitalism that has allowed me to earn a good living.

 

That said, capitalism is not the only force that has made this country successful.  Ever since the founding of our country, we have lived in a combination of capitalism and socialism.  I believe we are as successful as we are BECAUSE throughout the years this country has existed, we have found a pretty good balance of the two.  When the west was settled, socialism allowed the government to go through with the Louisiana Purchase and have the Homestead Act that allowed people to come out and claim the land.  Capitalism allowed them to take the land and make a good living off of it.  Socialism has allowed farmers to have a steady income throughout the 20th century and into the 21st.  Capitalism has allowed for their products to be developed into marketable commodities to be sold.  

 

This is just one example of how both forces work together.  And, it is a good example of how people can be hypocritical in this debate.  Our form of government shouldn't be about which one is good and which one is evil. It should be about where that balance is.  Sometimes each one goes too far and needs corrected.

 

Another part of the op-ed that I have problems with is the fact that, just because we are in an extremely wealthy and successful country, this doesn't mean we don't have people struggling and problems that need solved.  An extreme example of this is the state of California and their housing issues.  One could look from 30,000 feet and proclaim...wow...what an extremely successful state.  Look at all the wealth.  Meanwhile, so many people can't afford a house there that they are literally living in campers.

 

As Knapp said.  This is a propaganda piece that was written to get a lot of "Hell Yas".  The problem is, like many pieces like this, it doesn't tell the whole story.

 

All that said.   I wish more people would recognized really how well off we have it in this country.....while working to fix the problems.

BRB - I wished I would have said all of this in my original post.  You nailed it from my perspective.

Link to comment
16 hours ago, TheSker said:

Where did you get your numbers for this?

 

I pay for my own health insurance and it is just under 6% of my gross annual income.

 

There is so much exaggeration and political theater from both sides of the aisle that I did some real math on myself.

 

And I acknowledge it's a sample size of 1.

 

I acknowledge that I got that number from a healthcare expert talking on a radio show. I remembered it because it was pretty alarming, but nothing in my Google search backs it up beyond the assumption that healthcare costs and real income will continue at present rates to smack millennials in the future.

 

2018 figures are all over the place. A national average of 10% of income on health insurance premiums (not including out of pocket expenses), some states coming in at 6.5%, others over 15%. Since we are a nation of 300 million, that still leaves millions of people without subsidies already spending a third of their income on healthcare. My anecdotal example is my wife's new job, where her healthcare "benefit" costs our family of four $2,700 a month, slightly more than a third of her salary. And that's gross salary, not take home salary. I thought that was outrageous, so I asked around and found out it was not uncommon. 

 

Sorry if my example was overly alarmist, but I don't think it's political theater that healthcare costs are having a huge impact on America's pocketbook, that it continues to get worse, and that other countries seem to be doing a better job of it. 

Link to comment

13 minutes ago, Fru said:

 

Could you elaborate why?

 

You have to ask?

I'm 52 years old.  I've lived a decent life with a wonderful wife and kids.  I would love to do that all over again.  And....I think my kids have a pretty good life ahead of them.  Are there problems?  Sure.  But, I grew up during the farm crisis which caused my parents to have to take bankruptcy while I was in HS and the aftermath of Vietnam.  I lived through the Cold war where I was ducking under my school desk in fear of nuclear attacks.  I was born around the time a President, Presidential candidate and a civil rights leader were all assassinated and the world was still hurt by that.  When I was young, my parents were dealing with the Carter years with interest rates around 18% and the economy was a constant problem.  My parents weren't able to help me hardly at all because of this through college. Worked full time while going to school full time.

 

This gets to the point of "Make America Great Again".  Well....what era are we trying to get back to so we can get out of this horrible time?  I believe these times are pretty good.  My kids get to live in an era with technology that allows them to do amazing things and jobs dealing with that technology is only going to grow.  

 

My kids are living in an era where we have extremely low unemployment.  The Baby Boomers are now mostly out of the work force and they need replaced.  Jobs should not be a problem for people who have skills.  

 

I don't mean to minimize the issues we have to deal with today.  But, to act like they are so much worse than when I was a kid....well.....is being naive.  

 

I guess my question to you is....why wouldn't I want to be 25 again?

Link to comment
5 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

You have to ask?

I'm 52 years old.  I've lived a decent life with a wonderful wife and kids.  I would love to do that all over again.  And....I think my kids have a pretty good life ahead of them.  Are there problems?  Sure.  But, I grew up during the farm crisis which caused my parents to have to take bankruptcy while I was in HS and the aftermath of Vietnam.  I lived through the Cold war where I was ducking under my school desk in fear of nuclear attacks.  I was born around the time a President, Presidential candidate and a civil rights leader were all assassinated and the world was still hurt by that.  When I was young, my parents were dealing with the Carter years with interest rates around 18% and the economy was a constant problem.  My parents weren't able to help me hardly at all because of this through college. Worked full time while going to school full time.

 

This gets to the point of "Make America Great Again".  Well....what era are we trying to get back to so we can get out of this horrible time?  I believe these times are pretty good.  My kids get to live in an era with technology that allows them to do amazing things and jobs dealing with that technology is only going to grow.  

 

My kids are living in an era where we have extremely low unemployment.  The Baby Boomers are now mostly out of the work force and they need replaced.  Jobs should not be a problem for people who have skills.  

 

I don't mean to minimize the issues we have to deal with today.  But, to act like they are so much worse than when I was a kid....well.....is being naive.  

 

Lol, well yes, I was interested in your rationale.

 

I'm not saying "Would you ever want to be young again?" I meant, if you had a choice, would you choose your version of 25, or today's version of 25?

 

I appreciate your response. I don't think it'd be easy to live thru any of those events. Especially the assassinations. I don't mean to minimize your experience either, but for every farm crisis or interest rate issue, there's the housing market crash, job market crash and plenty of modern economic issues as well. For your Vietnam, we have Iraq and Afghanistan. For your duck and cover drills, we have active shooter drills. Based on your age I'm assuming you graduated from college in the 80s, would you choose working full time and going to school full time back then or today? 

Link to comment
11 minutes ago, Fru said:

 

Lol, well yes, I was interested in your rationale.

 

I'm not saying "Would you ever want to be young again?" I meant, if you had a choice, would you choose your version of 25, or today's version of 25?

 

I appreciate your response. I don't think it'd be easy to live thru any of those events. Especially the assassinations. I don't mean to minimize your experience either, but for every farm crisis or interest rate issue, there's the housing market crash, job market crash and plenty of modern economic issues as well. For your Vietnam, we have Iraq and Afghanistan. For your duck and cover drills, we have active shooter drills. Based on your age I'm assuming you graduated from college in the 80s, would you choose working full time and going to school full time back then or today? 

My point is, there were major issues back then too.  I acknowledge there are issues now.

 

However, statistically, the world is a much safer place now than any time in history.  The amount of world violence is at an all time low.  US violence has steadily decreased since I graduated form college. ('90).  I'm sure it's because of my life's work.

 

Millennials tend to focus on the world problems of today.  That's understandable.  This is when they are living and they have a life ahead of them that they can influence and make better.  However, sometimes it seems like they really don't have a perspective.  That happens to be an area I agree with the op-ed with.  Millennials really don't have "bad times" they've lived through to have perspective.

 

As for the college question.  Economic times are better now so I can help my kids more than my parents were able to.  They also work a lot during school and will get out with no where close to the average that people claim they have in debt.

  • Plus1 1
Link to comment
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...