World's richest woman says poor should have less fun, work harder

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It's sound advice for the middle class and the generally lazy. But the truly poor who are generally screwed no matter what they do, I'm sure it rings a little hollow.

Not really.

Back in the early 1980's in Peace River, earning about $700 a month, I did a budget and saw I could save $25 a month, which meant by Spring I would have saved $125 and therefore I might be able to take a little driving vacation. That is, if everything went perfectly.

I also remember having $20 for two weeks of food once. Lots of Campbell's soup and toast in those two weeks.

I've been there. At zero. And bitter with those who had money and threw it around in my face.

Her advice is sound.

It's only unfortunate the advice is coming from someone in the "Let Them Eat Cake" set. I get that.

These days I'm surrounded by millionaires. Talk to them every day. Most of them have very, very common beginnings not too dissimilar from my own in fact.

The common denominator is persistence through a lifetime of working. No miracle solution or motherlode.

Pretty much what Ugly, Rich Lady is saying.

Cowperson

[Senator Clay Davis]

^But you do see that coming from someone who inherited their money, that saying work harder rings just a little hollow.

[MarchHare]

The "if you want to be successful, you just need to work hard" argument always rings hollow to me. I'm reasonably successful in my business career. I'm not fabulously wealthy, by any means, but my wife and I enjoy a comfortable upper-middle class lifestyle. I don't think I've worked particularly hard to achieve my success. I lucked into being born to parents who stressed the importance of education, ensured I took my schooling seriously, had business connections that opened doors for me, and had enough available time to help me with my homework, shuttle me around between extra curricular activities, read to me as a child, etc.

Now contrast that with a child growing up in a low-income single-parent household. Just so that kid can have food, clothing, and shelter, the mother or father has to work two menial wage jobs. He or she doesn't have time to read to the kid or help with schoolwork or anything like that because work consumes too much of the day. The parent isn't lazy and is a hard worker, but he or she is stuck working dead-end jobs. Getting some form of higher education that would open more career options is out of the question because it's both unaffordable and would necessitate taking time away from work. So the parent drudges away working low-paying McJobs because he or she has absolutely no other choice. And yet out-of-touch billionaires like the woman in the OP would dare call people like this lazy!

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Let them eat cake!

Based on her picture, she's not letting anyone else eat a piece of her cake.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Not really.

Back in the early 1980's in Peace River, earning about $700 a month, I did a budget and saw I could save $25 a month, which meant by Spring I would have saved $125 and therefore I might be able to take a little driving vacation. That is, if everything went perfectly.

I also remember having $20 for two weeks of food once. Lots of Campbell's soup and toast in those two weeks.

I've been there. At zero. And bitter with those who had money and threw it around in my face.

Her advice is sound.

It's only unfortunate the advice is coming from someone in the "Let Them Eat Cake" set. I get that.

These days I'm surrounded by millionaires. Talk to them every day. Most of them have very, very common beginnings not too dissimilar from my own in fact.

The common denominator is persistence through a lifetime of working. No miracle solution or motherlode.

Pretty much what Ugly, Rich Lady is saying.

Cowperson

Except she didn't say that, she said stop lounging about and work more, ignoring the fact that a good portion of the people she's directing that at work more than she ever has or ever will.

[troutman]

Certainly hard work and inspiration are important factors, but I would not underestimate luck and corruption.

I met some brilliant, talented, hard-working people in South America, that can never aspire to be more than waiters.

My father was a farm boy with poor marks in high school, but he could play football. He was able to attend university, and became very successful in the oil patch. Sure, he worked damn hard, but he was lucky he was good at football, or he would still be milking cows.

[sclitheroe]

"Arbeit macht frei"

There, Godwin'ed

[core_upt]

"Do something to make more money yourself -- spend less time drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time working."

I think she was quoted out of context as I assume this is what she actually said:

"Do something to make more money yourself -- spend less time drinking or smoking and socialising, and more time earning big on the lucrative eat-your-weight-in-veggiemite-and-shrimps-on-the-barbie circuit."

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Not really.

Back in the early 1980's in Peace River, earning about $700 a month, I did a budget and saw I could save $25 a month, which meant by Spring I would have saved $125 and therefore I might be able to take a little driving vacation. That is, if everything went perfectly.

I also remember having $20 for two weeks of food once. Lots of Campbell's soup and toast in those two weeks.

The common denominator is persistence through a lifetime of working. No miracle solution or motherlode.

I think that the common denominator is often times opportunity in combination with ability. At the risk of performing the message board equivalent of fellatio you are obviously someone of above average intelligence. You have the ability to go to university, get an education, make something more of yourself. There are plenty of people who don't have that same opportunity.

I think there is some truth to what this woman says, if you want to save money, don't spend it, particularly on fleeting joys. However the reality is that what this woman says is also overly simplistic in many ways and shows how out of touch that she is with the common person, which is to be expected when you are worth more money than any of use could ever imagine.

[flamesfever]

It's alll genetics. They say if you took all the money away, and started over, the same people would end up with it eventually.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

It's alll genetics. They say if you took all the money away, and started over, the same people would end up with it eventually.

Yes, Trump has great genetics!

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

It's alll genetics. They say if you took all the money away, and started over, the same people would end up with it eventually.

I wish my genetic code had my father having discovered a large iron ore deposit.

If you took all the money away all that she would be is drought and famine resistant.

[Locke]

I'm working harder to keep my breakfast in its place just from looking at her.

[topfiverecords]

Says the woman who could give every single person on the planet $4.27.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Says the woman who could give every single person on the planet $4.27.

That would almost buy me a beer or smokes.....

[Buff]

Money does not make one rich. Great family and friends make a person rich.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Buff

Money does not make one rich. Great family and friends make a person rich.

Sounds like something a peasant would say.

Now if you'd excuse me I'm off to the monocle shop. Cheerio!

[MRCboicgy]

I'd rather be poor and gay than have to worry about that hot mess...

[flamesfever]

I think it's recognizing and having the ability to take advantage of opportunities that come along in life, is what's required to gain wealth. I have seen many people who come from foreign lands, who manage to gain wealth easier than multi-generational Canadians, because they are better enabled to see the opportunites, and are more inclined to do what's required to take advantage of them.

[HOOT]

She should have less food, and workout harder.

How can anyone who inherits all their success and money say something like this? What a joke!