Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016) • Hacker News Board

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#81

Post by turc1656 » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:08 PM UTC

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #22

Danihan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She is already getting social security.

Ok. So society has already done a little. And? Obviously, this isn't the solution that has solved the problem without some real changes to social security and/or support systems for the poor. It doesn't change the fact that society still needs to do something.

I disagree. This woman needs to be realistic. It says she spent her social security on things like prime rib at the diner and a $100 guided tour of some building. I am decidedly low on sympathy for such a person.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#82

Post by nnfy » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:08 PM UTC

crispyambulance wrote: post #47

nnfy wrote: post #21

>Her savings long gone, and having never done much long-term financial planning And so again we are expected to pay for the mistakes of others. What incentive is there to save if you know you have a social net to save you anyway? Yes, I understand, it is a terrifying way to live, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but if we deincentivize personal responsibility, what stops this from becoming a larger problem? How can this…

The thing is a lot of people run out of money for many different reasons and a lack of "personal responsibility" is only one of them. All it takes is one big crash to wipe out years of long term financial planning. Illness of oneself, a spouse, child or parent can easily crater life savings. Sometimes people just live too damn long. And yes, sometimes people lack "personal responsibility." To some extent, yes, you ar…

I understand that there are legitimate reasons that someone may need assistance.

My problem is with this nonsensical mentality that, without any actual statistics, people automatically assume that anyone struggling is a victim of circumstance. Or worse, that they have somehow been abused or stolen from by those with money. Which, by the way, I believe I'd a relatively new outlook in the history of the U.S.

The danger is that it encourages people to live haphazardly and in the long run is not sustainable. And, quite frankly, I have no desire to pay for people who lived selfishly in their own time.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#83

Post by noonespecial » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:09 PM UTC

creaghpatr wrote: post #36

toomuchtodo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mind if I expound on this? My mother died in July at 59 from a brain hemorrhage. I took her in 2 years ago, and I paid ~$1000/month for her prescriptions before the ACA kicked in. After it kicked in, her prescription costs dropped (thankfully, as I was going to Canada to get non-controlled prescriptions) but her provider costs increased. Only because I’m a tech professional in a top earning tier was I able to do this…

So your solution was to shaft the hospitals $48k? Sounds like an applicable solution for the rest of America. This is why healthcare costs are so high.

The health care people in my family call bills like that "the wipe". After death, all of the billing agencies have a go at the estate hoping that in the chaos of the loss, they can soak up what's left of the estate while everyone is distracted.

It's absolutely despicable. More than walking away, very choice words and a lawyer on your side are in order.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#84

Post by username223 » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:09 PM UTC

rabbite wrote: post #32

rayiner wrote: post #20

> But there is little money to see the sights. She earns too much to receive food stamps, and a lot of it goes to groceries. She tries to eat organic food, with her low blood sugar. That rules out cheap but filling Big Macs — as well as the food kitchens whose mass-produced meals, she decided, are unhealthful. Why do newspapers use as examples people who seem to have done everything wrong? Is it because formerly midd…

I'd tend to agree, many of the critical decisions highlighted make her life much harder than it has to be. "Organic" labeled food is much more expensive than beans, rice, and basic chicken. She even decides to buy a $21 prime rib dinner from a restaurant! the article mentions that it would be good for 3 meals. $7 per meal is much larger than what it would cost to make that meal yourself from groceries. I feel for her…

On the one hand, the "organic" fetish is crazy -- you can eat pretty well at 300 cal/$, but not if you're buying premium vegetables. On the other hand, $300 for 8 over in a 35 is probably the evil result of her city not being able to raise taxes, and being forced to get revenue from more politically-appealing sources that usually shaft poor people. Parking fines, court fees, civil asset forfeiture, tickets for minor traffic violations, etc.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#85

Post by pitt1980 » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:10 PM UTC

knicholes wrote: post #41

rabbite wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd tend to agree, many of the critical decisions highlighted make her life much harder than it has to be. "Organic" labeled food is much more expensive than beans, rice, and basic chicken. She even decides to buy a $21 prime rib dinner from a restaurant! the article mentions that it would be good for 3 meals. $7 per meal is much larger than what it would cost to make that meal yourself from groceries. I feel for her…

I'd say even driving at all is a mistake if one is trying to save money. Insurance is costly, gas is costly, and so are speeding tickets. I recommend to struggling friends to buy a used bicycle (some non-profits will give bicycles away for free) or to ride public transportation.

What do you imagine the public transportation options truly are in Darien Lake, New York?

She appears to have to park her camper at camp sites, bicycle use might or might not be practical (I suspect bringing groceries back from the store is functionally impossible on a bicycle).

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#86

Post by username223 » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:10 PM UTC

knicholes wrote: post #41

rabbite wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd tend to agree, many of the critical decisions highlighted make her life much harder than it has to be. "Organic" labeled food is much more expensive than beans, rice, and basic chicken. She even decides to buy a $21 prime rib dinner from a restaurant! the article mentions that it would be good for 3 meals. $7 per meal is much larger than what it would cost to make that meal yourself from groceries. I feel for her…

I'd say even driving at all is a mistake if one is trying to save money. Insurance is costly, gas is costly, and so are speeding tickets. I recommend to struggling friends to buy a used bicycle (some non-profits will give bicycles away for free) or to ride public transportation.

Housing within bike distance of many jobs is also costly.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#87

Post by tytytytytytytyt » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:12 PM UTC

knicholes wrote: post #41

rabbite wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd tend to agree, many of the critical decisions highlighted make her life much harder than it has to be. "Organic" labeled food is much more expensive than beans, rice, and basic chicken. She even decides to buy a $21 prime rib dinner from a restaurant! the article mentions that it would be good for 3 meals. $7 per meal is much larger than what it would cost to make that meal yourself from groceries. I feel for her…

I'd say even driving at all is a mistake if one is trying to save money. Insurance is costly, gas is costly, and so are speeding tickets. I recommend to struggling friends to buy a used bicycle (some non-profits will give bicycles away for free) or to ride public transportation.

Are you suggesting someone her age should bike dozens of miles per day to and from her job? And it's not like spending an extra hour a day on a bus is a great solution, either, possibly 2 hours on days someone needs to go somewhere other than work.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#88

Post by nkrisc » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:12 PM UTC

quickben wrote: post #58

nkrisc wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And those, like the woman in the story, who don't have children?

It depends. Sometimes people can't, and that's about it. But lately, I have more and more friends that don't want to have children. The girls are in their 35s and guys in 40s, add or take five. They share and attempt to behave as if they are in their twenties. They enjoy the easy Toronto life, spend everything they earn, cluster together with others of similar lifestyle, and reinforce each own egos that they are doin…

I'd say raising children to be your caretakers when you're old is far more selfish than simply not having children.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#89

Post by toomuchtodo » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:12 PM UTC

creaghpatr wrote: post #36

toomuchtodo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mind if I expound on this? My mother died in July at 59 from a brain hemorrhage. I took her in 2 years ago, and I paid ~$1000/month for her prescriptions before the ACA kicked in. After it kicked in, her prescription costs dropped (thankfully, as I was going to Canada to get non-controlled prescriptions) but her provider costs increased. Only because I’m a tech professional in a top earning tier was I able to do this…

So your solution was to shaft the hospitals $48k? Sounds like an applicable solution for the rest of America. This is why healthcare costs are so high.

My solution was to follow the law. My mother died in poverty with no assets or estate, therefore her debts die with her.

Re: Too poor to retire, too young to die (2016)

#90

Post by falcolas » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 6:12 PM UTC

linkmotif wrote: post #56

> That rules out cheap but filling Big Macs Big Macs are neither cheap nor filling. Fast food is extremely expensive. Anyone who’s ever been poor and collected enough to escape poverty understands this. Americans, as parroted by this journalist, don’t know what poverty is. How is it that you have 17,000 dollars per year and still struggle to survive? If you’re poor and eat fast food and keep your home stocked with di…

Big macs provide about ~600 calories and 25g of protein for $4. The whole meal is over 1000 calories for $6. It's hard to beat in terms of speed or price. Nutrition? Yeah, pretty low (though it's a good source of iron and Vitamin A).

Sure, I could make a meal with more calories for a little cheaper... but at a high up-front cost in money, and an prep/cook cost in time.