We are ruled by people who think $250,000/year means you're poor, but the minimum wage is too high

[redstatebluegirl]

41. I always thought if I made "X amount of dollars" I would be comfortable not so many worries.

It is a ton less than 250,000 but we are not comfortable, I lose sleep regularly. Between insurance costs (blessed to have it but still it has increased a ton the past 10 years), an increase in gas to get to work, natural gas to heat our home, increased food costs, the hot summers that increase the electric bill and our general discomfort, the out of pocket medical expense (last year for us it was $7000) and taking care of elderly parents who need us, it is impossible to feel "comfortable". We tread water worse than we did as graduate students when I had 3 jobs.

Don't misunderstand we are blessed, but what we used to think of as "rich or just comfortable" is not at all the case any longer. Last year, actually 2011, I won an award for student service, it had a $1000 prize awarded, this threw us into a higher tax bracket which took the $1000 award plus some. It is crazy no sense working hard, getting an education and doing the right thing. As Leona Helmsley said "they come after the little people first".