Ah, so you're the one percent now? Consider inflation and tell me how much your income actually went up.
The 1%? No...Why does it have to be that? Why must I be categorized as rich for you to consider it a success? I entered the world with little more than a High School education. I have posted several times throughout the years my life story, but I understand that you either may not have read it, or cared enough to remember it...So, in the short version;
I was on my own at 17, married foolishly at 18, and separated at 20 with a child. I entered the military at 21, and for six years served proudly, and then married again. When I got out, I found out quickly that military experience wasn't valued as I thought it would be, and did a series of jobs that didn't pay much, and we struggled through many years of my second marriage. I then started on a path of finding a career that I could advance in, and struck out to a path of not relying on anyone else for my own advancement. Which leads me to today. Early on I remember having a really liberal thought process, thinking everything was "unfair", and holding real resentment for those who were better off than I. It was corrosive. And it wasn't until I took personal responsibility for my own path that this changed.
Now, Does that mean that I am "rich"? Well, I guess that depends on how you measure ''rich"... My wife and I went from a combined income in the early 90s of less than $24k per year, renting, and never having enough with two kids, to today, owning my own home, an income of $85k + combined, one child in college, and another in trade school. I have a 401K now that is substantial, and am vested in a company ESOP program that will be substantial at retirement. Plus, I have a wonderful family, and friends around me that I cherish, and live a pretty good life....
I think that IS 'rich'....
Now, does that mean I am done where I am at? Not at all. I am always on the look out for better, and I think that is the key, plus I don't rely now, nor have I ever relied on the State to provide me with anything for what I have....That's the difference I think...In today's up and coming youth, they are being taught that they are owed something...I wasn't...And at 52 today, I still have the drive to better myself. I look around and see the youth that are taught that they are owed, have NO drive for that, instead they are just angry, self centered, and arrogant putzes that want to take from others.
That is a problem today IMHO.