The upper-middle class poverty line

[denny]

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article1719509.ece

The author borders on insufferably self-involved, but the core point is worth discussing... I know plenty of fairly 'well paid' professionals, mostly geeks, who are living in grotty shared housing and/or still sliding into debt. Why? Because housing is so stupidly expensive that just 'well paid' isn't enough any more... if you want to live 'comfortably' in London, you either have to be paid in the sort of brackets the financial sector waves around, or you simply don't make the grade.

I'm bemused by the article's conclusion that this is all due to 'globalisation'. I'd have pinned the blame squarely on a combination of city bonuses driving the housing prices in London up at a stupid rate, and buy-to-fucking-rent doing the same thing across the whole country (albeit somewhat more slowly).

If you can't afford to rent or buy somewhere halfway nice to live, everything else you can do about your quality of life is pretty much window-dressing.

Discuss?

Comments

[ladynina.livejournal.com]

Upper middle class London centric rubbish. Values are internal, not tied up in the money you make or the property you own.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Values? It's talking (I thought) about standard of living / quality of life, not 'values'. As you say, those aren't really financial in nature, which the article clearly is.

[ladynina.livejournal.com]

It was comments such as "turn their backs on professional status" and the younger sons of an Earl being "both stony broke? These are hardly natural-born losers". Or "One, a merchant banker, is flourishing; another, an architect, is doing all right; and another is living in a council house."

He is equating status, property ownership and money as measures of success. They are what he values. That's his right. I don't see it that way.

As to the standard of living, move out of London or accept you'll be paying ridiculous prices to rent and don't have a chance of owning. Private education is a luxury. Capitalism won.

Sorry, but I've always worked in wlefare related jobs with people who are experiencing actual hardship, so I've little sympathy with people who have shelter, food, safety and an income moaning because they're not getting what they think they deserve.

And as to the trickle down theory, don't get me started.

[kilinrax.livejournal.com]

He is equating status, property ownership and money as measures of success. They are what he values. That's his right. I don't see it that way.

Then you'd be in something of a minority :)

I don't think he's talking about money, but purchasing power, which is a factor in 'standard of living', by an useful definition of such above the poverty line.

And as to the trickle down theory, don't get me started.

It's called 'voodoo economics' for a reason, that reason being that it's complete bullshit :)

Proud minority.

[ladynina.livejournal.com]

Call me an unashamed idealist if you will, but I believe one day humanity will collectively wake up from its mesmerism by shiny capitalist toys.

(shiny things)++

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

My money's on the apocalyptic end-days scenario personally - nothing says 'shiny capitalist toy' like a Big Fucking Gun(fight).

Re: Proud minority.

[kilinrax.livejournal.com]

I don't think they'll do that until they run out of toys.

Re: Proud minority.

[arachne.livejournal.com]

And I'm proud to be in that minority with you.

At least, I *hope* they will.