The Bush administration is a radical departure...

I see an administration that is run by cynical and arrogant political operatives who hold the public in comtempt. I think Bush is probably a decent enough guy who is being guided by people who are not very decent. I get the feeling that Bush buys all the stuff he says which makes him a perfect face for the administration.

One full time, one part-time I can see someone doing for fun or a little extra cash. It's the multiple full time positions that are un-fun.

No, you sigh and say "Well, payday is Friday... we're getting by." I know this game...don't like it but I know it. And I would rather give blow jobs for money than get food stamps again. So mortifying. Last time I got $65.00 month and got fingerprinted too.

One full time, one part-time I can see someone doing for fun or a little extra cash. It's the multiple full time positions that are un-fun.

And the multiple-part time, too.

Americans really don't talk about money, even among people in the same income group.

I grew up in a family that was strangely open about money and finances (well, the last 2 generations. Above that, they got quite squirrely, so much so that unravelling estates was a pain. Which is probably part of the cause.) So not the norm. I had to learn to keep my mouth shut when I was younger after being told repeatedly I was being rude to ask (not by my family, other people.) Or weirder, when I'd volunteer info. It's strange to me. But I'm an outlier and I know it.

would we feel as comfortable reporting our salaries to each other? Nooooo.

No shit. I somehow always manage to be self-conscious about it. Four people (outside of HR and my boss) know my salary (and I'm self-conscious about that), and two of them are my parents.

What PMM said. A lot of people have a second job that's really more of a hobby -- teaching evening classes, creating crafts for sale, that sort of thing. Getting paid for your pleasures is great, so I suppose some professional doms qualify. But having to work 120 hours a week just to keep up with the bills? Brutal.

I was raised not to ask how much money the family had; "we're comfortable". Which is what I tell my children, too. "We're very comfortable, but we're not so rich we don't have to work." Numbers? No.

I may add that every raise or bonus I've gotten has come with a warning not to tell anybody else, but that's because of intra-work competition and the boss not wanting to hear "Why didn't I get one, too?"

I work 2 jobs, only partially for money. That is, if I didn't want to keep my very low paying theatre job, I would look for a better "day job" and just quit the theatre. However, I do need the money of both jobs, so in order to live.

Sigh. My dinner plans just fell through. Anyone want to go to dinner tonight?