Define rich

[raccol]

Who are the rich? Define what makes someone rich.

A question posed to the candidates at the Saddleback Civil Forum. I'd like to see how the people here answer that question.

My definition is: Rich is when your money works for you instead of you working for your money. In other words, if you stopped working could your assets sustain your lifestyle? If so, you're rich.

[cma g21]

Who are the rich? Define what makes someone rich.

A question posed to the candidates at the Saddleback Civil Forum. I'd like to see how the people here answer that question.

It seems that politicians mean by rich (as in tax the rich) anyone whose income places them above the poverty level.

I'd call rich, anyone who has enough assets to live well and comfortably for the rest of their life with the need to acquire any more assets. This doesn't mean they won't or shouldn't acquire more, just that they don't need to do so.

[AZ-Mike]

It seems that politicians mean by rich (as in tax the rich) anyone whose income places them above the poverty level.

I'd call rich, anyone who has enough assets to live well and comfortably for the rest of their life with the need to acquire any more assets. This doesn't mean they won't or shouldn't acquire more, just that they don't need to do so.

Liberals said that the Bush tax cuts were for the rich. I know a couple guys who made 25k and less and they both got bigger refunds and benefited from the cuts. So my guess is that you are rich if you are making more than 20K.

[gossman]

If you have bought a house, own a car, and have plenty of food to eat, you live in the top 2% fo the world. I feel rich yet I make less than 50K and live in a high rent state (Oregon).

[freesw]

Putin was asked about this in his press conference two weeks ago. And he tried to laugh it off by saying he’s the richest man in the world—rich because he’s a collector of emotions, and rich in the satisfaction that he’s derived from being able to serve his country.
http://www.cfr.org/publication/15602/

[mnottfam]

The problem is, that to define the word "rich," you have to rely on personal opinion.
WEBSTERS defines rich as:
1: having abundant possessions and esp. material wealth ...

with syn RICH, WEALTHY, AFFLUENT, OPULENT mean having goods, property, and money in abundance. RICH implies having more than enough to gratify normal needs or desires; WEALTHY stresses the possession of property and intrinsically valuable things; AFFLUENT suggests prosperity and an increasing wealth; OPULENT suggests lavish expenditure and display of great wealth.

So, even WEBSTERS has some issues with the definition, all indications leaning in a similar direction, but still, what we're looking at here is PERSONAL definition. When someone says rich, from the standpoint of, say, taxes, I think most of us are probably in the boat of the term OPULENT. When the Democrats come up with a tax bill on the grounds, "stick it to the rich" I think they want everyone to also be leaning into that image as well, not the idea that one is RICH simply by having enough to make ends meet and have left over when all is said and done. Here's a VERY divisive term that can very easily be (and has been) abused by those in power to increase taxes on almost everyone and get away with it.

Yet another of the colorful ways our govt. has us parting with our hard earned $$$ WILLINGLY.

[markw76]

I'd say you're rich if some moronic legislator says you are.

I'd tend to agree with the benchmark of having the assets to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without adding additional assets. Leaves plenty of room for individual lifestyle choice.

[raccol]

My definition is: Rich is when your money works for you instead of you working for your money. In other words, if you stopped working could your assets sustain your lifestyle? If so, you're rich. I obscured my definition with white text in the original post.

[COBRADOC]

Am I rich? The answer is an unqualified, YES. My wife and I are both retired. We have enough income to live comfortably, modestly, but comfortable. We have a modest savings and we don't have to worry about health insurance. We don't spend foolishly, but we eat out often and can travel occasionally, within reason. We are both in fairly good health for our ages. But that is not the source of our wealth.

Our wealth is in our faith, our family and our friends. We are active in a wonderful church. Both of our children are happily married and gainfully employed. They and all our grandchildren live close, so we can see them often. Our extended family (friends) are many and we socialize often.

And my wife doesn't complain when I want to load up my guns and go to the range for a full day of launching lead down-range. How much richer can you get?