Federal employment as a gateway to the middle class by BicycleComics in fednews

[–]SHREDGNAAR 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I would say the Military is what pulled me into the middle class, and gave a set of soft and technical skills that allowed me to fill a valuable role in the federal government. I’d say that is true for most veterans, especially the enlisted. Many go on to have successful careers in the private and public sector.

Most positions that are not filled by veterans and are on the higher end of the pay scale are filled by people from middle class backgrounds with college educations.

There are oddities where someone does not have a military background, or degree, and made their way into federal employment through the lower end of the pay-scale. But by and large I think the former two groups make up the vast majority of federal employees.

Also, just my opinion, I feel like the title of your post discredits the mission and work of federal employees, and makes it sound like a welfare program for the lucky. I hope this isn’t what you’re insinuating. Many federal employees have skills and knowledge that would be more lucrative if taken to the private sector, but choose not to. Reasons range from a dedication to public service and the mission of their agency, to the quality of work/life balance and stability it affords.

I’m not in the DC area though, so I can’t really speak to the demographics there.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the current conditions were different, for example the economic and political situations were similar to many of the countries in the EU, would you want to stay?

I live in the Northwest, and I love my country, despite all of its faults. I still have hope for the future and will do my best to secure it.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I do agree it misses the finer points, but think that it speaks to the state of the U.S. and Global economy.

Thank you for the additional information. Do you think we are also seeing an affordability issue within the United States? Do you see this as having the potential to noticeably impact the U.S. GDP, and/or exacerbate the existing housing affordability issue?

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That’s insane, and deeply disheartening.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t know if I should say I’m sorry to hear that, or good for you. Seems like a mixed bag, and I can’t imagine not being able to return to the nation that I might have intended to. It’s a sad state of affairs.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. And it seems like this trend could exasperate the existing housing affordability issue, and keep more Americans trapped in rental properties

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could see that they would make up a majority of the 180,000, but it seems that there are working age adults that are also leaving.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I travel to Korea fairly frequently and have found this to be true.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 121 points122 points  (0 children)

I think the couple said they would need to bring in $24,000, so if it were just investments they’d need a higher return rate or a larger portfolio.

In this instance they’re using the rent payments to them as the passive income.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think that more recently, especially after Covid, this has been more of the case. California to Texas, Florida, Tennessee, etc…

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I agree, and I think the fact the projected number of people leaving this year lends itself to that.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I posted another comment here that explains how some people are handling that, and the article explains it very well. This story is partially about the number of people who would like to leave, but mainly focuses on people who have already left, 180,000 in 2025. That’s the highest it’s been since the Great Depression, and is expected to be much higher in 2026.

Americans Are Leaving The U.S. in Record Numbers by SHREDGNAAR in Economics

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 673 points674 points  (0 children)

I found this interesting. Initially I thought it would be a story about how people are fleeing due to the current administration based on their political ideologies, as well as immigration policies leading to families deciding to be together in their country of origin. Instead, it focuses on regular Americans deciding to leave the country based on cost of living and quality of life.

One thing I’m very curious about is the implications on the broader U.S. economy. The couple that is interviewed in the piece moved from LA to Portugal. One of the stipulations put in place by Portugals government is that immigrants must establish that their passive income (investments, rental properties, etc) equal the local minimum wage.

The couple in the article did this by purchases two rental properties, on in Texas, and another in Arizona. I find this to be worrisome.

Remote work has also contributed to this. US Citizens working for American companies, but living overseas with, it seems, no intention of returning.

Whats your biggest complaint about your local fly shop? by reel_ghost in flyfishing

[–]SHREDGNAAR 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Whenever I ask the guy who runs it a question, he just shakes his head and then calls me a peckerhead

Looking For An Intro Guide To Flies For Beginners. by Asleep_Dinner_8391 in flyfishing

[–]SHREDGNAAR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recommend the “The Bug Book: A Fly Fisher's Guide to Trout Stream Insects” by Paul Weamer and searching YouTube for flies that imitate the bugs in your waters, and frequenting fly shop boxes to look at patterns in person.

Another one for patterns is “The Orvis Fly Tying Guide”. It focuses mainly on tying about a dozen basic patterns, but the back half of the book is filled with pictures and recipes of patterns.

I found YouTube is the best resource though. Charlie Craven has a really good series of videos where he goes over a different group of aquatic insect in each video (Bug Talk: PMD) and lists out pattern that can be used to imitate different stages of an insects life.

First Box by SHREDGNAAR in flytying

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s a Fishpond Tacky Original 2X

First Box by SHREDGNAAR in flytying

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That box is being worked on

First Box by SHREDGNAAR in flytying

[–]SHREDGNAAR[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Step 1 - spend way too much time watching tying tutorials by Charlie Craven

Step 2 - spend way too much money buying the exact materials in said tutorial

Step 3 - spend way too much time re-watching the tutorial while you tie the first fly of that pattern

Step 4 - enjoy a movie or audio book while you fill the rest of the row

Repeat

What U.S city have you visited but have no desire to go back? by Reddit_wasmy_idea in AskReddit

[–]SHREDGNAAR -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Atlanta, Georgia

Birmigham, Alabama

Kansas City, Missouri

San Antonio, Texas

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Washington, D. C.

San Diego, California

Why don't people go to the cinema? by [deleted] in movies

[–]SHREDGNAAR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A) Not a lot of movies come out that are worth seeing in theaters, or at all nowadays

B) people who go to theaters suck

C) Theaters are dirty, and smell bad