Resentment at 100k

[Arseholeneighbours]

Theres a lot of vitriol spilt towards people being “high earners” at 100k and over. As net contributors, and most likely having made sacrifices, stresses and difficult life decisions, there’s many judgements about life choices , expectations and living within one’s means. What is the motivation to push forward in a career and to try and be as successful as one can if there’s no personal gain? It’s all well and good saying those with the broadest shoulders should take on the most - but to what end?

What do you mean by 'talent'?
Because I'm not sure the correlation is actually there between high earning and genuine use and talent

" ....opportunity I was willing to take?"

Do you really think that is a differentiator ?

Have you never heard of the right place at the right time ?

I notice you pretty much brushed off the excellent post by @HelenaWaiting above, whey they describe how they feel lucky for having the family they did.

It's not difficult to say if luck played a part or not. Because it simply does.

Compare it to a block of cheese. If high wages need one to get from one side of the cheese to another, some people might be born with a nice hole filled Swiss, others have a lump of impervious cheddar.

What cheese were you born with OP ?

And this is what I said in my first post above. It's not the earnings that folk resent, it's the attitude that often comes with it.

It's the insistence that it is all down to them. That the cheese you are served with has nothing to do with it.

Hmmmm... I could really go a nice bit of cheddar. Alas no though, because like you OP I done the abroad thing too. And no cheddar here. Also no 100k job.

Why? Because why would they bother to get up at this time? Work 65/70 hours unless they are ‘incentivised’ to do so. They will mostly just leave to go where they are properly valued, pay that reflects their talent, dedication and responsibility.

You are talking about communism again, and it will never ever work in a capitalist global world, you really do need to educate yourself.

Success would be happiness in your life

Exactly. The people who prop society up are quite regularly receiving salaries of under 100k.
Certainly there are some people earning over 100k who are really contributing to society as well..
But it's ridiculous to suggest that somehow all high earners are so important that if they decide to leave the country will fall apart.
Let's be honest the majority of public service jobs are not highly paid. Whereas the majority of high earning positions are in private business. Selling things, moving money about.

Quote : ".....that we are literally haemorrhaging talent in the city. "

Where are they all going, as a matter of genuine interest?

Where is this land of milk and honey?

I agree with your comment about "struggling" being "not being able to afford a cleaner".*

*I do also understand that some people will be genuinely struggling to afford anything through various factors/choices. However...

Amongst higher earning friends and family I find there is an irritating loss of perspective. What they call "skint" is laughable, as they can still afford friviloties like massages or new clothes when they fancy it (my version of skint is having to hold off on things like that, and more, until I have more money in the bank).

Well could you perform complex. heart surgery? Work as an MD in derivatives creating a huge amount of money for the country? Do you have a fine legal mind that has been refined by years and years of investment in your education and 80 hours working solidly weekly?

it is just startling that you can seem unaware that not everyone can just ‘pick up’ some jobs. The responsibility, intellect and ability alone limits the pool of people willing or able to fulfil many of the highly paid roles in our society.

Hahaha so all the NHS doctors should just quit and go and work for the private sector. Or leave medicine and go into business?
Can you not understand that money isn't an incentive beyond people's needs being met.
There are many people who are passionate about what they do even though they are not paid as well as they would be if they took a different job.
You can see a fair few of them on this thread.
And no I'm not talking about communism. I'm talking about not acting like money is equivalent to societal worth. Because it's not abd it should not be put into that position. Having money doesn't make you superior. Earning more doesn't mean you work harder or your job is more important. As I've said if people want to prioritise earning more because that's something that brings them personal happiness then that's up to them.
But why on earth should it be incentivised just for the sake of it?
You know it makes no sense.

ok, sure, it’s all been down to luck. Where do you draw the line? I admitted I might have had, in my opinion, wonderful upbringing which allowed me access to so many opportunities. Is it lucky who my parents are? Lucky I bumped into the recruiter the day I graduated university? Lucky I met the friends and acquaintances I have had on the way?
I have no idea what cheese I was born with versus what it’s become, how can one work that out? If it makes you feel better to think I’ve just swept along on a carpet of good fortune and have zero capability so be it

Asia, Australia, US, New Zealand and Switzerland in my circle alone.

How can you be so gloriously out of touch to not even know about this? This is old news, capital flight is taking place and is increasing. It’s one of the reasons Labour were more restrained than they could have been.

Be real. You know those aren't the highest paying jobs.
You also know those are jobs that people are passionate about and not necessarily pursuing for financial gain. I mean there's a lot of hard work there for lower pay than other professions. If you were very incentivised by money I'm not sure these are professions you would pick. For example most NHS surgeons earn below 100k.

I don't think anyone has remotely suggested you have zero capability. Or even that you don't work hard. It's just that you seem to have lost sight of how lucky you have been compared to many others. And how in society we need to try and give other people chances too. And that is done through taxes and access to other benefits.

Sorry you’re genuinely arguing that we should be grateful for people working in derivatives? Were you around in 2008, when a lot of our current financial issues began?

Surgery a better example, but many important medical specialisms are much lower paid and might be receiving benefits along with nursing staff who work long hours without food or toilet breaks to take care of you afterwards (or at least their private landlords and childcare providers are).

Edit to add many lawyers working in the areas that contribute to society, rather than shuffling money around between rich people, are earning peanuts despite their ‘fine legal minds’.

It’s dismissing the fact you are probably far more intelligent and capable than the other choices available to your employers op.

Some people can not seem to be able to bear the idea that others might be more intelligent, skilled, creative and able than others. They are determined to flat line any talent, and wish for everyone to be reduced down to below average as a mass - as a society.

No one is allowed to be unique, talented, special or different to them. They want everyone in their pit of misery,

Oh I missed the derivatives part!!
No.
That's personal gain. It's a personal choice. Why should it be prioritised as something that should be encouraged over other basic needs for vulnerable people?

The point is you can not operate on people’s eyes or safely remove tumours.

You can not even reach the threshold of medical school in order to learn these skills, because the starting point to study medicine is so high. Of course they are going to command higher salaries.

It's funny that you are accusing people asking others to maybe look at how much luck they may have taken for granted in their lives and perhaps take stock and be grateful, of being in 'a pit of misery'

But these people on the whole are creating billions for the country. If they all left tomorrow the country would collapse over night. It was just an example of how most people can not do these jobs. Wouldn’t even know where to start.

You describe yourself as a high earner with a good background. It's ok to just enjoy the luck. Or you can change your life if you're not happy now.

Is it lucky who my parents are? Lucky I bumped into the recruiter the day I graduated university? Lucky I met the friends and acquaintances I have had on the way? Yes, of course these things are lucky - masses of people don't have these things.

In life it is very lucky not to hit a barrier, whether that barrier is physical, mental, academic, social or just a random act of fate. Many people hit multiple barriers before reaching adulthood.

But they don't command 100k salaries.. very experienced surgeons may earn around 100k.. but usually you are looking at around 70k

People overcome ‘barriers’ all of the time. It’s not about ‘luck’ mostly it’s about single minded hard work and drive.

It’s actually £39k for full time

£30k is for all workers, including part time

Oh please!!! You just seem to have no idea. All of the surgeons/consultants I know earn £150K doing a mixture of NHS and private work. As they should. Their work is life saving, and highly skilled. Can you do it? Thought not.

That's the American dream I'm afraid.
Absolute myth.