m8 owners: what's your annual income?

[picker77]

I think this poll might have made more sense (although it still would have raised some hackles) if the question had to do with current net worth instead of annual income. I know folks who bring in well over $300K a year, but owe three or four times that--so they struggle along with a negative net worth. Their income goes toward holding the wolf away from the door for another month. I don't feel badly for them at all, they voluntarily signed up for their situation by buying cars and houses they couldn't afford.

I prefer my situation, with modest but reasonably comfortable income, no mortgage, and zero debt to anyone on this planet. Certainly not a huge net worth, but it's all on the black side of the ledger, so I sleep very well and maintain a very low stress level.

I don't currently own an M8. I suppose I could buy one, but I'm not sure why I'd want to. My M2 and ZI take care of small format film needs, and a D200 and a selection of decent Nikon glass covers the digital side quite nicely. I think if I were to spring for large digital bucks it would be for a D3X, to me a much more sensible purchase for only slightly more money than an M8.2.

 

[Olsen]

Well. It is not your 'net worth' that makes it possible for you to buy a Nikon D3X. But your income.

 

[picker77]

Olsen, the disconnect you just highlighted is what got us into this current economic mess. People (at least in this country) no longer bought homes and "things" they could afford, they simply bought what they wanted. Unfortunately our free-spending government was only too happy to encourage that by pressuring banks to loan tons of money without consideration for the ability to repay it. Now it's time for everyone (except of course the government, who can simply print more money) to pay the piper, and a lot of people aren't going to like the tune.

 

[Olsen]

Except for the fact that it is not the US government that prints money, but a group of privately owned banks that makes the 'the Federal Reserve System'. The American people owe them a lot of money. So much money that you can never pay them back. Only pay the interest, which makes out 1/3 of your tax bill - and very soon 1/2 of your tax bill. - Just for being Americans.

I think it is about time that you, the American people, made them - the Fed, 'made them an offer they can't refuse'. Do a Tommy Dorsey on'em: 'it is either gonna be your signature on that paper or your brain - the brain of Ben Bernanke is not going to do you any good anyway, and make them sign away all that debt once and for all.

This is in good American spirit, - it's been done before, you know, and fully in-line with 'The American Dream', which, if you don't act quick, could turn out to become a nightmare.

I wish you good luck!