That's true. I'm cleaning out my in-laws hoarder stash right now. I don't think this hoarder stash is the American Dream. To me, the American Dream is having the freedom to do what you want, make a hoarder stash, live a frugal life, raise 19 kids, live on a farm and raise your own food. Whatever, it's all good.

My point has more to do with you getting more comfortable in your own skin and not comparing yourself all the time.

Sounds to me like he's enjoying his version of the American Dream, your stuck comparing yourself to others to make yourself feel good and justify yourself.

that's why he's winning.

When your both in the ground, it won't matter.

Your brother can always trim back and have your "wealth" beat in afew months. Sorry, but he's beating you.

WOW, did you just call someone ignorant? It's kinda cute if I consider your intellectual age, it's like watching a 4 year old, awww...

Males have higher lifetime earnings. Maybe you should consider pinch-hitting for the other team.

For all the failings of government programs, they do way more way better then any of the mulitple private charities. Stop taking it for granted and bashing them.

If you want to learn about true wealth, read The Millionaire Next Door [wikipedia.org]. It's isn't about having a brand new car.
Read it already, I won't dissect it in detail, but it's half decent.

Wealth also isn't about living like a miser. Have fun living for tomorrow, I live for today with an eye on tomorrow.

I use that feature. It's nice that my phone doesn't chirp every time I get an email offer. I may be interested, so it's not necessarily spam, but it sorts into the "promotions" box and I can peruse (or ignore) at my convenience.

Google maps has dramatically improved my commute. I know 10 different ways to get there, but google maps will automatically route around traffic problems and update itself to insure I have the fastest route. I use it all the time, real time is the only way to get the full benefit.

Catch up gramps.

Sounds great for upper class people who worry about taxes.

Let's see if Finland is so liberal on crime when we up their black and hispanic populations to 30% (like in the U.S.)
Rasicst much...?

I would propose we gut the funding for Finlands schools, shunt any higher income kids with some of the exceptionally smart to excellent schools and let the rest fall into disrepair. We should also lock up a significant number of fathers and some mothers so kids can be raised by single parents or foster care. Finally, we should saddle youth with significant debts that make it difficult for them to progress their lives up the financial ladder. Maybe charging them for education and healthcare would do the trick.

We could also consider adding a back door system of bribery to their political system to allow wealthy people to make their own laws and regulations, or at least polarize people and win over most of the stupids to some sort of self defeating political movement.

I think it would increase government scrutiny. They have to track all sales consumption rather then only labor (currently).

HBO just felt a disturbance, it's like .000001% of their market cried out and was suddenly silenced.

Woah, professional sports might go back to being about the game and the local community? What a disaster.

I could also see someone like Netflix stepping in, shows have changed distributors in the past. I think this is long overdue, even if it only provides HBO original programming it would be a great move.