After analyzing tens of thousands of personal financial statements since 1978, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, none of the people who have retired or will retire free of financial stress have succeeded because of the government.
Sure, many were civil service, military or CalPERS but the pension is not a gift, it is the reward for working and serving 25 to 35 years. Some of these folks risked their lives and others worked in boring jobs that were not rewarding at the end of each day.
Many worked super hard every day with co-workers who slacked off and got away with it because the government unions are the strongest in the country.
Yes, many financially successful professional people obtained federally insured student loans but again, these are loans and not gifts from Uncle Sam.
I know hundreds of senior men and women who worked in the private sector and never made more than $25 per hour who are now financially set for life because, like the government workers, they worked their rear ends off for 40-plus years and managed their finances conservatively, while avoiding big financial mistakes.
The government is not the answer to the American Dream. Americans are builders. The U.S. is the greatest country on Earth because of the citizens that built the Golden Gate Bridge, the Transamerica Pyramid, Rancho Solano, Paradise Valley, Jelly Belly, Anheuser-Busch, the pool in your backyard, BART and the railroads.
Homeownership is paramount to retiring in peace and tranquility, but nothing is as important as hard work and personal responsibility.
