Hello, FBoFW? Do you take requests?
You do? Oh good, thanks. Here goes. This is for John and Elly in Milborough. Ahem.
JUST RETIRE ALREADY!!
Whatever...just stop talking about it!
Between their swims with dolphins, does the FBoFW creative ever think about how out of touch this comic strip is with current reality? Look at the news folks: Social Security can’t last a minute longer. People’s stock-based 401(k) investments are tanking. Some employers are defaulting on pension plans, while many others are cutting back benefits. Health care and gasoline costs are skyrocketing.
But, what are we treated to? Endless weeks of the Patterson parents reminding us they don’t need to work and wondering if they should go on permanent vacation earlier than planned.
Indeed there are two recurring story arcs that suggest Lynn Johnston really has no idea what it’s like to work for a living. First is this one -- the whole, “Woe is me, I can’t decide whether to retire while in my 50s or not” angst cycle. The other is Mike and Deanna’s inability to buy a home or pay their rent, despite having what are depicted as two pretty good jobs. Neither portrayal rings true with the audience…or, at least, with this audience member.
It’s enough to make you wish the SLA would take Lizardbreath hostage and demand the Pattersons dedicate some of their vast fortune to feeding the poor or something.
And, if that’s not going to happen, PLEASE….let’s move onto something else.
Today's strip
JUST RETIRE ALREADY!!
Whatever...just stop talking about it!
Between their swims with dolphins, does the FBoFW creative ever think about how out of touch this comic strip is with current reality? Look at the news folks: Social Security can’t last a minute longer. People’s stock-based 401(k) investments are tanking. Some employers are defaulting on pension plans, while many others are cutting back benefits. Health care and gasoline costs are skyrocketing.
But, what are we treated to? Endless weeks of the Patterson parents reminding us they don’t need to work and wondering if they should go on permanent vacation earlier than planned.
Indeed there are two recurring story arcs that suggest Lynn Johnston really has no idea what it’s like to work for a living. First is this one -- the whole, “Woe is me, I can’t decide whether to retire while in my 50s or not” angst cycle. The other is Mike and Deanna’s inability to buy a home or pay their rent, despite having what are depicted as two pretty good jobs. Neither portrayal rings true with the audience…or, at least, with this audience member.
It’s enough to make you wish the SLA would take Lizardbreath hostage and demand the Pattersons dedicate some of their vast fortune to feeding the poor or something.
And, if that’s not going to happen, PLEASE….let’s move onto something else.
posted by mike at 05:35
8 Comments:
Well, to be fair, social security is a US issue and FBoFW is set in Canada. But the problems of the Canadian healthcare system, the sponsorship scandal and possible upcoming election, or the horrific fact of Ben Mulroney's TV career could certainly be incorporated into the strip. Isn't Mike supposed to be the boy wonder of journalism? He could totally do a feature on the failure of Ontario's healthcare system to provide relief for his mother's sphincter, and Elly could whine about how awful it is that he wrote a story about her problems.
Glad you live in a place where two incomes can support a family well.
Quite a few places, two incomes is NOT enough.
In that case, FBOFW has a better grip on reality than this blog does.
I dont think he meant any 2 incomes, but I thought pharmacists(sp?)made decent money. Mike may have to work his way up some more before bringing in the big bucks. I mean if he was a cop and she was a teacher I could see them having problems. (at leased based on NYC pay rates)
Ok, I don't think there is anywhere in the world where a pharmacist and a chief editor of a magazine would not be able to support a family. Those are good jobs! Pharmacists in Canada make extremely good money. They could easily support the family on Dee's salary alone. Never mind the fact that Mike the wonder-editor probably makes at least a decent salary.
Boy, I'm glad I live in such a place, too, anonymous #1. Here in the LA area (which I think is about the most expensive market in the country), I know several couples in their late 20s/early 30s with kids who own houses or townhouses. It's not always financially comfortable, they don't have much equity in their homes, but they manage to do it somehow.
I'm not saying you're wrong that two-income couples can't always afford to buy houses. But neither am I ready to agree with you that it's typical that someone in Michael and Deanna's position couldn't possibly hope to own a home -- particularly if their parents included a well-heeled medical professional.
And, um, who ever said any blog had a grip on reality?
Seriously, dude, I don't think either this blog or FBOFW is the place to turn for reality.
Well, we are talking about a couple who managed to "accidently" have their first child when they were really not ready for her, then popped out another one when the first was already straining their shorts. Maybe their salaries can't support a family, but hell, they're also completely dumbshit to have been so irresponsible to begin with.
Or should I say, Lynn is the batshit one for doing these inane storylines to begin with.
This is Canada, we don't have
401(k) investments, but we do have RRSPs.
There was a series of ads in the late 80's for a plan called "Freedom 55" they are now widely dismissed and lampooned on Royal Canadian Air Farce.
The ads were set in "Cottage Country" which is in Ontario and is a foriegn concept to us in BC. The upshot was that you could retire part time and spend weekends in the cottage, the think that killed it was Black Wednsday hen the TSE collapsed, and people realized that they might have to work until they were 67!
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