On the bright side.
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I've been poor all my adult life. I've raised two kids alone, without the benefit of legally owed child support (courts were no help at all back then), working and worrying about child care and all the other attendant problems of single motherhood.
I was "fired" from two jobs for leaving work for child-related emergencies, only to be ordered back to work the next day when I didn't show up because I thought I'd been fired.
But you know what? My kids grew up in a poor but peaceful home, unspoiled, and understanding and compassionate towards others who struggle, too. They make me very proud of the adults they've become.
We learned to be resourceful, creative, and think outside the box. We embraced our lives by living simply and focusing on important things - things like their education and being caring of others.
I'm still poor. Social Security isn't nearly enough to live on, so I still work part time and will continue to work until I'm incapacitated.
But I've never been happier. I consider the working poor "my people" because they're generally more down-to-earth, honest, and kind - but I'm not shamed or intimidated by people with money, like I was when I was much younger. I have enough to get by and even to be able to help some who have less.
Life can still be good when one is poor, but only if basic needs are met. That's why universal healthcare is so very important, why insane housing costs need to be controlled, and why the necessities of life need to be accessible to all.
= new reply since forum marked as read
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I hope you get a good deal on the repairs you need and find the money when you need it.
You're absolutely right about caring people being worth more than any amount of money!
Though I want to get a used electric superbike in 3 or 4 years 
I'm riding a Masi Gran Corsa with a 105 set at the moment (Ultegra rear derailleur, which is so nice...). Thankfully no issues with the carbon forks, so that's a relief. Everything seems to be in pretty good condition other than those issues. Had to rebuild the front wheel after a hit and run, but it's solid as a rock even with the potholes out here, which is nice.
I got the bike used, so the drivetrain was bound to start wearing at some point. At this point the chain is married to the front rings and the cassette, so when it needs to be replaced, it all has to go.
Any advice for care and maintenance or bike repair tips/resources would be greatly appreciated 
Oh, one thing: I spent 6 hours working on it on Monday. Turns out whoever installed the crank linkage bolt (I think that's the name of the part) put it in without lube. I had to blast it 3 times with a releaser and it still barely came out. It was gross with metal shavings and crap inside, but it's all cleaned out now. It was stuck so bad though that we had to hammer the part off the wrench we used to unstick it 
i'll post a link to pic here (where the axle comes out / or goes in to hold the crankset is the bb)
http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/bicycleparts.html
if your bb is toast, don't ride....walk it to a store and have her fixed
sorry....that'll crack a frame eventually
the higher you spin (higher pedals per minute 80-100 or so as opposed to 50-80) the less wear you put on it
also gaining approx 20-25% power/endurance due to working right in the 'powerband' of humans
have you checked your hometown for bicycle co-op/college co-ops
frequently they will lend you tools, coffee and sometimes a helping hand
for online
http://parktool.com/blog/repair-help/
i'll post some more later if you want
but feel free to ask (i ride a trek cromo 1998..orig she was $500 new, i got her for free, and since i worked in a bikestore at the time, she's now $1500 (parts and bearings) and yes..that's worth it..due to durability
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]But, hey... it's a job. And I get to work at home.
No car, no commute, no wardrobe, and no office politics.
No wardrobe 
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]So true!
your sarcasm is subtle yet detectable in the history of posts
*bows* eggzelent!
oh hi and welcome
(may want to use sarcasm hint...some people don't check)
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]All I can think of, though, is that a lot of the smarter wealthy white males might actually see the writing on the wall.
The smart ones will have recognized that "tinkle down" has not worked and will never work, and like Nick Hanauer warned, "the pitchforks are coming" if regular people don't see some major changes to their benefit.
Maybe tomorrow will be a quieter day and I'll get a chance to study the charts and the thread. Last night was my night off, but I have to get to the 2nd job now. 
Definitely not wealthy or a man. And I love Bernie. Yes, I do.
