Aphorisms.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/ tschuckman@aol.com

Foreword in German:


Hallo Freunde und Leser,
ich muss/get zu Bett zurückziehen, bald, aber ich muss etwas Gutes mit Ihnen teilen. Ich hoffe, dass nichts fehlt oder in der Übersetzung verloren. Was lustig ist in einem Land oder Sprache, ist nicht immer gut empfangen, in einem anderen...
Wenn ich war in Deutschland, Anfang 1968, fühlte ich, dass das deutsche Volk mehr ernst waren, und "Zielorientiert" - im Vergleich zu anderen Ländern und Menschen .... nur meine bescheidene meinung. Aber das ist ein Grund, warum das deutsche Volk sind eine große Nation! Sie bemühen sich stark für Exzellenz und produzieren sehr finden Maschinen und Produkte! 20% bis 25% der Amerikaner kommen aus deutscher Abstammung, und Sie haben geholfen, Amerika in eine große, starke, smart, Nation aufzubauen. Allerdings schlecht, böse Menschen schleichen sich und unser Land nach unten bringen, indem Sie so viel Essen, Geld und Vorteile zu illegalen Ausländern, die sich weigern zu arbeiten und in unserer amerikanischen Kultur assimilieren!! Die KJV Bibel sagt, "Wenn Sie nicht arbeiten, und du sollst nicht essen." Und
noch einen schönen Tag.
Herzliche Grüße,
Tommy Schuckman
Email: tschuckman@aol.com


I took a nap today for a few hours and woke up about 3 hours later, and felt great !    I rarely take naps in the day time,  afraid that I might miss something important,   but I pride myself on my ability to change my habits  ---- and that is so important to me losing weight.    I left some good pork ch0ps in the Frig. for a few days, and hope they are still OK to grill and eat.   I might add a sliced onion, etc.   

I thought that posting these:  'APHORISMS'   below would be 'cool' --- as I see much truth in them, and just wanted to share them.   There is so much "bad news" on TV,  enough to choke a horse !   I can only watch so much of that non-stop, negativity,  and then I must take a break,  to air out my brain !    I don't care if you all want to call it a "diversion"  or a get a way.    Tommy Schuckman,  needs a BREAK !   
      I remember reading that Jesus once said that the world will always have those in poverty and disappointments.   So I just happen to know how to get my mind off the "Bad, Fake, NON-STOP, negative, ranting and ravings of the 'Lame Stream Media' and terrible things that happen all over the world.    It's like long distance swimming or running....   you need to take a short break every once in a while...  or die.    I am not in the Army anymore,  so I don't have to "Keep up with the troop movements."    See the true, funny jokes below and have a good laugh and smile ! 

That great musical Band:  The Beatles,  used to sing a song called:  "Money can't buy you love."    True !   But it sure helps to put gas into your Buick, so you can get to an important meeting in the Upper Peninsula !    There are many ways to "Deal with things in Life."   Have a few bucks in your pocket just gives you a few options in life, and that is so nice.   
        I have helped out many people in my life, in many ways, even with gifts of money ---- only to get taken advantage of, deserted, abandoned,  robbed, and back stabbed !   We need to just READ an important scripture that deals with this challenge, even though we are all imperfect and sin every day:    "Some men's sins are open beforehand,  going before to judgment;   and some men they follow after."    --- 1st Timothy 5: 24.    

Recently,  I got some negative medical news and challenges.   But soon after I got some GOOD, positive News and a new friend who likes me.   So,  I am enjoying the current happiness and hope, and so thankful for God's gentle mercies and gifts.    I believe that I have cause to rejoice..... at least for now.   

And I am going to continue to quote a few prime scriptures that help me and make me happy !!   I still have that "Freedom and Liberty," in the U.S.A.    I, and many of my close 'combat brothers' and friends sacrificed a few years of our lives to Protect and Serve  ---America.   And even though our ranks are thinned out every year,  as more old Soldiers, Marines, and Sailors go to meet their Maker and Lord,  there are still many of us who can still "TYPE"   --TALK --- and VOTE !!   We can at least have a little bit of joy and happiness, after we elected [against all odds, cheap tricks, illegal actions and ploys!] a good, smart, honest, Man..... and not a wimp or a witch !!   May the Truth come out and the oinks be brought to justice.   PTL.

Warm Regards,
Tommy Schuckman
Email:   tschbuckmabn@aol.com  

Yes!!  Here is a great picture of me,  Tom Schuckman,  back in 1989,  after I just got laid off from Chrysler,  and 6 long years on the street ---- but got back into college to study more welding skills, etc.      Praise the Lord !   A dream come true.     >>>>>   Below  >>>>>>>

APHORISM:
  

[A SHORT, POINTED SENTENCE THAT EXPRESSES A WISE OR CLEVER OBSERVATION OR A GENERAL TRUTH ]  

 

Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than in a Datsun. 

 

The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.    

 

If you don't have a sense of humour, you probably don't have any sense at all.

 

How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all    night?    

 

Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.   

 

Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?    

 

There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.    

 

There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 a.m. - it could be the right number.    

 

No one ever says "It's only a game" when their team is winning.    

 

Do you realize that, in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos? And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!  

 

After 60, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you're probably dead.   

 

Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind and the ones that mind don't matter.

 

Life isn't tied with a bow but it's still a gift.  

 

REMEMBER, POLITICIANS AND NAPPIES SHOULD BE CHANGED OFTEN AND ALL

FOR THE SAME REASON

How To Raise Chicks: How To Get Hens To Adopt Mail Order or Feed Store Chicks 

by Christine M – – this is an entry in our non-fiction writing contest.

If you have ever raised day old chicks from the feed store or by mail order you know that it is a hassle.  You have to monitor them all the time, check the temperature of the brooder and in general be their mommy until they are old enough to go in with the adult...

"Time is a Clarifier."

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/ tschuckman@aol.com

Foreword in Danish:


Hej Venner,
Jeg ved at alle har deres egen mening, men vi har konstitutionelt patrioter i USA, der elsker "retsstatens forfatning" og universel retfærdighed. Hvad der godt for én gruppe mennesker skal også være godt for alle andre! Tja, de nylige afsløringer er kommet ud at forklare alting. Og vores Far i himlen ser og ved alt! Derfor har apostlen Paulus skrev et brev til den kristne menighed i Korinth ..... i 1 Kor 13, 3: "hver mands arbejde skal åbenbares, for den dag skal opgive det, fordi det skal blive åbenbaret med ild, og ilden skal prøve hver mands arbejde af hvad det er." Men hvorfor ikke læse hele kapitlet, please ?
Ja, jeg taler om den nylige Benghazi mord, som skete for et par år siden, som tog livet af nogle af vores bedste specialstyrker militære mænd unødvendigt, men lederne af vores amerikanske regering løjet om det hele, og forsøgte at dække over det. Men nu sandheden kommer ud, og den onde, onde løgnere skal drages til ansvar, hvis vejret nu eller latter.
Venlig hilsen
Thomas G Schuckman
Min Email: Tschuckman@aol.com

Hello  Friends,
     After I got out of the Army,  back on my Dad's farm in Wisconsin,  we both began to make our own wine instead of paying the high prices at the store, and so we studied, read, investigated and talked to others in that field and hobby.   We bought some large glass containers, called Carboys [Sp?] that held about 5 gallons, and experimented  with different fruits and juices, and we learned so much !  
        When you initially pour the juice into the container/ cask,  you must cover the juice effectively or the "bad bacteria" will get in and spoil the wine, or convert it into vinegar....  great on your salad -- but not good to drink.   And that is a science in itself !   But we bought a "fermentation lock," that  plugs out the bad air,  but allowed the inside air to escape and "breathe."   Some other folks might use a 'breathable'  cotton towel, or fabric to allow the wine to breathe---  but filters out the bad bacteria, insects, etc.    Actually, in the OT --times of Ancient Israel, in that hot climate,  if you placed a bowl/ container of GRAPE JUICE outside your dwelling, it would TURN INTO WINE all by itself,  because grapes have a naturally occurring YEAST on their outside skins that would work the juice  in to wine.   As was the custom,  Jesus also DRANK WINE !   But he never got drunk !!   The Bible does not condemn the normal, moderate consumption of Wine....  but it does condemn DRUNKENESS !!   Just read,  1st Timothy 5: 23 !      ---- So then after some time, the 'sedimentation,' or "lees" settle to the bottom, and after the proper aging time, we would siphon the wine out into smaller serving vessels or gallon jugs.   So the 'Lees' on the bottom are not to be disturbed, as they help "CLARIFY" the wine,  etc.  In other words,  the sediment on the bottom help to pull most of the impurities out of the wine, making it more a  CLEAR, Quality, product.   And you can also FILTER it into other smaller containers later, using a ladies, CLEAN, panty hose/ stocking, or some 'cheese cloth.'    I am just telling you all some simple tricks of the trade, to save you all some money.     We just found it interesting, as a hobby.   And in times of distress and poverty, the more you know --- THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE. 
      So,  too,  "Time is a Clarifier" in another sense ---  that ALL of our sins and transgressions  will certainly come to light as time goes on,  and NOTHING is really hidden from our heavenly Father,  the God of the KJV Bible !!    I can also look up that Scripture for you, if you like,  too.     [Please visit,  1st Timothy 5: 24 --- to compare]
      Just think...  when we were young,  our human parents saw through our lies and mistakes,  just as we older folks can easily see through our own children's mess ups !   How much more can our Creator see the real truth, and He can also see into the FUTURE !    Can we really lie to the people around us ?   And if we can,  what will we do at the Judgment Seat, of Holy God ?  
      Well,   I just took a hot shower, and I feel so clean.   But I also feel so clean after I have confessed my sins to the Father, and the Bible tells me that He does forgive me,  if I am honest and contrite.   Though I might be prideful before men --- I am not that way before God,  because that would be stupid, and useless.    After all,  we ought to know by now who butters our toast, and allows us to breathe in pure air.    Our Father loves the humble, contrite, heart.  

General Petraeus was and still is a hero in my opinion/ eyes, even though he fell from grace and was 'thrown under the bus' by the great liar in chief,  Mr. Wimp, who could never be an eruption on a real S0ldier's back side !     The Marines also have a super low opinion of "Mr. Wimp," too,  but that's another story....LOL.  
     I thought that the true story below was brilliantly crafted, so that the truth is finally out in the sunshine....  but it still needs to be shared all over the world !   But remember,  if true Justice isn't served now on earth,  we  KNOW  it will be set straight and served up right, in the next life.   

BTW,  about a week ago, I visited the Iron Mountain, MI., VAMC, requesting an IMPORTANT medicine from my civilian doctor at St. Mary's Hospital, in green Bay, Wisconsin, to help thin my blood, so I won't have a stroke.   And of course the back woods VA -- U.P. here in the Woods, dropped the ball again.... as I just found out today when attending another visit to re-bandage an old motorcycle injury on my Left leg.   Well,  I can just about COUNT on the VAMC up here to drop the ball, and have a wondered look on their faces, of puzzlement.    I was just a bit irate and frustrated,  but cordial, with my good manners....  trying to explain that this new medicine was very important... and a matter of life and DEATH to me !    Duh...... !   After all,  we are only disabled combat Veterans who helped defend the Freedom of America,  and the U.S. Gov't PROMISED that they would take care of us, contractually,  if and when we ever got hurt while we were in uniform.... Ha!     Well,  I know for sure that half the folks in the USA don't give a crap about the Military, as they voted of 'Hillary Clinton' that treasonous Liar !
       But... SOMEDAY, those kind of 'trash people' will have to face a Higher Judge, and account for all of their heinous crimes and sins, including Abortion !  

Have a nice day.

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  ---John 14: 27.  

Warm Regards,
Tommy Schuckman
My Email:   tschuckman@aol.com    

Here is the rest of the info on the Benghazi incident:

 

This being true, why are Hillary and Obama NOT being  prosecuted? 

Because no one has the guts to stand up to the "good old boy" established "CLUB".

From Wikileaks:  

       So here's the REAL story.  Amb. Stevens was sent to Benghazi in order to retrieve US made Stinger missiles supplied to Ansar al Sharia without Congressional oversight or permission. 

Hillary brokered the deal through Stevens and a private arms dealer named Marc Turi. 

Then some of the shoulder fired missiles ended up in Afghanistan and were used against our own military.

It was July 25th, 2012 when a Chinook helicopter was taken down by one of our own Stingers, but the idiot Taliban didn't arm the missile and the Chinook didn't explode, but had to land anyway.

An ordnance team recovered the serial number off the missile which led back to a cache of Stingers being kept in Qatar by the CIA. 

Obama and Hillary were now in full panic mode and Stevens was sent in to retrieve the rest of the Stingers.  This was a "do-or-die" mission, which explains the stand down orders given to multiple commando teams.

It was the State Dept, not the CIA, that supplied them to our sworn enemies, because Petraeus wouldn't approve supplying these deadly weapons due to their potential use on commercial aircraft.  Then, Obama threw Gen. Petraeus under the bus after he refused to testify that he OK'd the BS talking points about a spontaneous uprising due to a YouTube video. 

Obama and Hillary committed treason and THIS is what the investigation is all about, why she had a private server, (in order to delete the digital evidence), and why Obama, two weeks after the attack, told the UN that the attack was the result of a YouTube video, even though everyone knew it was not.

Further...the Taliban knew that this administration aided and abetted the enemy without Congressional approval when Boehner created the Select Cmte, and the Taliban began pushing the Obama Administration for the release of 5 Taliban Generals.  

Bowe Bergdahl was just a pawn...everyone KNEW he was a traitor.  So we have a traitor as POTUS that is not only corrupt, but compromised and a woman that is a serial liar, perjured herself multiple times at Congressional hearings.  Perhaps this is why no military aircraft was called in...because the administration knew our enemies had Stingers.

Forward this again and again and again until everyone reads the true story.

*************************************************************************



Jewish History - Evidence Of Ancient Israel - Full Documentary - Duration: 1:52:33. Wise Wanderer597,799 views

 

Best Regards,

Tommy

Americans have less than $400 in Cash.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/ tschuckman@aol.com

Foreword in German:

Guten Tag, Freunde und Leser!
Ich bin heute geschrieben über Finanzierung, Investition, und Geld, und wie man einen einfachen, demütigen, Person, begonnen zu erhalten, 1/10 seiner oder ihrer Geld-/Pay, neben jedem Arbeitsentgelt -- der Zahltag, und es dann klug investieren! Unser Vater im Himmel will, dass seine Kinder glücklich, fröhlich sein, und wohlhabenden, wenn möglich, aber viele Menschen in Amerika haben Gefallen, und kann nicht mehr zurück holen.... Finanziell! Ich pflegte, Finanzen und Investitionen vor etwa 20 Jahren zu unterrichten, und ich genossen, anderen Menschen zu helfen. Ein altes deutsches Sprichwort lautet: "Wenn man hilft anderen------- Beide sind stark."
Herzliche Grüße,
Thomas G Schuckman
Email: tschuckman@aol.com






Good Day, Ladies and Gentlemen,  Friends and Kind Readers !

     "Let not your heart be troubled,  neither let it be afraid."   --- John 14: 27.    Don't worry, folks,  I am not going to rant and rave, stand on a soap box and SING, today..... LOL.   It's a dreary, chilly day U.P. in the great Northern Woods, even North of the great State of Wisconsin....   but we'll take it and give thanks for another day of drawing the clean, crisp air into our lungs !   
        Flash !   I was taking a nice shower last night/ evening, and some how pulled the shower curtain down,  so I finished cleaning myself, quickly, and was so happy  to shampoo my hair and full beard.    Working hard and also sweating has been my work ethic from childhood... on up.    But I doubt if I could live with out a shower with hot water and soap !!   Maybe I am over dramatic but I still consider a great shower -- a sublime luxury, and I love to be squeaky clean all over.  
    And the next time I go to the store in Iron Mountain,  MI.,  I will buy a few bottles of good German White wine, for my health.   From what I have read and studied,  Red wine is good for the heart.   And White Table wine is good for the brain.   Heart disease and Stroke run in my family linage/ history  ---- it's genetic.   So,  millions of other people in the world and USA walk around with similar health factors,  but they combat their genetic challenges with positive, herbal,  even Biblical, remedies, and live full, happy, productive lives !   However,  if my Lord and Master,  Jesus,   call me "Home"  sooner, or the Rapture comes,  I would be happy to be in that number, too !   In the story of  "Forest Gump,"  we learn that:  'dying is a part of living.'   Wise, old, King Solomon had plenty to say about that subject, too.    Please read from the book of Ecclesiastes,  Chapter 3, verse 13,   "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God."   And I also like, Chapter 4, verse 9,   "Two are better than on;  because they have a good reward for their labour."   Verse 10:   "For if they fall,  the one will lift up his fellow:  but woe to him that is alone when he falleth:  for he hath not another to help him up."  

Another FLASH !
A quarter of American adults cannot pay their monthly bills.  
       And 44% don't even have $400., in cash !    Most of you folks that read my modest column know that I have a strong back ground in Finance and Investments.   And I used to TEACH many couples sitting at their kitchen tables all about Money, Cash, Saving, Investing, and many other equations, and I ENJOYED helping other people out.   I never got rich,  but I helped others and myself to crawl out of the hole of poverty, work hard and to BEGIN investing a little bit of their income every month, also teaching them about,  "Emergency Funds,"  Long term funds, etc. etc.   The secret is:   to grab onto something GOOD, BEFORE other people over load it, crowd it and all of them finally jump on that band wagon.... and ruin it all.     To sell high, and buy low,  but also about "Dollar Cost Averaging,"  The "Rule of 72,"   how not to get screwed or taken advantage of by hucksters, bankers, and Life Insurance Companies !!!   It was just so exciting helping others out, and prospering, learning how to help others  by GIVING them some money --- NOT Loaning them money.   And if you are curious about anything I am saying here,  just email me to find out the answer.    tschuckman@aol.com  
      But,  Friends,  Here is the Warning.....    I USED TO give away lots of money at churches to poor people who were crying on my shoulder about their health bills, and dire poverty,  so I would give them a "C-note"  ---$100 bill.   And when I left that church for one reason or another.... sometimes it was just too far away for me to drive,  or I broke up a relationship with my wife 2-- years ago.... only ONE of those church members ever even called me to see if I was alive or not !!    I NEVER, ever, not once,  cheated on my wife,  but she was just too independent and went her own way......   but now at least we are on talking terms and we get along fine and help each other !   Smile.   She is not an evil creature... and neither am I.   We both made mistakes, for which I was so sorry for and I apologized for my sins and mistakes.   
     But what about the other fake, turkeys at church.... as I call them CHINO's   [Christians in name only !].    And for some odd reason my fellow, brother, combat Veterans treat me much better, like a human being, and with respect,  as I AM their fellow 'Brother in Arms !'   And I care for them too and try to help them if I can.
     All I am saying here and now is:   "Sitting in a church every Sunday no more makes someone a Christian --- than standing in some garage makes one a Auto Mechanic ! ! !"   Please burn that into your brains......  LOL.    I am speaking the truth as I see it.   There are:   False Religions,  False Prophets,  False Churches, and many FAKE PEOPLE --- all who will have to face the Judge some day,  just as I will have to.    But here is a question....   We ALL NEED TO BE SAVED, and have the Holy Spirit inside of us, to get into heaven.....   Fact.   But wouldn't you logically THINK that a so-called Christian would also know his/ her Bible after a few years of reading, studying it, and listening to great sermons at some 'Christian church ??'     Now... I know that we are not all endowed the same set of brains and minds, by the Father in heaven,   but most everyone can learn a FEW scriptures over a life time !!   Too,   we can do NOTHING ON OUR OWN to merit Heaven.    But at the same time,  all Christians are charged, at Matthew 24: 14, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ,  as best they can !   So ask yourself:   What have I done all my life in service to the Lord ?  
       I also know that many of us only find out about the Lord after we are older in years.   But just what have we done for the Lord, and what are we doing NOW ??   Something to ponder,  friends and readers.

OK,  folks,   I am NOT the BOOGEY MAN, who loves to scare people out of their wits, nor do I preach and pass along any "Doom or Gloom."    But I do tell and share the Gospel TRUTH per the KJV Bible ! !   I am not afraid to share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even if it means my life,  disabled Old, Soldier, that I am, and praying for the Rapture.   
        But now,  "In the Meantime,"   there is NOTHING WRONG with having cash money, silver and gold !!   Paul told Timothy that it was the "Love of Money" that was evil and a trap !!   [See:  1st Timothy 6: 10]  Please remember that difference.... while the heathen world says something different and contrary--- Ha!   And they usually get it wrong... just like modern day,  "Fake News" from the heathen Liberals insects  !   Also, please read,  Ecclesiastes 2: 24--26, to set things straight.   And then,  the whole chapter 3, is where that famous musical band, the Byrds got the lyrics for that special song:   "Turn, Turn, Turn."   ------ a time to love, and a time to hate;  a time of war, and a time of peace.  etc. etc.  That's back in the early 1960's era, young children.... LOL.... Ha!   Smile.

Friends,  down below might are many deeper things  hard to understand....  but the bottom line is,  that things are progressively getting worse and more desperate,   sorry.   I have studied the "Blue Print,"  and I know what to expect.   I am retired and have that distinct luxury of reading many exciting things on the InterNet, including Finance and Investments, etc.   But why not do all this home work for yourself ??   Hey!   You and your family might be tired of eating beef stew,  but sometime in the future, you will give most ANYTHING for just a sniff of the good stuff !   I kid you, not !
      I have not had a real vacation in many YEARS !!   If I don't even have a nice, friend with me, to pick me up [emotionally] when I 'fall down, etc,'  how or why would I want to spend lots of money on a vacation ??   But taking a nice, lady out to a nice, quiet dinner at a great place, in more my speed, now days.     And right now,  I happen to have enough on my plate, and plenty of fish to fry.   Father God takes good care of me, and so I have some happiness and hope in my life.   
     Now, here it is already,  2:30 PM, and I have not eaten yet !   But I do have something in the crock pot.    Smile.   And my mouth is super dry now, too.   Time to enjoy what the Lord has provided.

But as one last parting, "Gift,"   --- I tell you [financially] to "Pay Yourself,  First !].    That means,  every time you get paid for work,  cut 10% off the top --- and that is YOUR MONEY ONLY !   Then either hold it in your house, hidden somewhere,  but do not put it into the bank, please,  or you will soon "Lose It !"   And then, when you have a few hundred dollars saved up, invest it all into Silver, at a special, trustworthy company called:   MMX   --- MoneyMetalsExchange.com   

FREE Expert Consultation: 800.800.1865

    ---When you get it delivered to your own house and you have to sign for it,  count nd HIDE it in a secret place and tell NO BODY !!   Except you wife ---- IF YOU REALLY TRUST HER.   Continue to due this, and you will then have an "Emergency Fund," and also start stocking canned food, and pure drinking water.   Read and study your Bible often.   You will be much better off than all of your neighbor,  I promise.

Warm Regards,
Tommy  Schuckman
Email:   tschuckman@aol.com

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Turning crisis into opportunity

A Quarter Of American Adults Can't Pay All Their Monthly Bills; 44% Have Less Than $400 In Cash

by Tyler Durden

May 20, 2017 11:41 PM

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There was some good news and some not so good news in the Fed's latest annual Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households.
First the good news.
The report, based on the Board's fourth annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking conducted in October 2016, presents a "picture of improving financial well-being among Americans", at least according to the report (read on to see if this is merited). Overall, 70% of the more than 6,600 respondents said they were either "living comfortably" or "doing okay," up 1% from 2015 and up 8% from the first survey results in 2013.

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Not surprisingly, the highest percentage, or 92%, of those who responded they were "living comfortably" was among the group with more than $100,000 in family income. For Americans making less than $40,000 the breakdown was almost evenly split with 49% saying they are "just getting by."  According to the same study, 28% of respondents said that their income in the last 12 months was less than $25,000, and 40% report that their income was less than the key $40,000 cutoff, which suggests that roughly 4 in 10 Americans are "finding it difficult to get by."

 

The improvements in well-being as reported by the survey respondents were concentrated among high-income adults, with at least some college education, and prompted the WSJ to write that "U.S Household financial health improved in recent years." Even so, most of the changes reported in the survey were relatively modest, "reflecting a slowly improving economy and an unemployment level at or below 5% throughout 2016."

 

Now, the not so good news.
Nearly eight years into an economic recovery, nearly half of Americans didn’t have enough cash available to cover a $400 emergency. Specifically, the survey found that, in line with what the Fed had disclosed in previous years, 44% of respondents said they wouldn’t be able to cover an unexpected $400 expense like a car repair or medical bill, or would have to borrow money or sell something to meet it. Troubling as this statistic remains, the overall share of adults who would struggle to come up with $400 in a pinch has declined by 2% from the last survey conducted in 2015, and down 6% since 2013.
Of the group that could not pay in cash, 45% said they would go further in debt and use a credit card to pay off the expense over time. while a quarter would borrow from friends of family, and another 27% just couldn’t pay the expense. Others would turn to selling items or using a payday loan.

The breakdown was largely by education attainment: 79% of those with at least a bachelor’s degree said they would still be able to pay all of their other bills in full if hit with a $400 charge. Just 52% of those with no more than a high school diploma said the same.
Just as concerning were other findings from the study: just under one-fourth of adults, or 23%, are not able to pay all of their current month’s bills in full while 25% reported skipping medical treatments due to cost in the prior year. Additionally, 28% of adults who haven’t retired yet reported to being grossly unprepared, indicating they had no retirement savings or pension whatsoever.

 

The median out-of-pocket cost for an unexpected, major medical expense was $1,000, and 42% of those with such an expense in the past year either had debt relating to that expense or unpaid balances. The Fed reported that 24 million adults are in debt from medical expenses incurred over the previous year.  As a result, many respondents went without some type of care, dental care in particular, because they could not afford it, though the 25% who reported such a situation was down from 27% in 2015.
Commenting on the report's concerning findings, Fed Governor and Hillary Clinton supporter Lael Brainard said that "the survey findings remind us that many American households are struggling financially, including fully 40 percent of those with a high school diploma or less. More broadly, 44 percent of all respondents could not cover an unexpected $400 emergency expense or would rely on borrowing or selling something to do so. The survey also shows that many adults have no savings for retirement."
The findings also underscore themes apparent during the presidential election, namely the growing gap between the elites and the broader population. Of whites with a bachelor’s degree or more, 85% said they’re doing OK or living comfortably, compared with 62% for whites with a high-school diploma or less. Blacks and Hispanics have similar but narrower gaps in response to that question when sorted by education.
The biggest differentiator appears to be education: the Fed reported that 82% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or more in education said last year they were “living comfortably” or “doing okay,” up from 80% the year before, as well as 69% of those with some college or an associate degree, up from 66%. Furthermore, 79% of those with at least a bachelor’s degree said they would still be able to pay all of their other bills in full if hit with a $400 charge. Just 52% of those with no more than a high school diploma said the same.
Americans’ sense of economic health also varied among racial and ethnic groups. Of the respondents with no more than a high-school diploma, a greater portion of non-Hispanic whites—20.5%-- reported being worse off than a year before than did non-Hispanic blacks, at 18.6%, or Hispanics, at 20.2%.
Asked to comment by the WSJ on the latest annual study, Jonathan Morduch, a New York University professor of public policy and an economist said that “everybody on the low end feels like they’re in a different situation, almost like they’re in a different America than those with a bachelor’s or more.” He added that “The combination of instability and illiquidity are really hurting at the low end,” he added.
That's the same "end" that had such an outsized impact on the latest presidential election.
So based on the latest set of Fed results presented above, the solution to America's wealth problem would be to force every American into a college education. Well, sure... just make sure it's debt free, because as even the NY Fed's Bill Dudley admitted in early April, student debt and default are a “headwind to economic activity" noting that "rising student loan debt in the United States could ultimately hurt
overall home ownership and consumer spending and erode colleges' and
universities' ability to elevate lower-income students."

There are "potential longer-term negative implications of student debt on homeownership and other types of consumer spending," Dudley said.

 

"Continued increases in college costs and debt burdens could inhibit higher education's ability to serve as an important engine of upward income mobility, (and) these developments are important and deserve increased attention."

Which is understandable with a record $1.44 trilion in student loans outstanding as of March 31, surpassing even the $1.1 trillion in US auto loans.

Here are the disturbing findings from the latest NY Fed study on America's student debt crisis:

...our analysis shows that for any given level of educational attainment, those with student debt are less likely to own a home in their early thirties than those who completed their education without taking on as much—or any—debt.

 

To the extent that the statistical associations we uncovered reflect a causal impact of debt on homeownership, they have important implications for the housing market and future spending behavior.

 

Homeownership represents an important means of wealth accumulation, with housing equity being the principal form of wealth for most households. So, changes in the way we finance higher education, with an increased reliance on student debt, may have important implications for the housing market and the distribution of wealth.

It only took the Fed about 6 years to figure out what was patently obvious to everyone else.  Alas, that does not help solve the core underlying problems discussed above because absent a world in which US colleges hand out diplomas to everyone - which will never happen - the vast wealth gap will only get bigger. And that "prediction" does not even take into account the fact that the US is now about 2 years overdue for a major recession