I told my dad I’d be seeking a second degree in science (first being an arts degree). He seemed pleased, and responded with something similar to:
“I’m counting on you and others to support my social security and medicare in the future.”
How do you interpret this? Is he suggesting he will want me to support him financially indirectly (as any other taxpayer who’s taxes build social security and medicare) or directly (as in cash in hand)?
Maybe he means that with a science degree, you’ll get a “real job,” instead of pushing fries with an arts degree. Maybe he’s not like that, but a lot of people are.
“…you and others…” would suggest indirectly. But an odd response nonetheless.
Apparently he’s pleased at the thought of you getting a well paying job and contributing to the tax base.
That’s how I took it. As well as a not so subtle dig at your arts degree.
“You’ll make a lot of money. You’ll pay a lot of taxes. I will benefit from those taxes.”
Have you considered asking him?
He definitely means “You getting a science degree means that you can get a real job, as opposed to your arts degree which is worthless. That means you’ll be boosting the tax base, which benefits me.”
He’s mixing in a dig at your worthless degree with a dig at how old he’s getting. I think the thing you’re missing is that science=paycheck while arts=poverty.
Make money. Pay taxes. Helps him.
[moderating]
This isn’t really a GQ with a definitive answer, so I moved the thread to IMHO.
[/moderating]
Given recent events I’d guess that he’s trying to make a political point.
Nearly every morning as I’m going off to work my dad tells me to go to work and pay into Social Security so he can keep living the dream (he’s retired). It’s was only marginally amusing the first time he said it; I’ve heard it every work day for the past year and it’s just downright annoying now. I think our dads must think alike.
Tell him you’re planning to move back home while you’re in school.
Just a joke. My parents have been making that joke for years. It’s dorky, but they’re parents. It’s what they do.
Reply “Oh god no. I’m planning to put you in a home as quickly as possible.”
How do you get from this (bolding mine):
“I’m counting on you and others to support my social security and medicare in the future.”
To this?:
Is he suggesting he will want me to support him…directly (as in cash in hand)?
Where in his statement is there even the slightest wisp of a hint about supporting him directly?
It’s a droll backwards compliment on pursuing a course that will likely provide you with a good income. Instead of “Congratulations! Now you’ll be able to make a good living” he’s saying “Congratulations! Now you’ll be able to pay enough taxes to help ensure my government benefits will continue.”
Thanks for your replies.
Here is a follow up question:
What is the norm for upper middle class kids in terms of supporting their parents. What do you think is a good target figure to set aside for supporting upper middle class parents. Is anything even expected? Are the parents expected to only live off the savings/interest they built up over the course of their careers, plus ss and medicare? What do you think?
I wouldn’t put it quite so harshly—just that, especially in the present economy, the chances of getting a high-paying, secure job with a science degree (or better yet, a science degree and an arts degree) are significantly better than they are with an arts degree alone.
For the record, I agree with Gary T’s interpretation.
Most typically, upper middle class parents will have set aside/invested enough money to retire comfortably, either on their own or through a retirement/pension plan from the company they worked for. Planning for their retirement is their own responsibility, not their kids’. (Which is not to say the kids wouldn’t or shouldn’t help out if their elderly parents were in need.)
I think you should interpret it as a situation in which you need to ask your dad what he meant.
Yes it is.
The question is what did his dad mean, and the definitive answer would be from asking his dad, as has been suggested.