- Joined
- Nov 13, 2009
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I think what people are responding to, Harry, is the tone of personal opinion in your writing. Try not to take too much offense.
I think the disparity in opinions here is probably due to differences in personal opinion. One side, some have seen the wealth of opportunities available to the poor, impoverished, low income, whatever. And how an otherwise unobstructed individual might take advantage of those to achieve success. Others have more knowledge/experience of the difficulties someone in a low income situation might have. A 20-year old mother in a bad neighborhood for example might be 'technically able' to move ahead in life by walking through her gang infested neighborhood after her part time job to attend a community college courses, for which she was unprepared due to her poor low-income High School education, before picking up her kids, cashing an assistance check, feeding them, dealing with her abusive boyfriend, and crying into a pillow while he watches TV. But it might be a little hard.
That was a little overkill, but the point is the reason financial opportunities are extended to the poor is because it can be quite difficult for them to take advantage of them.
Obviously we shouldn't just say "Damn rich people, Lets take their money!" but there are factors in this system that prevent class mobility based simply on effort, and if we can eliminate those by shaving a little off the top, the rich will have to at least continue to provide value to the system to stay rich. Fairness aside, I think making our economic system more competitive is whats best for everyone, and "some" redistribution of wealth might be the best way to do that.
A couple of things. First, it is no doubt harder for some Americans than others to achieve. Everyone has different talents and levels of talent. There is discrimination for a lot of different things, race, religion, tall/short, fat/thin etc.
So some have obstacles while others ( Bush elder was once descibed as being born on third base and thought he hit a triple) have built in advantages. Those may limit most people from attaining the highest levels of financial sucess but does not stop people from moving up the ladder. Immigrant groups for generations have had to start at the lowest rung of the financial ladder and each generation worked to move up the food chain.
Your example of the wal mart worker is a good one. That person through hard work may get to be a gloor supervisor, a better but still low paying job. His/her son or daughter hopefully will work hard in school, get a better education and move up the financial food chain.
I am by not rich but feel I have lived the American dream. Two generations removed from European pogroms we worked into the middle class and hopefully our child will do better than that. The American dream in my view the the chance to suceed not a promise to suceed.