glass eye
Well-known member
@Aussie_hunter_JD the USA has always been known as the Land of Opportunity. There are many Rags to Riches stories of immigrants. If someone wallows in the mire it's by choice, not lack of opportunity or being held down.
Teddy Coming Down
- Thread starter 3855WIN
- Start date
- Status
glass eye
Well-known member
PS.
Today's culture wants to take from the wealthy and disperse it to the poor. They feel entitled and don't want to work for anything.
Today's culture wants to take from the wealthy and disperse it to the poor. They feel entitled and don't want to work for anything.
Aussie_hunter_JD
Well-known member
Probably didn't articulate myself well enough and tangented off my own tangent, what I mean is that the rags part of rags and riches doesn't have to be as bleak.
glass eye
Well-known member
We suffer from a society that blames others for everything.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
You should check out the Poor Law of 1601. I'll do that math for you. That's 419 years before "today's culture".
Lest you not forget, every single generation has said the same thing about the younger generation, so pump the breaks on your "get off my lawn" rants.
Aussie_hunter_JD
Well-known member
100% there are people who will take advantage or not take advantage of opportunities for better or worse, just like there will always be hunters that poach no matter how much public they have to hunt. Doesn't mean the whole idea of hunting should be canned.
It's not about taking money from wealthy people and giving it to poor. It's about providing a foundation of supporting people with enough money to put a roof over their head, food in their belly, free education and healthcare so progressing is a realistic possibility not just a possibility.
Look at Covid, instead of a one off small payment our govt setup several stimulus and support packages for people who lost their jobs or couldn't work because of covid. My mother inlaw was one of those people, working as a dental nurse for 20 years and had the rug pulled from under her. People can still afford to keep paying their mortgages or rent, have food, we still have free healthcare etc. The govt paid businesses money to filter to their staff so as they wouldn't have to fire them.
We're not perfect, in point of fact at times I think people forget how good we have it here, and we do have people that rort the system (I have an uncle whose a great example!). And we haven't escaped unscathed, unemployment hit 7% which is the highest since the 1990s recession, but we have a good footing to recover.
Don't take this as a me trying to offend against the states, I do think you have a corrupt government but every american I've ever met has been an absolutely top notch individual and I have a lot of time for your countrymen.
Anyway apologies for taking this off TR's statue, I'll stop now.
Last edited:
glass eye
Well-known member
Well neffa3, maybe Biden will choose AOC as VP and all your dreams will come true.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
Yeah, many people have won the lottery too, but don't count on it for yourself. Plenty of research showing how incredibly rare rags to riches is in our country and how difficult it is to climb the class ladder.
Nick87
Well-known member
Going from rags to riches and winning the lottery is like comparing apples to elephants.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
In terms of the work involved: yes. In terms of probability: not so much...
glass eye
Well-known member
I stand corrected. Guess I'll dress in black like a ninja and go destroy things.
Nick87
Well-known member
Depends on your definition of "rags to riches" but I'd say the probability isn't that closely aligned.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
No, admittadly, I'm exaggerating a bit and don't really think that they are the same. But, the point I'm trying to make is that:
a. The chances of being a rags to riches story in this country are very, very small.
b. The chances of even significantly bettering your financial situation are much smaller than most Americans think.
c. Rags to riches is a part of our American identity that doesn't really square with reality for the vast majority of people.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
And if I were smarter, I'd come up with a great analogy using the probabilities of drawing a coveted elk tag...
Nick87
Well-known member
A. The chances can be whatever someone wants it
to be if they want it to bad enough.
B. BS
C. See A.
Last edited:
Lyfter1013
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2020
- Messages
- 605
I gotta ask how is option b so difficult?? it’s called hard work and not expecting it to be handed to you. please explain the obstacles that can’t be overcome by hard work.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
It can for some people... just not for everyone. Hence my troubled analogy with the lottery. And for most people it never happens. I'm not trying to spout ideology here, I'm talking facts. Look them up. Do you really think the successful ones are the only ones working hard?
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
Nick, it seems we may be having an argument of faith here. That's usually not very productive. I respect your beliefs and don't share them.
Hilljackoutlaw
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2019
- Messages
- 6,508
So who ya blaming?
Hilljackoutlaw
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2019
- Messages
- 6,508
And my definition of rags to riches may be different, but if you can put food on the table and roof over your head that's successful to me and that's not to hard to accomplish. But I guess everyone needs 5 bows, 20 rifles, 5000sqft house, surf and turf, $40k plus vehicles, 3 side by sides, 2 snowmobiles, a boat, and a 40ft 5th wheel to be a success.
- Status
