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Everyone is forgetting the fact that the poor still have opportunities given to them through gov't entitlements and charitable organizations. Anyone saying the poor can't go to a good college (either due to cost or not having the opportunity) is ignoring the facts. Also, anyone can network and meet new people. Heck, look at all the social networking sites one can use for this purpose. I don't want to hear that the poor cannot make connections that will lead to better things.
On the flip side, not everyone who was born with a silver spoon in their mouth goes on to make something of themselves and earn their adult wealth on their own merits. But it is safe to say that the majority of rich folks at any given time are rich due to their own actions, not b/c their parents set up a trust fund, sent them to Harvard or bought them a business to run (well, in the case of the last scenario, one could definitely run the business into the ground instead of running it well, so it does have to do with the individual's decisions, but you get my point).
Anyone who is given an opportunity but passes it up has no one but himself to blame. Not the rich, not the poor, not the gov't, not your family or friends...just your own self.
There are tons of sources that point out this disappointing reality. Sources which include "free-market" cheerleaders like Business Week and the Economist. Honestly, there is no longer any dispute to this truism...
For a minute, i thought you said "successful rich people like myself! I was really gonna fall on the floor laughing by butt off.
Well heck I was able to retire at 40 with a lifetime of income from selling my business. Not too bad at all I would say.
Not rich, more then most people make working and a nice income every month for the next 30 years.
Now I can sit here and watch my ebay daily sales all day long and my websites bring in more affiliate income then I ever expected.
I am proof you can have whatever you want if you are willing to work for it.
The system is set up for anyone to do it if they just give it some effort.
Selling 50-75 items per day like I do every day on ebay tells me it can be done. A great thing to have a hobby you enjoy and make some bucks too!
2 rental homes with income, a condo in Myrtle Beach and moving to Florida soon all from working hard and from scratch is proof that the system is set up for anyone to become successful. Lazy people need not apply.
Nothing like the American dream of making money in your PJ's.
You still have not answered my question. I don't think an executive making $500,000 is going to start a flea market business just to save on taxes.
The bottom line is that people with high w-2 income are forced to pay very high taxes and those that complain about the rich and loopholes are full of BS.
Not to mention the state and city income tax. You also have obscene property and sales taxes.
My total annual tax liability is close to $100,000.
Well heck I was able to retire at 40 with a lifetime of income from selling my business. Not too bad at all I would say.
Not rich, more then most people make working and a nice income every month for the next 30 years.
Now I can sit here and watch my ebay daily sales all day long and my websites bring in more affiliate income then I ever expected.
I am proof you can have whatever you want if you are willing to work for it.
The system is set up for anyone to do it if they just give it some effort.
Selling 50-75 items per day like I do every day on ebay tells me it can be done. A great thing to have a hobby you enjoy and make some bucks too!
2 rental homes with income, a condo in Myrtle Beach and moving to Florida soon all from working hard and from scratch is proof that the system is set up for anyone to become successful. Lazy people need not apply.
Nothing like the American dream of making money in your PJ's.
How dare you enjoy the fruits of your labor while so many are unemployed.
I begged to differ. If you are rich you have better access to quality education, you have better access to social and business connections.
George W., Bush Jr. was not exceptionally hard working or intelligent. Yet he went to Yale University as a legacy admission based on his father attendance and he got his start in business with his father's money and business connections. His father's connections were also helpful when he decided to get involved in politcs.
That doesn't mean you can't be successful in this country if you work hard, get a great education or you are exceptionally intelligent. But to be really successful you'd better be on your game 100%, with the rich you can skate buy based on family money and connections and have doors opened to you that don't get opened to other people.
I'm sorry that you miss the point entirely.
How did Bill Clinton succeed?
How did Colin Powell succeed?
How did Condoleeza Rice succeed?
How did Oprah Winfrey succeed?
For every person that you can name who succeeded due to their pedigree, I can name thousands who did it on their own.
How great a fraction of those who succeed come from wealth or affluence, and what fraction started out poor? How does this compare to other countries?
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