Originally Posted by
Dan64456
In this "great" country, people do NOT have equal opportunity. Ask the kids attending (or dropping out of) Chester High in PA, or any public high school in North Philly, or Harlem. It's the ghetto. I can GUARENTEE you they don't have their choice of what prestigious university they want to attend at their feet. But you get all fat and happy because you had the choice as the American dream would advertise, but you forget about the rest of the world (or country) that is less fortunate. Some people grow up not even knowing what a University is.
In the lottery, everyone has the same opportunity to choose the winning numbers. To my knowledge, there has never been a person who won the megga millions more than once.
In poker tournaments, each player starts with the same number of chips. Each player has the same opportunity. Yet, year in and year out, 20-30 folks take the lion's share of the winnings. A few have won the more than one World Series bracelet.
In my experience as a high school teacher (in a less than savory district), I saw some dirt poor kids do pretty well. I agree, none had to choose which ivy league school to attend, but those who fought for it, found a way to a trade school, community college, or the local state university. I don't believe any of them are hanging out with the Hiltons, but many improved their stature.
It is unrealistic to think that anyone of us can go from dirt poor to Rockefeller rich.... just because we are "above average". But with hard work, cultivating the right contacts, and making fewer dumb choices, each of us can improve our life.