[Talkhard]

Originally Posted by MARIS61

Or too young to work.

They're provided for by their parents or adult guardians.

Or too senile to work.

They're on social security or a pension.

Or too handicapped/disabled to work.

They're on disability, workman's comp, or social security.

Or too sick to work.

They're on disability, workman's comp, social security, or welfare.

Or too mentally unbalanced to work.

They're at soup kitchens.

Or unable to find work due to 20 million illegal immigrants willing to work under the table for slave wages.

Since Mexicans keep pouring in, I can only conclude that there are still plenty of jobs available. And those "slave wages" are obviously keeping them fed and clothed.

Go ahead and PRETEND everyone gets the breaks in life that you did, if it helps you sleep at night.

Go ahead and assume the worst about this country and dig up every negative factoid you can find, which you always seem happy to do.

[MARIS61]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

They're provided for by their parents or adult guardians.
They're on social security or a pension.
They're on disability, workman's comp, or social security.
They're on disability, workman's comp, social security, or welfare.
They're at soup kitchens.
Since Mexicans keep pouring in, I can only conclude that there are still plenty of jobs available. And those "slave wages" are obviously keeping them fed and clothed.
Go ahead and assume the worst about this country and dig up every negative factoid you can find, which you always seem happy to do.

Not assuming anything (I double-dare you to provide any credible rebuttal to The Food Research and Action Center, the USDA, or The Institute of Medicine) and certainly not blaming more-affluent Americans in general. Most recognize how fortunate they are and contribute in whatever way they can to help others improve their lives.

But there is a small dis-organized sect of heartless plunderers who desperately try to convince themselves they're somebody really special by denying the breaks they got and the obstacles others were born with.

It's that addition by subtraction theory we Blazers fans are all so familiar with. Pretend all humans are born into a level playing field and it makes a highly-successful guy seem really impressive.

Know anyone like that?

[Talkhard]

Originally Posted by MARIS61

But there is a small dis-organized sect of heartless plunderers who desperately try to convince themselves they're somebody really special by denying the breaks they got and the obstacles others were born with.

Yep, that's me--a heartless plunderer! I worked my way through college and even worked full-time my senior year. I then went on to graduate school, where I again paid my entire tuition by working while going to school full time. I kept my nose to the grindstone for years in order to get the education I needed and prepare myself for the kind of career I wanted.

Meanwhile, lots of people I knew dropped out of college, and some even dropped out of high school, because they didn't want to "work" that hard. Today many of them are working menial jobs and just getting by.

Sometimes we create our own "unlevel" playing field . . .

[sa1177]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

Sometimes we create our own "unlevel" playing field . . .

Of course...and other times we don't.

[Baracuda]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

Yep, that's me--a heartless plunderer! I worked my way through college and even worked full-time my senior year. I then went on to graduate school, where I again paid my entire tuition by working while going to school full time. I kept my nose to the grindstone for years in order to get the education I needed and prepare myself for the kind of career I wanted.

Meanwhile, lots of people I knew dropped out of college, and some even dropped out of high school, because they didn't want to "work" that hard. Today many of them are working menial jobs and just getting by.

Sometimes we create our own "unlevel" playing field . . .

New screen name Workhard

[Hector]

Both sides of this thread view the other as lazy and selfish. One side worked hard and now wants to enjoy the high-paying fruits unemcumbered. The other side is in a rut working hard all their lives to survive.

[MARIS61]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

Meanwhile, lots of people I knew dropped out of college, and some even dropped out of high school, because they didn't want to "work" that hard. Today many of them are working menial jobs and just getting by.

I would hardly call Paul Allen's or Bill Gates's job's "menial", and they're getting by just fine.

Many other dropouts did so out of necessity to support their families, pursue careers which don't include a college path, or to pursue other forms of education because their particular school was ineffective at best.

A poll of the world's richest people will show you an alarming lack of formal education involved in their success. Few really intelligent people have the time or patience to spend 4-12 years learning that which they can self-teach themselves in a few months. Nearly all post-Junior High education is sadly unenlightening, and useless re-iteration and distortion for those who take responsibility for their own education by seeking out knowledge rather than paying to have it spoon-fed to them by their government.

Visit your library, while it's still there.