Is the US the most meritocratic country on earth?

[Riprorin]

Sure it helps to have money and connections, but I've always felt that with hard-work and preserverence, anyone can make it in this country.

Think this is true or just a lot of hype?

 

[b0mbrman]

It's not 100% true but it's more true here than in any other country IMHO

 

[BuckleDownBen]

Well, there is more money to be made in the US than in other countries, but people in other countries are content with less money than Americans. I guess it depends what you mean by make it. If you mean "become obscenely wealthy" then I would definetley agree with you. If you mean, "be comfortable enough to provide for your family", I think a place like Norway may be better, since worker's have all kinds of rights. In Europe, lay offs are much less common. In the US, you think you are doing great, then your company lays off 10,000 people, and you find yourself as an unhirable 45 year old with huge bills to pay.

I would also add luck, ingenuity, and being a cold-hearted backstabber to the hard-work and perserverance mix.

 

[Mookow]

<< Sure it helps to have money and connections, but I've always felt that with hard-work and preserverence, anyone can make it in this country.

Think this is true or just a lot of hype? >>



I don't think everyone can become a millionaire, but everyone can have a decent income and a decent life.

 

[Mookow]

<< If you mean, "be comfortable enough to provide for your family", I think a place like Norway may be better, since worker's have all kinds of rights. In Europe, lay offs are much less common. In the US, you think you are doing great, then your company lays off 10,000 people, and you find yourself as an unhirable 45 year old with huge bills to pay. >>



Yes, and there are also some people in Europe that think companies shouldnt be able to fire anyone, for any reason. A job is a mutual agreement between a company and a individual. Its not an entitlement.

 

[StageLeft]

Probably right.

 

[wyvrn]

Sure. I can easily make a living in this country without worrying as long as I save part of my income. For those people who spend everything they make and get laid off, well go cry elsewhere.

 

[apoppin]

<< I don't think everyone can become a millionaire, but everyone can have a decent income and a decent life. >>


Not necessarily even a decent life . . . circumstances like bad health or accidents can affect anyone. And some really poor people cannot escape the ghetto or even their children.

However, the USA is known all over the world as the 'land of opportunity'.

 

[Nefrodite]

sorta, which is why we have sh*t like the estate tax. when you die, a chunk of your money is taxed so you don't create a aristocratic class oddly enough repubs are f*cking with the estate tax ah well.

 

[gopunk]

yes, of course. of course, there will always be exceptions, but compared to other countries, we do have the most opportunity. i'll put it this way, my parents came here with nothing, and now they're middle to upper middle class. where else can this happen?

 

[charrison]

Nefrodite,

The estate tax(death tax) keeps everyone down.

 

[Nefrodite]

wrong, it makes sure people that earn wealth are the ones that most benifit from it, not their children and their childrens grandchildren. hell its an idea used in some primitive societies. when you die, you give away your livestock to prevent entrenched wealth from being built. its all about merit right?

billgates said he's not going to give his children much. why do they deserve it? they nshould earn their own keep. same with the cola guy, i forget his name grumble.

 

[charrison]

<< wrong, it makes sure people that earn wealth are the ones that most benifit from it, not their children and their childrens grandchildren. hell its an idea used in some primitive societies. when you die, you give away your livestock to prevent entrenched wealth from being built. its all about merit right?
>>



The death tax hurts everyone. Everyone that does not have a lawyer and/or a financial planner anyway. Why should a farmer who dies land rich, buy cash poor have his family be forced to sell the family farm to pay the taxes on it? Why should a family be forced to sell a family house to pay the taxes on it? Should my father who scrimped and saved his entire life be punished for trying to accumilate wealth on a teachers salary so he can make sure his family had a better life than he did?



<<
billgates said he's not going to give his children much. why do they deserve it? they nshould earn their own keep. same with the cola guy, i forget his name grumble.
>>


Bill gates could buy policy from congress to protect his wealth if he wished. Does it matter if he wants to give his wealth to his family, librarys or the local dog catcher. Bill gates and the super rich will not be affected by the death tax,their moneys will be hidden as needed.