RB>        . Quoting Ron Taylor from a message to Ryan Bagueros  .
RB>RT> those that choose to work less.   In a nutshell, how do you feel
  >RT> about the proposition that given equal opportunity, two people with
  >RT> different ambitions can indeed have more or less "riches" than the
  >RT> other?  This is a hypothetical question based on the supposition that
RB>Yes - I can see that.
Then you must be able to see that the notion of a classless society can
never happen.  That is simply because, for some reason, we are all
endowed with different levels of ambition.  Driven by ambition and
greed (call it what you want, but we all have it to some degree), all
men will find their own level of _success_.
  >I like that idea - say, two people with similar
  >backgrounds are each given a computer, and they must figure out how to 
ode
  >a
  >particular program, and they go to town. Whoever is the most determined,
  >most
  >innovative, is the "winner."
You have just described "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".
Your words, "the most determined, most innovative" is also called "work
ethic".  Those who _choose_ to apply it properly will, to their own
satisfaction, find success whether or not they find wealth. THAT is the
American Dream.
 >On the other hand, there is something to say
  >about two determined people working together to produce something
  >of higher quality..
Thats called "teamwork".  Being successful doesn't mean that another
must be a failure.
RB>But that *rarely* is the case in real life. Too often, there are people 
ho
  >get much farther ahead doing little to no work
You evidently have a tremendous problem with inherited wealth.  That
comes back to another thread, that of someone WITH something having the
right to choose WHO he gives it to.  Someone back down the pedigree
worked for that money.  They have a right to pass it on to their
children and their children's children at will.  It is not your problem!
It does not affect _your_ ability to be successful.  You will achieve
what you will achieve.  Remember your analogy of the marbles... it was
skewed to insinuate that marbles are of a finite quantity.  They aren't!
Work and make you own marbles and to hell with what the rich man does
with his money.  He earned it, let him give it to his sorry kid to
squander if he wants to.  Know also, that if the kid is indeed as sorry
as you imagine, he won't long have the wealth... he will lose it to
someone with a work ethic.
  >What about a person who works their butt off to pay rent, pay
  >for food, and put themselves through a 2-year technical program,
  >and end up being a network administrator?
I'd say that they are successful.
  > And then what about the person whose father puts them
  >through college, they breeze through with a C average and a bunch of beer
  >every night, rent and food paid, and they end up landing a much
  >better job?
They are lucky to have had a father who was determined to give his kid
something better than he had.  We can't all be that fortunate.  I
wasn't, and apparently you weren't either.  My son will have a much
better go of it than I did.  What are you going to do for your kids?
---
 * QMPro 1.02 42-7029 * If found, please return to The HEART OF DIXIE.
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
1:135/5.0)
---------------