Why do Americans still believe in the rags-to-riches fairy tale?

I'm about to mash the big, red button on my desk, deploying my Tex Houstonbot,
which will shortly arrive to beat you about the head and shoulders while
simultaneously blaring "OFF TOPIC!" in your face.

BTW, a young soldier on leave from duty south of the Korean DMZ just won 150
"Very" large. Its not rags to riches, but perhaps cammies to riches..?

g'way, Finn.

Gordon

There's an interesting book, The Millionaire Next Door by Stanley and Danko,
that gives a statistical profile of the average American millionaire, and looks
at how they made their moola. Their secret? Hard work, diligent saving, and
living below their means. Most of their kids don't know mom and pop are
capitalist pigs sucking the life out of the proletariat until the will is read.
Starting your own business is the most direct way to enter the world of Scrooge
McDuck. Owners of the following types of businesses are most likely to become
millionaires (the book has a complete listing): men's clothing store, mobile
home dealer, flooring contractor, roofing contractor, upholstery store,
painting contractor, bowling alley.... No college degree required. No
inherited wealth required. No esoteric skills required.


Chris Mark

On 7 Oct 2003 21:57:44 -0700, (RH) wrote:

PLONK

Al Minyard

(Peter McLelland) wrote:

Wealth is always relative, but having said that I am quite convinced
that the USA does provide an environment that does allow those with
both the idea and the determination to make it good.

Hell, ther e are plenty of routes that let you make a lot of money
without even having to work that hard. Get into management in a very
large corporation, and you're going to make a *lot* of money. Even a
third-rate manager at a Fortune 500 company will end up as a millionaire
before age 40, if they keep an eye on their investments.

Most folks just don't want to take the time and effort, and expect to
get rich anyway.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

"George R. Gonzalez" wrote:

"ZZBunker" wrote in message

(RH) wrote in message

Face it, you'll never be rich

Why do Americans still believe in the rags-to-riches fairy tale?

That's funny, I don't know a lot of people, yet I know three Americans that
started with nothing, one is worth $27M,
another nearly $1M, the last one a paltry $700K. Their average age? 42.

I see it quite often here at the University.

Students, in particular from China and India and some from Russia coming
here, getting their degree and making bundles of money when they get out.

They were probably fairly well off financially in their home countries,
but really start raking it in once they get here.

Did I mention they also work *very* hard?


SMH

Stephen Harding wrote in message ...
"George R. Gonzalez" wrote:

"ZZBunker" wrote in message

(RH) wrote in message

Face it, you'll never be rich

Why do Americans still believe in the rags-to-riches fairy tale?

That's funny, I don't know a lot of people, yet I know three Americans that
started with nothing, one is worth $27M,
another nearly $1M, the last one a paltry $700K. Their average age? 42.

I see it quite often here at the University.

Students, in particular from China and India and some from Russia coming
here, getting their degree and making bundles of money when they get out.

They were probably fairly well off financially in their home countries,
but really start raking it in once they get here.

Did I mention they also work *very* hard?

No you didn't. But you didn't mention that Americans
work harder getting Indian idiots from India to here,
since the morons are more dangerous with nuclear reactors
than they are with long-distance phone calls.

Or as AT&T would say. We know the knowledge, we have the power,
we hire scientists, we hire morons.

And IBM's auto-reply: There are no magic beans in buisness.
There is CPM bundled with UNIX-crapomatic and there are economists.

Leslie Swartz"

wrote:Capitalism = Opportunity

Socialism = Equality

Should read:

Capitalism = Equal Opportunity.

Socialism = Equality (among the masses and separately among the ruling class)

You should quote from experience rather than what you read........especially
the second equation.
VL

"MLenoch" wrote in message
...


Capitalism = Equal Opportunity.


No it simply means an economic system were private property ownership
exists; individuals and companies are allowed to compete for their own
economic gain; and free market forces determine the prices of goods and
services.

Its entirely possible to have a capitalist economy wthout equal opportunity.
Such a system existed south of the Mason Dixon line for many
decades

Socialism = Equality (among the masses and separately among the ruling
class)


This is also wrong, socialism means an economic system which is based
on cooperation rather than competition and which utilizes centralised
planning and distribution.

Socialist systems with massive inequality amongst the various
groups in the country are entirely possible and indeed were
common in the old Eastern Bloc.

Capitalist economies have historically done rather better
than socialist ones but there are few nations where either
exists in its pure state. Even in the USA some economic functions
are subject to central planning and organisation.

Keith

(MLenoch) Wrote:

Capitalism = Equal Opportunity.

You will have to get rid of a lot of fredom for this one. Just leave it at
'opportunity' or you get 'opportunity assurance police'.

-- Charlie Springer

Capitalism = Opportunity

Socialism = Equality


As Mr Churchill said so elaquantly:

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings;

the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.