On 10/23/07, Tracy R Reed <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Stewart Stremler wrote: > > They didn't start raising a family in/just-out-of high school? > > Indeed they did. My mom was 18 and my dad was 20 when I was born. > Similar with my grandparents on both sides. As far as I know I am the > first generation not to do so.
But they were probably in a rising economy (the 60s-70s) worked hard and may well have gotten some useful education. They may well also have been significantly above average in mental and physical abilities. Believe me I do not knock hard work or education. I think that when it comes to formal education I have more of it than most. I have been working since I was 12 years old (basically a variety of construction jobs 40-50 hours/week every summer from the time I was 12 years old picking up trash on the job site in South East Texas for my dad ... trust me it was real work under a hot Texas sun until I was 20 and got my first job in a lab at the university) and believe that work has intrinsic value. I simply say that work and education not enough to guarantee success. Again read a little history of depression America. 1930-1940 say. I can assure you that a _lot_ of people found it very hard to get ahead. Not all of them were lazy and/or ignorant. I would argue that social skills are at least as important to substantial economic success as are hard work and education. Had my father sent me to a country club where I learned to play golf and hang out with other rich kids I honestly believe I would have been more successful in my business efforts ... but we play the hand we are dealt. I learned how to work with and appreciate working class people and not a lot of the social skills that go along with managing. This is not intended as a complaint but simply a recognition of my own limitations and my perceptions of reality. At any rate if you are in an environment that rewards your hard work and encourages you to educate yourself then by all means do so. But please just do not forget how lucky you are to have such a situation. That is all I ask. If you really want to understand the problem pick out someone who is dumb and ugly and follow them around. See how great their opportunities are. Then ask yourself, "Why on earth would anyone _choose_ to be dumb and ugly?" Of course, they do not choose. They just must play the hand that they are dealt even when it is a pretty lousy hand. BobLQ -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
