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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

The relevant point about PP's story is that it is possible for people to start at the lowest rung and move up with effort and dedication. Admittedly, this is just one person's experience but it is interesting how many immigrants to the US end up doing well as do their children.  Is there a lesson in their success for those of us who have been here for several generations?
[/quote]

It is possible for some people. I think it's equally true that there are some people who start at the lowest rung and cannot make it to the next. It might be a personal failing, it might be a lack of vision, it might be insurmountable bad luck, it might be some circumstances are harder than others to get beyond.

I think generally, when we're talking about living wage requirements, how extensive our social nets should be, and those sorts of things, the people who successfully climb that ladder are not the ones we're having that discussion about. I think most of those folks would find a way out of dire circumstances because they're simply that motivated/lucky/capable.

We're left with asking ourselves what we are obligated to do about the people who won't make it off that lowest rung. I think many people don't even see it as an obligation to the person on that lowest rung, but rather an obligation to their children. That makes the arguments for aid more compelling anyway, because even if we view the adult as deserving of his own circumstances, few people are so callous as to think children deserve deprived environments.

There may well be lessons in the successes of some. But what *is* that lesson? Is it "you can starve because if you really wanted food you'd work for it" ? Or "some people have vision and drive and create success, we're going to try to find a way to give everyone pathways to success" ? Something else?[/quote]

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