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The part where he says the wealthy earned it. Did they earn it? this is the part where I often disagree with people. We all love to think we've earned what we'v

The part where he says the wealthy earned it. Did they earn it? this is the part where I often disagree with people. We all love to think we've earned what we've got. Just crying out loud 'we worked hard! we earned it!' doesn't make it true. I'm at the top 10% income earners in a wealthy country and I don't feel think I've necessarily earned it more than the other 90% of the population. I lucked out. I had loving parents that guided me and pushed me to have an education. I don't suffer from any mental or physical disease. Seriously, going to school to get a degree and learning on my own how to build software systems, that's the easy part and wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have the luck of being born in the right social circumstances and with the right biology traits (health and smarts).

AjithAntony 11y ago
I feel like there is a lot of disrespect for our ancestors when we try to apologize for our "luck" or "privilege". If one's own parents labored and suffered to create value and provide for their child, does that child not deserve to enjoy the fruits of that labor? If that child honors their parents by continuing a tradition of hard work, albeit more comfortably, why does he need to feel ashamed of his success? At which generation do we disinherit the sacrifices of those who came before us?
- Boxbot 11y ago
  Are children of parents who are not able to provide as much as other parents, for whatever reason, not as deserving? Are children to be held accountable for the successes and failures of their parents?
- moises_silva 11y ago
  I am not sure how you jumped to the conclusion that I implied we should feel ashamed. It's about being grateful for how lucky we are we inherited something, not ashamed. You also completely disregarded the biological factors I mentioned that have nothing to do with the "hard work" of my ancestors, it's just "random" luck with good genes/biology that allows us to learn things faster and to be healthy (yes, eating habits help, but your biology helps just as much). There's a difference between not feeling ashamed and feeling entitled to it and superior to the others that didn't inherit those fruits.

AjithAntony 11y ago

I feel like there is a lot of disrespect for our ancestors when we try to apologize for our "luck" or "privilege". If one's own parents labored and suffered to create value and provide for their child, does that child not deserve to enjoy the fruits of that labor? If that child honors their parents by continuing a tradition of hard work, albeit more comfortably, why does he need to feel ashamed of his success? At which generation do we disinherit the sacrifices of those who came before us?

Boxbot 11y ago
Are children of parents who are not able to provide as much as other parents, for whatever reason, not as deserving? Are children to be held accountable for the successes and failures of their parents?
moises_silva 11y ago
I am not sure how you jumped to the conclusion that I implied we should feel ashamed. It's about being grateful for how lucky we are we inherited something, not ashamed. You also completely disregarded the biological factors I mentioned that have nothing to do with the "hard work" of my ancestors, it's just "random" luck with good genes/biology that allows us to learn things faster and to be healthy (yes, eating habits help, but your biology helps just as much). There's a difference between not feeling ashamed and feeling entitled to it and superior to the others that didn't inherit those fruits.