It absolutely is, though. I'm not saying it's easy to go from rags to riches, but the only barriers stopping someone working their way up from the bottom 10% to

It absolutely is, though. I'm not saying it's easy to go from rags to riches, but the only barriers stopping someone working their way up from the bottom 10% to middle class[1] are in their head[2]. I've spent most of my adult life living in lower socio-economic areas. Far too many people shoot themselves in the foot and blame the system for me to buy the whole "the poor are trapped" argument. [1] At least in Australia, or other countries with similar opportunities. [2] Sometimes what's "in their head" can be severe mental illness or substance abuse issues. I'm not denying this is trivial to overcome, but I have seen it.