We can't claim that all environments produce equal numbers of rich and successful people. After forcing kids to go through utterly useless high school, you say

We can't claim that all environments produce equal numbers of rich and successful people. After forcing kids to go through utterly useless high school, you say to them to get 2 or 3 jobs in an economic downturn they weren't even responsible for, using skills that aren't competitive with overseas workers in second-world countries? The kids can't improve high school while they're in it, and when they're out, it's too late. As a society, we need a better plan (change the culture, as you put it), but many people concerned with bills, jobs, food, or even getting shot are not really thinking about the greater plan. People with no time and no money do not change the culture. They get used and abused. The answer is multifaceted. You can't just tell people to suck it up by their bootstraps and expect things to change. It's part of it, but not all of it. You can't just legislate change, either. It's definitely also part of it, though. Finally, these youngsters are the ones that are going to be paying for your government services after you stop being a productive taxpayer. Unless you're saving up for your drug testing, roads, and army, I'd recommend considering a helping hand. I'm for a tax increase on money over $50K AGI (which would definitely impact me) in hand with a good plan for improvement. I don't want "less" or "more" government; I want better government.