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Some say that those who are born to parents who are wealthy are lucky in the same way; they inherit wealth without having to work for it. Do you think in a just society people should have to work for any riches they enjoy or is that kind of justice unimportant?
I speak for America when I say this.... Every healthy human born in the U.S. has the same opportunity to go out get an education and become rich. If I work my tail end off to get rich I am obviously going to be happy to share that wealth with my children. I know times may be hard and money may be tight but it is possible to get a degree and build up your life and wealth. I understand that some people are little bit luckier than others, however that does not limit ones ability to get on the same level as the "lucky born" individual.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Hicks
I also think that everyone is born with equal opportunity. Whether you are born into poverty, or born into a wealthy family, everyone has the same opportunity to be successful. It's up to the person to decide what he or she does with it, and how hard they are willing to work. Some may embrace the chance and work hard to be successful in life, while others will squander it. Sure, being born into a wealthy family will probably make it easier to succeed, but it is ultimately up to the person. I believe that hard work pays off, and that whatever riches you enjoy are a direct product of how perseverant and determined you are.
ReplyDeleteTaryn Jack
I would say that type of justice is unimportant. If your parents allow you to enjoy the fruits of their labor, I think that's their right. But I would disagree in saying that everyone is born with equal opportunity. Maybe everyone is born with opportunity, but I definitely don't think it's equal. Kids born with privilege have a much greater margin for error than others, and often have multiple chances to become succesful. They always have a cushion to fall back on if things go wrong. For others, their oppurtunites are numbered and one slip up can kill their dreams.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Parham
A recent column by David Brooks in the New York Times discusses the question of how much credit people should get for their accomplishments and how much they should attribute to the special opportunities they have been given. Here's the link.
ReplyDeleteCheck it out!
I believe that that justice is unimportant yes, and yes people are blessed when they win the lottery or come into a large amount of money. But I also believe that when you have to work for your money you are just as blessed as those who have come into their money as it makes you who you are.
ReplyDeletestormy wigley
I think people should have to work to earn what they have. In Jamestown, Captain John Smith told the wealthy, well-dressed gentlemen who didn't want to work to build and maintain Jamestown "If you don't work, you don't eat." People should be expected to carry their own weight. I honestly can't see how some people can live on welfare their entire lives, sitting at home earning a paycheck for nothing, that seems unfair, because in some cases they end up making more than the poverty striken who work two or more jobs too provide for their families. I would agree with Matthew on this one. Everyone has an opportunity to be successful, some are born into it, and some work from the ground up to be successful.
ReplyDeleteJustice, in this sense, is rather unimportant. Even though some people may be born into money, and therefore do not have to work for it, everyone else has an equal opportunity to earn that kind of wealth on their own. In our society, it does not matter if your family before you was wealthy; if you work hard enough you can have the type of lifestyle you desire. The only thing preventing you from earning a decent income is your willingness to work for it.
ReplyDeleteIf someday I become rich I will share it with my children in less than a heartbeat but I will ingrain in their brain that they are so lucky to be blessed with this and not everyone can be that lucky and that they won't always have it and will someday have to provide for themselves.
ReplyDeleteKarli Plunkett
To say that "[e]very healthy human born in the U.S. has the same opportunity to go out get an education and become rich" seems like a bit of an overstatement to me, though many would certainly agree that every healthy human born in the U.S. has an opportunity to get an education and become rich. Everyone who plays the lottery has the opportunity to win, too. Would you say that every healthy human born in the U.S. who works hard and gets an education gets rich (if that's their goal)? Or that those who work hardest and get an education get rich (if that's their goal)?
ReplyDelete