The problem is, many people need a shove. That shove has always come, in our country, from our tradition-laden (conservative) culture that has PUSHED the average Joe into taking responsibility for himself. There was ‘The American Dream’ that we lived and breathed and believed in. Finally, our lawmakers, in the past, even through all their games of corruption, always supported the middle class. They would never have allowed their corruption to harm the average American. Whether that was caused by a basic decency that has disappeared, or by the fear of shame, I don’t know.

But when all of these forces have been under assault now for decades, and when these forces appear to be whithering around us… when the middle class itself appears to be under assault from Left AND Right… I am afraid.

However, parents working hard to give their kids a leg up toward the American Dream is a recurring story over the last two hundred years. And hardworking people who raise their kids not to be victims, WILL find success at a very high rate.

Discovering a few people who don’t fit the general pattern does not invalidate your point. This is the greatest country in the world, and I posted about a specific example, the Fugees, here:
http://ogblog.net/index.php/weblog/comments/change_is_in_the_airbe_careful_what_you_wish_for/

Amazing story - and the person making the judgment is a Jordanian!

The only thing that has changed is now the slackers can eat — and have two cars, 3 TV’s, 6 children, no spouse and an ipod.

Class envy (as opposed to class aspiration), much like child abuse, is passed from generation to generation. As to “what will it take to get them to try …?” How do we break any cycle of abuse? It is very, very hard. Victims of child abuse often opt to remain childless. Children of spousal abuse victims, may choose not to marry.

But I think the best cure is to reject the “victimhood” identity altogether and hook up with a pop-eyed optimist who believes that all things are possible.