A rising tide lifts all boats

I’ve periodically mentioned here a visit I made many years ago to the Tenement Museum in New York.  Every time I mention it, I make the same point:  the museum demonstrates America’s social mobility because census records show that the tenement’s descendents all moved upwards economically.  Grandpa Guiseppe or Grandma Sadie might have had a miserable experience, but their grandchildren and great grandchildren were prosperous, mainstream Americans.

Here’s a video that says this is no surprise, as America is characterized by income mobility — stick around in this country long enough, and stay away from the welfare trap, and you too can make money or, at least, your descendents can:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDhcqua3_W8[/youtube]

(Hat tip:  The New Editor)

If you go to the YouTube page for the video, you’ll see a bunch of garbled comments saying that the video is a lie.  As you all know, aside from common sense financial observations (i.e., if you spend less money, you’ll have more money in pocket, whether you’re an individual or a government), convoluted economic theories tend to muddle me.  This video offers a very straightforward theory and, in keeping with my reverence for Occam’s Razor, I’m inclined to believe it.  Do you support the video or do you see errors?