Does everyone have the same chance to succeed?

Question

Does the kid born in the ghetto, with a mom that's addicted to drugs, with no dad and goes every now and then to a school with books from the 1950s and teachers worried about their lives... with no real social training (as simple as knowing what not to do in public)... or any decent clothes... or anyone that cares about them...

have the same chance as other Americans?

agreed... it is possible... but far from a level playing field...

just saying "yes" doesn't explain how?

oh... and by the way... this has nothing to do with me... this is far from my life story... and I'm doing pretty well...

to clarify... I was saying "Americans" because often many Americans believe that other countries have many obstacles to overcome, but believe that those in the U.S. have no obstacles and everyone here has the same chance...

so my question was more focused on that national belief... than a world situation...

but of course this happens everywhere...

Answer 1

no, but he can still succeed as many have. depends on his intelligence, drive & ambition.

Answer 2

Only in an ideal world does everyone have the same chance for success. This is a less than ideal world. It's not just those kids that you mention above. More and more of our youth are not given the same chance as the privileged few.

You know, the one with the right name. The lawyer's kid that cheats on tests and gets away with it, because he represents the school. The kid recieves the scholarship because they had "better" scores.

No Child Left Behind is a farce. The schools that need the extra funding for new books, a safe learning environment, and better teachers are left out in the cold when they can't pass the standardized testing. How can they be expected to pass with worn, outdated, and sometimes no learning materials. It is very depressing to see the crumbling, dreary buildings some of these kids have to go to every day.

Each child deserves the very best. They need to be taught that they can overcome the adversities. We are doing our children a terrible disservice. With all the negativity everywhere, I can see why so many can't see a future for themselves. Many are defeated before they get out on their own.

I wish you all the best.

Answer 3

Slightly away from the point of the question, but I can't help noticing something in the wording of your question: "other Americans". Why not use the word "people"? This situation isn't exactly unique to the U.S. If this question was asked by a person of any other country, they would not limit it to only people of that same country; this is a property unique to that of natural speech in America: the assumption that only Americans are people.
Now don't misinterpret me here, I have nothing against Americans or America, you produce some great movies, television, music and computer software, along with a lot of other great things. However, there is a slight tendency for you to forget about the rest of the world. Please don't.

As for your question, no. They don't stand a chance. No useful books, no social etiquette, no friends, no decent belongings - this person will follow in the footsteps of their mother.

Answer 4

First of all life isn't fair. My father died on thanksgiving day in 1975 when our home burned down. This left my mother to raise two young boys alone starting out 24 years old and homeless. She couldn't cope and turned to the bottle. While i was in high school she almost died when her esophagus and stomach lining was eaten away by cheap vodka. I grew up scarred with nothing. I tried hard to finish school and go to college. I was accepted to two schools and was awarded partial scholarships. But my mother and stepfather were not paying their taxes at the time and I could not file for federal aid. So i lost out again. I worked hard all my life and now i am self employed making $70,000 annually while working only 200 days a year. I am proof that a poor child doesn't have to stay that way.

Answer 5

Technically, everyone is supposed to have a level playing field. However, that is not true.

In a sociological study, a group a rich kids and a group of poor kids were followed throughout High School. The rich kids were able to drive to other towns whenever they did their "mischief." The poor kids had to do their "mischief" in their town and they frequently got in trouble with the cops. Of the rich kids, all but one graduated college, and 3/4 of them made over $100,000 a year. Of the poor kids, 1 graduated from college, and 1/4 of them were sent to jail.

As a result of the situations they grew up in, theses child's futures, though not set in stone, made it either a lot easier or a lot harder to achieve their goals.

Answer 6

No, not everyone has an equal chance to succeed. We are not born equal. If equality were true and absolute, (sorry for being harsh), there would be no physcially or mentally handicapped persons. The idea that everyone is equal and does have an equal chance to succeed inherently neglects the importance of genetics.

Answer 7

No but it is not impossible. In fact it is very challenging for some and yet the end result of persistence is the reward.

Like some are inherently good looking...Others have to do many 'adjustments' and 'grooming' to look good or even presentable...The passion to do something about the 'handicap' pays off.

Never give up...you too shall succeed, even if the conditions are not ideal....trust me....

Answer 8

R U nuts, in maximum circumstances the poor have extra of a huge gamble with each and all of the bleeding heart liberals setting up courses and scholarships for minorities, illegals, and who ever else they experience "merits" a unfastened journey.

Answer 9

No. Of course not- if they did, poor people would have kids who turn out to get rich and rich people would have kids who turn out to be poor. It just doesn't happen- if you're middle class, you're middle class. If you're poor, your poor. Except for the truly ambitious and the truly lazy.

Answer 10

No way in hell!

And that's why govt services are always worse in poor or ghettoneighborhoods. If those people succeed they'll be a shortage of cheap labor or troops.

Answer 11

Not everyone has the same chance, but everyone does have the same ability... You ask yourself if you want it bad enough, and your success will depend upon your answer...