Do you believe everyone in the US is born with the same opportunities?

Question

Do you think that some people are a little "more equal" than others?

How does your belief on this subject effect your opinion of government services and policies?

Do you think that George W. Bush was born with the same or more opportunities as say, someone born in rural Podunk Mississippi?

Answer 1

Only people with a silver spoon in their mouth believe we are all equal... the lower class are reminded by every BMW and million dollar house they pass... exactly who they are and what value the culture puts on them,,,,, 0

Answer 2

You can't be "more equal", but no, not everyone has the same opportunities. Your family could have more money than others, hence granting you more opportunity. I think that those who are born with less opportunity have a better understanding of the unfairness of the situation. They have to live with it, and they deal with it more often. Those who don't have to worry about it are on auto-pilot and never give it any critical thought. So, in this regard, if Bush were born in Podunk Mississippi into the lower class, he might be a bit wiser since not everything would have been handed to him on a silver platter.

Answer 3

Yes. Everyone has the same opportunities.
Bill Clinton came from a dirt poor single parent household in Arkansas. That should answer your comment about a president being able to come from poverty and a rural upbringing. The way you have asked it identifies your political affiliations and your agenda.

Money has nothing to do with character. Many rich kids never finish college or take ten years to finish because they are lazy and have their daddy as a safety net.
Poor kids on the other hand have no excuse for not seeking higher education. With all of the scholarships and grants that are out ther waiting for them and student loans to make up the rest.

The point is that you do not need money to have opportunities to succeed in America. However, I know this is not the case in Europe and many other countries.

Answer 4

Xialou is correct. Only the rich and powerful believe that everyone has equal opportunity (they belive it, because they don't want to face the fact that they, themselves, may not have *earned* everything that they have). It's absurd to believe that we are all born with the same opportunities! Sure, it's a nice idea, but it simply isn't true (anyone who believes it is either in denial or lying).

Yes, some people *do* get lucky; there are PLENTY of smart people, however, who work their fingers to the bone and never get anywhere; conversely, there are plenty of rich, lazy idiots who were born to wealth and power; most of the people born on top -- even in the face of incompetence -- remain "on top" throughout their entire lives. It's possible that at times in the past it *used* to be a bit easier to shift from one "class" to another, via luck, brains, hard work or moxy -- but I think that our social castes are becoming more entrenched. We do *not* live in a meritocracy.

If you think that everyone gets an equal break, all you have to do is look at Bush to *know* that it simply isn't true. Even if you *like* him (and heaven knows why you would...), it is impossible to look at him and his life and claim that he has really *earned* the presidency. He's a slacker and a screw-up. Always has been, always will be. And yet he holds the premier power position in the world! Are people in the U.S. born with the same opportunities?? You tell me.

Answer 5

No. But that's not to say that everyone doesn't have a chance to succeed.
Perfect example is Oprah Winfrey....she was born in Mississippi(not podunk...but pretty close) and look how she's done.
Hard work, education, determination and a few lucky breaks can do wonders.

Answer 6

Everyone is born the same. Whether you are born to a rich family in California, or a poor family in middle America - at birth you are an impressionable little mind with no knowledge. As an individual you make the decision to stay in that state of no knowledge or to expand your mind and strive for greatness. If you choose to seize the opportunities that come to you, as well as create your own, than you can succeed. If you choose not to take advantage of the possibilities around you, then only you are to blame.

I feel like certain social programs are just that - Social programs. They create a false sense of equality among those who have not exerted equal effort. Some people are rewarded for the job they have not done well. In my eyes this is socialism, and a smack in the face to those who strived to achieve.

Answer 7

Well hmm...good question.

Born with the same opportunities. I would have to say yes...and no. I think that life in America afford everyone the opportunity to succeed. 88% of millionaires in the US are first generation. Some people may start out a little closer to their goal due to money or stature, but everyone can obtain the goal - whatever ti may be. Many people that are from lower to low middle income families, like myself, have to work a bit harder and it may take a little longer.
I am from a little podunk town in Texas, got accepted to one of the top 3 schools in the nation....couldn't go because we didn't have the money. So I had the opportunity, but at the same time didn't. Basically it is what you are willing to overcome, make the best of what you have and work for something better. Its that "W' word:WORK that scares most people.

Answer 8

Obviously some have more advantages than others do in that they are economically much better, a Kennedy, Bush, Gates, etc will have much mmore doors open for them, yet here in America even a poor kid from the rez or wrong side of the tracks can make it if they apply them selves, poor is a state of mind broke is a tempoary condition

Answer 9

G.W. Bush had opportunities most won't ever see in America because his college education is very expensive and thus knocks out most of the general public.

His position as president is not desirable, and most C.E.O.'s earn more and don't have as many headaches.

C.E.O.'s wealth is highly concealed, as is their personal lives, which leads me to believe their doing make for many of the miseries ordinary folks now suffer with.

Bear in mind, I don't feel this way about all C.E.O.'s, but the majority of them play games with the working class so that their companies profit more while they keep shedding good paying jobs.

The general public is asleep or incapable of fighting off this ferocious foe, and certainly can't unite like they once did to fight off abusive monarchs taxing without representing.

Many babies now being born will inherit a huge national debt, and will be exploited so that this debt gets some paying down.

The fact remains that corporations pay insufficent income taxes, and use phony foreign investment schemes to hide taxes due.

Individuals pay twice as much in income taxes as do the corporations.

Corporations now rule the world, there is no turning back...and they manipulate our elected officials...thus rendering your vote useless.

In sum, there exists huge inbalances over equity in the U.S.A., and most are too blind to see.

Answer 10

No; not exactly. Some are definitely "more equal."

We all have the "opportunity" to make as much of ourselves as we can. No question on that.

But then, some folks obviously get a head start with regards to several issues.

Some kids have parents that love them enough to spend TIME teaching them language and math at an early age.

Other parents are too busy pursuing their careers.

And other single parents are busy trying to make rent and put food on the table.

And some people are just born filthy rich.

I don't bear them a grudge; I just insist on telling it the way it is.

We aint all "equal."

In the eyes of God, maybe...but not society.

Answer 11

I believe the great majority of the population is born with the same opportunities. Everyone can move up. Pres. Bush's family already moved up.
Look at all the success stories from this generation.
Barrack Obama is one, Herman Cain, Bill Gates, Robert Byrd and the list goes on.