What is wrong with americans that can't make it in their own country?

Question

I came to America when I was 15 years old (legally) and spoke no English. I learned English in a year. I got a job at a fast food restaurant and worked on my uncle's shop to pay my way through school. I received no assistance from the government but I was able to get and education. 25 years later I have a job that pays me over 100K a year and own three homes and a hefty bank account as well as stocks. America is truly the land of opportunity. My success is modest compare to so many other immigrants. I really don't care about illegal immigrants; I don't see them as a threat to my livelihood. I really feel sorry for people that can't make it on their own in this country and want to blame the immigrants for their ineptitude and failures.

Of course my family left our country for lack of opportunities. But we took advantage of the opprotunities that we got in the US. I truly believe the US is a great country that and if you work hard you will succeed. I also of course had the support of my family, if not financially, but we are a very close knit family. I feel sorry for the guy that says he never has met anyone honest that makes the money I make. My base salary is not that high, but I get hourly pay and can work a lot of overtime. I work 10 to 20 hr per week at least of overtime. I also don't run up my credit cars up to 1000's of dollars buying things I don't need. I am sorry you feel that way, I am an honest individual. I have never taken a penny form anyone. But is that is what you feel, I wonder who you are hanging out with.

Answer 1

Good for you! It's so nice to hear someone say something good about a country that provides so much for so many. I guess you have to be from somewhere else to appreciate what we have here.

The United States has become a whiny victim and entitlement oriented society. So many believe that the world owes them something without those things being earned. You took advantage of the available opportunities and worked your butt off. Good for you. That's how America is supposed to work.

I dropped out of high school and never went to collage. Still, with a lot of hard work and determination I made something of myself. It CAN be done if you are willing to work hard.

But the attitude today is that we all 'DESERVE' everything from socialized health care to a free box of Kleenex in our kindergarten class. Sorry folks. No on deserves anything they don't EARN. You get what you give. That's what it means to be free.


Edit: You'll notice that my answer has, as of my writing this, gotten two thumbs down (I'm sure there will be more to come). Not a single thumbs up. Nothing makes my point better than that. The idea of working hard, being self reliant and personally accountable has become so alien to our population that these people don't have a clue what I'm talking about. It's a sad commentary on what we've become.

Answer 2

Fair question, but I think it comes down to individual points of view. Many Americans may think that the things you criticise them for are actually things they are proud of and that you just don't understand them. Other Americans would join in and agree with your criticism and want to change things. Probably the biggest problem with America is its size. There are too many Americans who never leave the country at all, they dont need to because there is everything within their own borders. This creates a certain ignorance about the rest of the world. And this is not a criticism either, just an observation. I have been to America many times and always liked it.

Answer 3

I was born in America as my family many generations before, I had my pride and self confidence taken away from me in the American "School System", I was taught that I did not belong in America, I dropped out of High School and joined the Army. After I left the Army I could not find a decent paying job, Tucson is surrounded by 7 copper mines, but none would hire me, the work force was almost totally Anglo. I left and went to Los Angeles, and was hired by Alcoa , In the Mean time Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 That ended Job discrimination and I returned To Tucson and was hired by a mining Company. I worked there for almost a decade at which time I became involved in the Chicano Movement,I was encouraged to go back to school, I quit my job and went to school full time and earned a BS degree From the University of Arizona at the age of 45. I worked in the professional field until I retired in !999.
I succeeded in spite of the American School system not because of it. Most people (minorities) that did not attend the American School system have a better chance at success in this country, then those educated here.
In most country (s) Illiteracy is because people did not get to attend school, in America it is that the people attended school, and the school system failed to educate them.

Answer 4

It's not what you think it is. This country has GIVEN away millions of dollars to so many different countries and none of those countries have ever given even a penny back to this country of ours.
You really shouldn't blame the "legal" citizens for the reason for so much poverty in this country because with the low income that bestows on most of the people in this country because if the illegals didn't take away the jobs that don't pay well it might, just might make the companies pay each their FAIR wages instead of only giving poor wages for those who really earn the right to work and get all the rightful benefits.
I for one am against allowing any and all illegals to enter much less work in our country.
You seem like you are rubbing this in our noses for not being in your main stream and not making it big like you. My heart goes out to every person who can't make a better living for themselves and their families.
I may get blasted for my answer but this is how I see it and you asked the question.

Answer 5

I don't think it is necessarily "ineptitude and failures". Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't able to go to college (simply couldn't get in or didn't know how to get enough financial aid). We all make different decisions in life, and, often when people are young they don't realize how truly important education is, and, by the time they do, they have children and a family to care for and they can't go back to school.

You are obviously an intelligent person that grew up with a supportive family. Many people aren't as lucky, and, aren't able to focus on studying or education. It is rude and obnoxious of you to assume that others had the same blessings you have had.

Congratulations on your success, but, it does not make you any better than someone else.

Answer 6

Wow! That is a big charge! People do not succeed on their own; they had a helping hand. Thus, using REASON AND LOGIC, people do not fail on their own, but fail because society wants them to.
I worked hard; I EARNED a B.A. degree (double major, double minor), EARNED a Master's degree, but when I applies for a job, I was turned down as being over-qualified, the wrong sex, not being a minority, etc.
I am not a law-breaker; I am not a criminal (I was in Intelligence in the Army, then JAG; you have to be of impeccable character to get into those fields!)
OUR GOVERNMENT is a traitor to honest, hard-working Americans; it gives and gives (foodstamps, Social Security, jobs, schooling, housing) to foreigners, but won't even give an even break to Americans.
One more thing: I have NEVER MET AN HONEST PERSON WHO MADE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CLAIM!

Answer 7

Laziness and a sense of entitlement.

Hardwork and trying to succeed is not part of our culture anymore. I know from personal experience that succeeding in school is almost frowned upon. Many schools have done away with any type of educational competition like valedictorian. We've been forced as teachers to "dumby" up the curriculum and basically shoot for mediocraty. Now everyone gets to go to college. Many schools have sub 100 courses to bring students that were given a spot in the freshman class a shot to prove they belong. The A-,B students are left out.

Answer 8

Well, if you haven't noticed all the grants, programs, etc are available to immigrants like you. This is our country, we pay the tax dollars and you'd think if anything we'd get the benefits, but guess not. You do have a good point though. Many of us waste our lives in this society since we see our favorite stars getting high doing stupid things, and we follow suit.... It all leads to a wasted life..... then you're working at burger king

Answer 9

They aren't a threat to my livelihood. I have a degree in nursing, but currently am involved mostly in helping to run our family farms. But they do abuse the tax-dollars I pay in abundantly every year. They do lower wages in some sectors and that does threaten some American's livelihoods. They commit crimes and that threaten's our society. They are unscreened for disease and are bringing in resistant TB, and even leprosy among other diseases. They scorn our laws, and they are complicating the situation for many legal immigrants like yourself.

Answer 10

Wow! Great success story. Good for you.

Illegal immigrants do cause some problems. For one, they take up many of the entry level jobs, as you did yourself when you first came here. It's those entry level jobs that prepare us for the rest of our working lives. However, this is a small obstacle.

Still I applaud your success and hope it will instill other Americans to quit making excuses and get off their duff and improve their lives. I myself didn't really get motivated to succeed until in my 30's.