Naked, in life, all life, rank carries privilege, true enough.
But you leave off the capper to that truism.
Rank carries added responsibility, and risk. Why do ppl become wealthy? Most assume great risk and work themselves towards their goals using hard work and education.
Anyone who applies and builds a model such as that, will advance economically. It isn't magic. All that is needed is for the govt. to get out of the way and stop holding the poor back with socialized programs which inevitably steal their steam for improving their lot ON THEIR OWN.
It's in the individual achievement and rewards that bring personal happiness, not the $$$. The govt. hands out "free" (it's not) $$$, but happiness is not included, nor can it be. Happiness comes from within the individual, and that is best served by getting the govt. reduced and opening up the markets to all individuals WILLING to APPLY themselves.
Oh CrackerJax, C'mom!!! Man, I wish what you said was still true--but i'm afraid, for the most part, those times have past.
Before I continue, I want to make it clear that while I am definitely a 'humanist', I am far from a bleeding heart. I am just as disgusted as anyone about lazy, ignorant people who want something for nothing. People who are unwilling to work, to try, to make a few sacrifices and take a few risks, if it means bettering their life and taking the brunt off of society, do not have my sympathy what-so-ever.
However, In today's world "rank and privilege" has a lot more to do w who knocked your mom up than hard work and risk-taking. Many of a persons real options and opportunities in life are shaped by the circumstances they are born into. The exceptions to this often come from outside intervention & help.
People born into undesirable circumstances NEED others from society to INFORM and EDUCATE them on how use resources & achieve a better life. They need to know that someone is paying attention to how they are going to turn out. I support Gov't programs that provide those services. (I am a volunteer at the Educational Opportunity Center in my region where we help underprivelaged H.S. students fill out FASFA forms, apply for scholarships and create an education plan. We tutor at-risk HS students, so instead of them dropping out to become a mooch on society, they go to college.)
On the other hand, when it comes to straight up welfare (outside of health care) I mostly oppose it altogether. I believe in extremely strict guidelines and temporary assistance only for emergency use only. I believe those who recieve gov't money should be subject to drug tests, and should have to perform community services to pay society back.
I believe that when people are given information and resources--it is in thier court to USE them. BUT--the resources have to be provided somehow.
How many people worked hard and took risks just to have everything pulled out from under them by a bunch of wealthy robber-barons? (i.e. bankers and investment groups that were supposed to be selling a service that provided financial security)
I guess the latter did take great risks by scamming and stealing from thousands of men and women who did work hard and APPLY themselves--and for many of those bankers, it did pay off.
(But only for the most elite there as well--many bankers who were fired were only operating under the orders of their superiors~~who are still raking in big bonuses instead of investing back into the country.)
How many have worked their ass off for years, are halfway throught their mortgage, and are now laid off, or fired, having thier positions outsourced and/or replaced by desperate workers willing to work for less bc their company shit-canned them last year?
With rank comes responsibility--true enough--but who is holding anyone accountable for ANYTHING?
You're talking a lot about theory--I'm talking a lot about reality.
The scheme in this country is a carrot on a fucking stick.
I see firsthand, on a regular basis, the difference that a little information and guidance can make for the underprivelaged. That is why this whole deal about ACORN pisses me off (esp. in light of Blackwater).
And hey, guess what, the rich have been shaping politics FOREVER--so if a few questionable votes came in for the politician who promised to champion the underdog--well, that's just politics--you take what you can, anyway you can--the rich have always done it--the poor tried, and as a result, ACORN was crushed
even tho we may disagree, I appreciate the intelligent and respectful debate.
That won't increase the taxbill many times over..... 
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