On 16-Aug-2006, smacked up and reeling, Gabe Brovedani
blindly formulated
the following incoherence:

Of course, one can read more widely and get closer to the truth. The
recent Economist article has already been cited. Here are others:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0127/p21s01-coop.html

A distinction should be made between the ability and opportunity for one to
ascend socially/economically and the actual practice of doing so. If one is
content to suck the public teat, make no effort, and gain no ground...well
that is certainly a failure of govt policy and personal initiative, but not
necessarily one of economic and class structure. The CSM article doesnt
draw this distinction.

I cant say how Europe compares to the US (other than to repeat some opinions
I've heard from the Europeans Ive talked to on the subject...all agreeing
that the US offers more opportunity) but it is clear (to anyone with eyes)
that virtually anyone who is willing to work hard can get ahead here in the
US. Perhaps unfortunately, even those who are unwilling to work can do
quite well, and that, I believe, is a big reason why so many do not work to
get ahead. That is not to say that there arent unfortunates who are worthy
of charitable assistance, but that the institutionalization of assistance
has created a perverse economic disincentive for a large underclass. It's
shameful.

steve
--
"The accused will now make a bogus statement."
James Joyce