TimS Loc: GA

You have a point with lottery tickets. That is pure luck. But name me one professional athlete that got to where they are at now who did not put in countless hours of blood, sweat, and tears to condition their body and hone their skills to be where they are now. There is some luck involved but no amount if luck will land you a pro sports contract if you don't have the skills to play the game. Aside from being able to read, I can't think of too many skills that someone needs to cash a winning lottery ticket.

To that end, how many top musicians got where they are without having to play gigs in dirty clubs and drive around and live in a beat up van and eat spam to survive? How many actors got their start just because of their name....oh wait...scratch that one :)

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

For every professional athlete making his mega-bucks for two or three years, how many others put in the same blood, sweat and tears to almost make it? Whether or not it's pure luck, it's still a pretty long shot.

Bill - you owe me one for agreeing with you. Don't count on it happening often.

BW326 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

I understand what you're saying but those are still examples of, "the exception doesn't prove the rule".

Thousands of kids dream about making it in 'the big leagues' only to realize that for every high school sports sensation who goes on to try to make in the big leagues, only about 1 in a thousand make it. It's about the same odds for would be actors, singers, artists. One in a thousand if they are lucky.Hard work, determination, and perseverance only get you a portion of the way. Simply having good connections 'and luck' is a much better bet for a would be artist. Like Mitt Romney once said, "Kids today should be able to make it OK. Start a business and borrow the money from your parents if you have to..."

Business is much the same. I was generally always successful in my career but when I look back at it (and the peers that I dealt with during my career) luck and connections was always the biggest factor. My career spanned the mid-60's through the early 2000's and it was so much easier just to make a decent living. If I was to be starting all over again at this point in time, no matter how hard I worked it would be a real crap shoot whether I could make a decent living or not.

TimS Loc: GA

Of course sports is very competitive and a lot of kids work really hard and don't make it. But that does not dimenish the hard work and determination of those that did make it. Remember, if you put in hard work and determination, you CAN be a wealthy person. Note I did not use the word "will." There are many who are wealthy because they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Many celebrities fall into this category. Tori Spelling, Kelly Osborne, Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus. C'mon. Miley is about the only one that had some talent but not a whole heck of a lot - certainly not enough to get where she is had her dad not been who he is.

As far as making it in business, networking is a big part of the game so I agree that to some extent, it's who you know...or in Lewinski's case, who you blow.

People born to wealthy parents have an inherent leg up. That may not be fair but so what. Do we pass a law that says parents can't provide for their kids unless they also give an equal amount of support to a poor child?!

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

People born to intact families, where the father remains in the child's life and where the child finishes high school have a leg up. It's not rocket science.

BW326 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

I have it marked on the wall next to my desk. It's kind of nice to have there because when I'm having a bad day I can look up at it and say, "Well, there's 1."

:-D

TimS Loc: GA

Very true! Statistics show that the one of the best ways to ensure a life of poverty is to be a teen mother.

tom kf4wol

Amen to intact Families....That is a Step in the right Direction and is a step up, responsible procreation, discipline thereof and telling your off spring you are proud of them...instill's a life of confidence, that often pays big dividends for a kid in later life.

Even with a One Parent caring Adult (My Mom)....similar to Dr Ben Carson's mom and her discipline.....All help me create an atmosphere of at least trying, and respect for those whom attempted to help you..

Here I go again..."Life does not have a remote Control, if you don't like your Station in Life, Get up and Change it"!!@@!~~

My career was in Miami, I can tell you Family after Family of Cuban's many floating to our shores on inner tubes, have made a success out of their lives...

They may have started out with some Government or Religious Organization Assistance and 6, 8 or 10 people to a room, But By God they did not sit on their Butt's...They got out and did what ever work they could find....In Fact some with Medical Doctor or Nursing Degree's doing janitorial work, until they could pull themselves up into the American Dream. Obtain the Education and qualifications to pass Laws to again follow their passion of Profession.

I worked with many of this background, including some whom came to America from Vietnam...

And it is not my fantasy that they seem to care more about Individual Freedom and Success in life than many of our Native born parasites.....Who whine about the Salary or Station in Life of another who they have no idea how hard they worked and the sacrifices they made to be a CEO or Professional.

The entire insane discussion about "Income Inequality" is nonsense.....even in the most Socialistic Nation there is not "Income Equality"......

America was built on hard work and competition....in my opinion America is now a Nation of Class warfare...and that in the long term will add to our demise into a Third World Nation of Serbs....

that's my opinion..chew on it crap on it what ever makes you feel superior...

tom