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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kevin Rose who wrote (133670)	3/27/2001 2:53:06 PM
From: Srexley	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

"So, some are luckier than others because of their advantages" Portraying successful people as lucky is not helpful. This is where you and I differ the most. I am glad that you have been "lucky". Good for you. My dad was/is waaaay more succesful than me, but does not have a college education. He is a smart man who has worked hard. Came from humble (not poor) conditions and accomplished a lot. Me and my brother have chosen the same line of work. Some junior college experience (which he did not like) for him, I have a BS degree from an outstanding CA state college. Success wise I think we are close. Monetarily he beats me though. He works a bit harder (and people like him more, imagine that). The point continues to be whether people get where they are because they are lucky or they are good (at what they do). If you continue to believe that it is mostly luck I feel even more sorry for your kids than I did. You are teaching them that they must be lucky to succeed. I don't even know your kids, but I KNOW that they can achieve almost whatever they want. And if you tell them they did it because they were lucky, then you are a mean (and ignorant) dad.

To: Kevin Rose who wrote (133670)	3/27/2001 3:54:59 PM
From: Lane3	Respond to of 769667

Some luck is 'lottery luck'. Money falling out of the sky and landing on your head. Other is 'opportunity luck'. I think your "opportunity luck" is a bit of a misnomer unless it's in the context of "you make your own luck" in which case, it's all luck. When we work hard, when we use what gifts we have be they looks or smarts or talent or charm, when we make smart moves and stay out of trouble, we're putting ourselves in a position for success. All we can expect from the government is to not put arbitrary obstacles, like discrimination, in front of us. The rest is on us. We're not entitled to equality of results. Being born well off can be a big help or a big hindrance depending on what we do with it. Being given things we haven't earned, whether by Daddy or by Uncle Sam, does us a disservice. We won't all prevail. It has to be that way or there's no incentive. When we're successful we give back--by encouraging those who haven't made it yet and by providing charity to those who won't make it. Karen