Comment:
Consider the following two statements: 1) Anyone who works hard enough in America can overcome barriers to achieve success; most people who are poor and lower middle class have only themselves to blame for their economic situation. 2) One of the major problems with American society is the unequal distribution of opportunity to achieve success; poor and lower middle class youth simply do not have an equal or fair chance to be competitive with middle and upper class youth to achieve success. The first statement is based on the notion that American society is largely a meritocracy and those who are talented and work hard can achieve the American dream. The second statement is based on the notion that structural inequality tends to hinder the poor and lower middle class from achieving the American dream. Which statement do you tend to agree with more, and why?