American mythology.

[onecaliberal]

I’d sure like to know.

[former9thward]

1. Who is supposed to believe this?

People I know work and have money. They may not be "rich", however that is defined, but they certainly have money.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. I think it's a little hyperbolic

But the point is the wealth is concentrated in the hands of too few and we can do better for working people in the richest country in human history.

[Igel]

3. Years ago I was stuck talking to a guy.

It was a UCLA retreat. I was a poor grad student. He had funded an endowed chair. $30M a pop.

I was on a hayride with him. Tractor died. Driver was stupid. This guy rummaged for tools, found few. Spent time under the tractor. Cursed a lot. The driver had left, pre-cell phone, to call home.

This guy hated high school. Vo-tech in HS. Worked as a mechanic in a garage. For a few years. When the owner retired, his mechanic was offered a contract to work off the value of the garage. Years later--living above the garage--he owned it. Tired. Opened another garage. He had trouble finding mechanics. Specialized. Oil and brakes. Trained them. Opened more store fronts. Risked a lot.

Years later, he was on a hayride where the tractor broke down, pondering funding a second endowed chair at UCLA. He was worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He'd had way over 300 store fronts in multiple states and went IPO.

It happens.

I had a dream. It utterly failed. But most dreams don't come true. The American Dream isn't an "American Promise" or "American Guarantee". It's a promise that it's more likely to happen here than in totalitarian countries. Hence immigration.

History enlightens.

[spooky3]

4. It would be nice if women and people of color were included.

Last time I checked, they hold the majority of paid jobs in this country.