Do you consider the United States to be a 'land of opportunity'?

[tawadi]

I used to. Not so much these days.

[Hoyt]

1. Probably better than other places, but nothing like before.

[tawadi]

2. Wonder if it's better here or in Europe?

[Hoyt]

13. I think Europe has taken steps to make the quality of life better under today's economic realities.

We are still trying to operate under the old model that worked after WWII through the mid-90s or so.

[tawadi]

15. Seems that way

Thanks

[Art_from_Ark]

32. The old model has been abandoned

The model that worked from the post-war era into the late '70s was based on living wages, long-term employment, reliable employee pension plans, and various other fringe benefits for employees. Today, about the only way people can have job security is if they do something that requires special skills that cannot be outsourced. Reliable employee pension plans are becoming a thing of the past, as are fringe benefits. And take-home pay for the average wage-earner has been losing ground to inflation for several decades.

[Hoyt]

36. I know. But, don't think we going back to that any time soon.

Wish we could.

[sarisataka]

3. I believe there is opportunity

but it is not equal for all. Starting out with money and/or connections is much better than being a nobody trying to do it yourself.
Likewise the upper limit of opportunity depends largely on where you start

[tawadi]

4. Well put. Thanks.

[bluestate10]

9. I started in the cellar. I had no connections, but was lucky enough to get three important

mentors that saw ability in me and worked with me to develop that potential.

[sarisataka]

20. Congrats

it is good to hear when it does happen; too much mobility is downwards these days. I hope you will choose to be a mentor to an up and comer when they are in your spot.

[meow2u3]

5. Lately, the United States has been a land of opportunists

[Fumesucker]

14. Well put n/t

[NoOneMan]

6. Like most developed nations, its a land of exploitation

Even when the workers are getting the edge, its often due to outsourced exploitation and some other workers getting the shaft.

[kelly1mm]

7. Yes. As the first in my family to graduate from college, it has been a land of opportunity to me.nt

[tawadi]

16. Good to hear. eom

[bluestate10]

8. Yes. I started out dirt poor. I worked against heavy odds and have done well in every

important aspect of life. May be I could have done as well in a handful of countries, but may be not. I like living in the US.

[tawadi]

17. And you are in a blue state

[Grey]

10. No, I am so thankful that I moved to Canada.

I am so glad to have been to given the chance to move to Canada at an early age. (age 17)
Life here has been a little bit harder than if I had stayed in the US (I think). I would not trade this life for any of the other chances I may have had. And I was given other choices, but this was the best option for me.

thank you, Aunt Georgia, for offering me a home and the space to make my own choice about where I wanted to live.

[tawadi]

18. Were you avoiding the draft?

Or just wanted better opportunities (which would be both I guess)?

[Grey]

21. They didn't draft 17 year old girls.....

I came here as a landed emigrant and later got my citizenship.
I would say it's one of the top ten countries in the world.

[tawadi]

22. Didn't even look at your profile

Canada is a great country. Never said it wasn't.

[Bay Boy]

31. May I ask...

...what is a landed emigrant?

[Grey]

40. It simply means we applied to the Canadian government

to come and live in Canada legally. We were given emigrant status for a number of years before we could apply to become citizens.

[riverbendviewgal]

29. There are a heck of a lot of opportunities in Canada

We have top notch schools and universities, and one payer health care that anyone gets.

Why do you think that anyone who comes to Canada wants to avoid the draft?

[tawadi]

38. Did I say that?

Amazing how someone will pounce on another poster, over the simplest things. jeez.

[Grey]

41. The whole group is a bit touchy tonight.

I think it's about the stubbenville thing. I know it's got my nerves on edge.
May I say I loved how you stood up to that fellow in the other post, earlier today.
Peace.

[dimbear]

11. Not like the golden times of the 70's, 80's, but a hell of a lot better than most times.

Take a sneak peak at the 19th century, frinstance.

[Romulox]

12. We are dead last amongst developed nations in social mobility, inequality.

The answer is objectively NO.

[librechik]

23. right--no opinion necessary when facts are obvious

America is not the land of opportunity now, if indeed it ever was.

[Hanzip]

19. Nope

[spanone]

24. absolutely.

[Egalitarian Thug]

25. Today, I consider it a carcass picked nearly clean. n/t

[rrneck]

26. No. The more you've got, the more you get. nt

[riverbendviewgal]

27. No more for the regular folk

Only those with money and the old elite. It is who you know and who you blow.

[lumberjack_jeff]

28. Clearly not.

Class mobility is better just about everywhere.



That is not to say there is no social mobility, and exceptions can always be found to the rule - enough so to try anyway.

[liberal N proud]

30. When I was young and naive, maybe.

I much older and wiser, after fighting just to get ahead only to watch some corporate CEO wipe it all away so he could take a 200 million increase in compensation. Then to watch your children struggle and not find good paying jobs. I have come to realize, this is the land for the rich, at the cost of everyone else.

[slackmaster]

33. I regard the entire world as a land of opportunity for people who don't limit themselves

[cherokeeprogressive]

34. I do.

[XRubicon]

35. Yes *your mileage may vary

I think overall it is.

[TheKentuckian]

37. Sadsack to lackluster breadth and depth of opportunity for broad prosperity

Stellar hight of opportunity.

A few can put Kings of old to shame, most aren't going too far anymore. If you do everything right and play by the rules, you might move up a notch as long as you didn't start out too high, then you most likely will tread water or fall back.

If you are fortunate or make the right connections you might come up pretty big but you will be the exception and odds are someone who worked harder and was smarter very similar to yourself didn't do so well.

[Recursion]

39. In some ways, not in others

It really is easier to start a business here than in any other country I've lived in, which is kind of what that phrase is talking about. It's a lot harder to work your way up in an existing business than it is in most countries.

[SirChanceAlot]

42. Better than most.

I've lived in foreign countries like Miami, Detroit, and Alabama. Let me tell you, America tops them all.

[Brigid]

43. Nope.

And it isn't just about economics either. This country is circling the drain, and has been for at least the past three decades. I know other countries have their own problems, but I would emigrate if I could.