General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: There are exactly two ways to get rich [View all]jtuck004
(15,882 posts)money from their neighbors while under a dictator (1954 or so) that enjoyed personally signing death warrants for their executions.
They bought a paraffin stove mfg plant, and today, in an employee-owned cooperative, have their own bank, hospital, university, and are doing much better than the rest of Spain.
They got their freedom, and a generally pleasant life without too much concern or want, not much inequality to deal with. I'd take that over rich most days, if we could deal with the inequality that causes so many problems and so much want and tragedy.
I get what you are saying, but you should also note that even with those two, a LOT of people fail because they didn't have the mindset that it takes to use those advantages to become rich.
On the other hand, with the appropriate mindset...that is, an education that allows you to BELIEVE you can do something, one can overcome or at least find ways to gain, that second one. Not always, but it does happen.
So whether by accident of birth, or genetics, or association, or a country which invests in it's people and begins to build a solid middle class (like we used to, and like Mexico is doing now, btw), where we at now, #6(?) - luck, has to enter in to your equation.