Question:
Is it fair that the children of rich people get a better head start in life?
Lover
2011-09-25 10:11:03 UTC
Is it fair or unfair that the children of rich people get a better head start in life than the children of poorer parents? Or is it fair that they have a better upbringing, being able to wear nicer clothes, go to better schools, live in nicer areas, get a nice car when they pass their driving test, etc?

Do you think this is fair? Do you support this kind of setup?
Ten answers:
Artemisc
2011-09-25 10:13:23 UTC
It isn't fair, but life isn't fair. I'm not rich but I've got a kid who is a great athlete, amazing artist, he can play guitar, and he's maybe a little too full of confidence. I've told him that he didn't work for any of these things, he just got lucky in the genetic lottery.



Is that any more fair than a kid with wealthy parents who can afford to go to the best schools? You make the best with what you have.
Robin
2011-09-25 17:22:48 UTC
Whoever told you life was fair? There is no justice in this world...the rich get richer, the innocent die, the wicked rule, crooks get away with their crimes and people who work hard looking after other people all their lives never get to enjoy their retirement... and don't get me started on cancer.



The fact is we humans seem quite determined that there should be justice and fair play... even though we absolutely know for a fact there never has been and never will be any in this life. If you needed one single reason to believe there must be a God and something after this life... the lack of any proper justice here is it. We must face judgement at some point and if that is not in this life...



Am I happy rich people get better choices... no... but that is the way it has always been.
Rollingliketumble
2011-09-25 18:21:35 UTC
It's life.



I mean, there are kids who don't have clean water, decent food (food at all) or shelter. I'm pretty sure it seems unfair to them that there are children born into this world who never have to truly worry about where their next meal is coming from, or about where they're going to sleep that night, or anything like that.





I think it would be even more unfair to deprive the children whose parents can afford all of those things just because other children don't get the same opportunities.



I think the focus should be on bringing everyone else up, not bringing others down.
CharChar
2011-09-25 17:35:02 UTC
A couple of points:



1) My best friend came from a very wealthy background. He has all those luxuries...but they aren't *his*. He doesn't work, so he hardly ever has his own money. His mom initially planned to pay for college, but after busting him for drugs he's probably on his own. He had a nice foundation, but where is it going?

2) My mom's micromanaging taught me how to stretch my cash in places, and when I am successful later in life I'll be able to keep those principles I learned.

3) While every parent wants the best for their child, they don't want to actually let them use their brain or brawn or ever have to 'struggle'. Sometimes a little tough times is a good thing. I still haven't decided how I plan to raise my kids.



For the first month I was alive, my family was extremely wealthy. There's proof of it in my other closet, and in photos. After that time, things just kept getting worse and worse (I plan to write a biography eventually, haha). We lived in poverty for the longest.



But, my mother still squeezed whatever penny she could to send me to a nice private school (public schools here are horrendous, I'm sure in other states they're better), bought me beautiful dresses when necessary, and gave me things I needed to survive. While the struggle was awful, and a lot of my childhood ruined by poverty and abuse, I don't know if I want my kids to just sit in a happy rainbow world filled with lavish things all the time.
huey
2011-09-25 17:18:13 UTC
it's fair because they have a better upbringing. But that doesn't mean that poor people are irresponsible.



Contrary to what the first user says, poorer families are actually the most hardworking. It takes so much to sustain your lifestyle if you're poor, and even more to ascend that past lifestyle.



Its true it takes initiative and determination to reach a higher point, but those who haven't experienced poverty could never understand.
marian m
2011-09-25 17:16:36 UTC
well, that's kinda the point of life. It's unfair...depending on how you look at it actually. "better schools" may seem like an edge, but then again, proper education can't be equated to actual learning of lessons. Nice clothes are nice, but simplicity is a virtue. You get the idea.
Patrick4024
2011-09-25 17:13:59 UTC
Like John Kennedy said, "Life is not fair" But, I would give my children every advantage too, if I were in their shoes.
princessaღdrey
2011-09-25 17:12:41 UTC
Yes rich people prepared their life for the kid its not anyones fault the poorer families arent responsible try to do something with their life to get their kid everything
EspritDeCorpse
2011-09-25 17:14:11 UTC
It's fair, mainly because of social mobility.



Nomatter what class you are born into, you have potential to change it, it's not fuedalism.
Gary Assfield
2011-09-25 17:18:54 UTC
Well it's not necessarily "fair" but what can you do? There is no reasonable alternative.


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