Remember having this discussion a few years ago regarding the various data

that shows intergenerational mobility is significantly lower in this country than it is in those "socialist" hellholes in Scandanavia, France and Germany. Recall a bunch of the usual suspects crying foul and arguing that it couldn't be true, that this is the land where hard work pays off, blah blah blah.

But yes, our intergenerational mobility is atrocious for a country that brands itself on upward mobility. The poor almost always stay poor, and if you're born rich all you really need to do is find a way not to fuck your life up and you're good to go. And the middle class tends to stay middle class. Funny how that all works out.

People can make it big here, but they can in Germany too. And that happens through a combination of luck and talent more than "hard work." Those are facts. Plain and simple.

But it's funny that the strongest believers in so-called "American Exceptionalism" and the fading myth of the American dream tend to be the ones who are most stuck on go.

(In response to this post by hoolstoptheheels)

Posted: 07/08/2019 at 10:57AM

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Intergenerational mobility. South at bottom but believe differently -- WarmHoo 07/08/2019 09:29AM

This was already posted. ** -- ryno hoo 07/08/2019 10:44AM

Kind of a truncated article. It doesn't go much into the reasons for this -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 10:03AM

As far as reasons...Isn't a lot of it just a natural result of parenting? -- BocaHoo91 07/08/2019 10:27AM

I remembered seeing this study when reading your post. -- hoolstoptheheels 07/08/2019 11:01AM

That's part of it, too, of course. If we're going to go anecdotal, I grew -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 10:42AM

I don't know that I'm suggesting we just go anecdotal. What's the -- BocaHoo91 07/08/2019 12:59PM

I disagree it actually is hard unless you are born into the middle or upper -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 1:10PM

If you have an average or better intelligence which one of the following -- BocaHoo91 07/08/2019 1:47PM

It all sounds so easy. And #5 I don't think most people can do even if they -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 1:56PM

You don't think most people who graduate with a a college degree can -- BocaHoo91 07/08/2019 2:23PM

I think it's tough with housing costs, etc. I wouldn't presume otherwise. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 2:33PM

We'll just have to agree to disagree. If a single 22 or 23 year old -- BocaHoo91 07/08/2019 2:54PM

Reading a book now called "White Trash" which attempts to explain the -- hoolstoptheheels 07/08/2019 09:54AM

White southerners are the GOP's favorite patsies. Have been since the late -- WahooRQ 07/08/2019 10:50AM

When I moved to Richmond, I heard about old money versus new money -- WahooMatt05 07/08/2019 10:12AM

Old Money is very much a real thing in Richmond as well as other older -- Tuckahokie 07/08/2019 10:19AM

Old money is every where -- VaTechie 07/08/2019 11:36AM

Oh yeah. “Has” not “had.” ** -- southdenverhoo 07/08/2019 12:27PM

Oops, so right -- VaTechie 07/08/2019 12:28PM

I don't think it's exclusive to the South. But it's interesting to say -- hoolstoptheheels 07/08/2019 10:36AM

Old Money does not necessary act like they were born on third base and -- Tuckahokie 07/08/2019 10:52AM

Bingo. New money has fake tits and stars in Real Housewives of Wyndham. -- jackethoo 07/08/2019 11:17AM

Al Czervik vs. Elihu Smails ** -- PBCHoo 07/08/2019 11:27AM

It's always been that way. Back thousands of years. ** -- Hokieesith 07/08/2019 10:16AM

That's sort of the point - the US is supposed to be a break from that 1000s -- hoolstoptheheels 07/08/2019 10:31AM

Remember having this discussion a few years ago regarding the various data -- WahooRQ 07/08/2019 10:57AM

FFV, the first family, in the sovereign colony of Virginia. ;)** -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 10:14AM

I would recommend "America Aflame: How the Civil War Created a Nation" by -- Seattle .Hoo 07/08/2019 10:11AM

Thank you! ** -- hoolstoptheheels 07/08/2019 10:13AM

Outstanding book. Daughter gave it to me last year. Good read. ** -- Lazarus 07/08/2019 09:57AM