[sremani]

There is nothing to west of Oregon (technically pacific ocean), most of the 19th century is because of west-ward expansion. People can go to Montana and get homestead etc. Again, this is not beating up on people who are down on luck, My inspiration in life has been Helen Keller, who is blind, deaf and mute, she wrote damn fucking awesome books. You are trying to shoot the messenger, your argument is similar any thing that is worthy has already been discovered. Upward mobility is hard, it usually is and has been and historically there are only few times, when a raising tide rose all the boats, but there is a thing about tides, they raise and fall.

[vertex-four]

Your entire post is nonsensical - fact of the matter is that unlike Silicon Valley tech workers, the vast majority of the country doesn't get paid six figures for sitting on their arses all day, and the vast majority of what they are paid goes to necessary expenses. Building enough savings to survive for two decades is simply not possible unless you're decidedly upper middle class.

[sremani]

I disagree with your assessment. I do not live in Silicon Valley nor do I make 6-figure salary.