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by petemill 2411 days ago
Classic. Poor people just aren't working hard enough!
2 comments

Yup, easy rebuttal to that one is just looking at how insanely hard some poor people work, while still struggling to succeed: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/books/review/stephanie-la...

The more insidious version of this is arguing over whose labours have more "market value". And there's something to that, but I can't get away from the feeling that it's deeply unfair how a software professional can coast for weeks on the occasional flash of insight or burst of productivity, while a housecleaner works two full time jobs and still is one unexpected car repair from insolvency.

How did you get the computer you're writing on, if not by the method described above?
(not op but) parents supported me through a high quality education, in the safe wealthy western country they brought me into, helped me to develop social skills, and provided a stable upbringing which—all combined—gave me the confidence, comfort and skills to navigate the labour market, secure a well-paying job, and eventually use my wages to purchase this computer.
Sound like you got there exactly by the method described above.
Um, but the point is that most of that is stuff he had no control over. The Econ 101 fantasy of "work hard, get ahead" doesn't apply if being a straight white male born into a middle class western family means you're starting 80% of the way to the finish line.