Is equal Opportunity in America a myth?

That's pretty obvious to anyone who has a realistic sense of economic objectivity.

Money equals power.

Eons ago, capital, money, assets and tangible quantifiable wealth replaced survival instincts as a socially viable economic qualifier of one's relative worth to society since the only thing that has survived from the age of the hunter gatherers are the exclusionary aspects of isolationist tribes that continue to select only like minded individuals to benefit from whatever tribal benefits that tribe happens to have a potential monopoly on.

Having said that, surname, inheritance, trust fund and dumb luck continue to be the precursors of economic success in this country since exploitation of other people's greed and the desperation of undereducated people via capitalism are some of the main sources of proxy survival instinct hoarding

where unlimited liquid capital amplification is concerned.

One can always have aspirations of wealth or access to a lucrative money amplification scheme, but unless you are on good terms with a well-connected individual who likes you or your investment or business ideas, categorically there remains a plethora of obstacles to business success especially if one decides to delve into a business product that is already established and has already eliminated most of it's serious competitors.

The only thing most Americans have at their disposal is the notion that you can climb the economic ladder only so high before they must recognize their own limitations within an economic system that few at the bottom have any chance of manipulating in their favor.

The people who can amass more wealth than they need already have enough wealth that they can gamble and take risks with reasonable sums of capital in investment schemes that reward those who are savvy enough to know when an investment is going to turn sour and when to remain relatively patient with the ebb & flow of market trends.

Most people do not make enough to risk money to make more money, most people are left desperate enough that they're forced to debase their dreams in exchange for a rationed pittance of whatever they may have assumed their human efforts should be, (unrealistically) compensated for

in return for consistent effort on their part.

Charlie's spot on. it's ridiculous to say that the US is equal opportunity.... of course it isn't. if you come from money it's easier to get into the best school, which in turn makes it's easier to get a good job etc etc etc. Yes in THEORY anyone can attend the best school, but if you have two people with equal intelligence who work equally hard the truth is that if one comes from a poor background and one from a rich.... who's going to have the easier ride ? That's NOT equal opportunity.

Americans are constantly told that the US is the land of opportunity for all, but in reality it's no better than any other industrialised nation.

Mind you I doubt it's any worse either.

As Jason said, everyone has the potential ability. But that is not in any way the same thing as equal opportunity. We don't live in a world where everyone has the same chances. The people who can't see that are the lucky ones.

A rich man goes to collage,and a poor man goes to work.

A poor girl wants to marry,and a rich girl wants to flirt.

No it is not, EVERYONE in America has the potential ability to make something that will make him rich.

yea

Nope. For you, evidently, it is.