The goal of many citizens, old and young, is to achieve the American dream. Many have different definitions of success: Some may say achieving the American dream means becoming a millionaire, while others think it means just being able to provide for their families. So what does it take to achieve the American dream, especially if you are born out of poverty? Equal opportunity.
According to Pew Research Center, 51 percent of low-income high school grads are enrolled in college, while 81 percent of high school grads from high income backgrounds are enrolled in college. There are obviously several factors as to why this disparity exists, but they all point to the conclusion that students from high income backgrounds have an advantage when it comes to seeking higher education.
There is no need to blame these students for taking advantage of their opportunities; any student would take advantage of higher income opportunities. The problem is those who start from the bottom do not receive these opportunities. Their paths are likely more difficult, and as a result, less are able to achieve their dreams.
There’s one solution — a fair start — but it’s open to several interpretations.
Some say that a fair start means equal opportunity for all in America. I happen to be one of those people. To me, equal opportunity means fair income regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or religion.
This also means equal opportunity in public education and in the workforce. This does not mean you are given a job just because you want one, but you are guaranteed to have a better chance at getting a job regardless of whether you come from a poor or wealthy background.
This is not necessarily meant to be taken as a meritocracy in practice, but rather a way to protect the opportunities of those who have indeed shown their merit. The goal of equal opportunity is to promote any program that benefits the least well-off in society. A program that benefits those least well-off may include more responsibilities for those who are already well-off — for example, higher taxes.
Higher taxes can be used for domestic programs such as welfare, education, highways and healthcare. A tax system that decreases marginal tax rates for non-well-off people while increasing marginal tax rates for those who are already well-off is a necessary program.
Would this be considered class warfare? No, because those who have already succeeded financially are not being punished with taxes. They are meeting the public demand for a program that benefits those who are not well off yet.
It does not make sense to create a public program at the expense of the poor that benefits citizens who already enjoy opportunities because of their financial backgrounds. It’s morally responsible to create a public program that benefits the poor so they can have the chance to become wealthy. It is morally right to give the poor the chance to have similar opportunities down the roads of their working lives.
Some, however, have different views on what a fair start in America means.
Is it the government’s responsibility to help citizens achieve success, or should citizens take advantage of the rights that are already recognized by the Constitution and hope for the best of their situations?
Achieving your dreams should require some sort of struggle, but when opportunities are presented to you, you should be able to take advantage of them no matter what background you come from. If we really want everyone to have the chance to achieve the American dream, then we must have equal opportunity in achieving it.
Opinion columnist Samuel Pichowsky is a political science sophomore and may be reached at [email protected]
As I have gained income through hard work and education I don’t appreciate being told that now that I am “more well off” I have to have more of my income taken from me through taxes to help those less fortunate than I am. I wasn’t given anything that I didn’t work hard for. I worked my butt off going to school, working, and even served my country in the military. No one gave me anything other than the chance to earn. Perhaps that should be the focus. I appreciate what I have because of the blood, sweat and tears it took to get me here. Perhaps that should be the focus. Less holding your hands out and more using your hands.
Sammy … oh … you Socialist you!!
“Equal opportunity for all?” .. hmm …comes straight out of Socialist International’s Declaration of Principles No. 65 Culture and Society: … “the preparation of the individual for life within society on the basis of equal opportunity for all;”
Now the American Dream … which you Sammy are helping to kill by the way … is a “set of ideals (Democracy, Rights, Liberty, OPPORTUNITY, and Equality) in which freedom includes the OPPORTUNITY for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society.”
The American Dream is why most come to the US in the first place. It’s a place where someone who comes from nothing … can make something of themselves based on their hard work and ideas. We ALL have the OPPORTUNITY to do with our lives what we want …
– if you want to improve yourself you go and learn at college, or a trade school. You get out there and bust your tookus and improve your lot in life.
– or, you can become a sponge, which Sammy hopes … so you can become dependent on government and waist your life away voting Democrat for the rest of your life.
Sammy and his Socialist friends are no help to sponges … they encourage it … you can see how easy it is to get public benefits. In fact, their aim is to control the spongy permanent underclass, while he thinks he is above the rest.
What ‘ol Sammy Boy does not see in the future, he will have problems with upward mobility himself and he will be just another minor member of the Socialist bureaucracy, while the highest authority will be the only Capitalists in our society. The members of the Socialist highest authority will be their family members, and/or those who have graduated from Ivy League schools.
Do you really think Sammy that you will be equal to an Ivy Leaguer? Please? At your highest point Sammy, you will be only serving them their coffee or their gopher.
What Sammy is talking about is Equality of Outcomes … which in other words … no matter how hard, or how much, or how LITTLE you work, you get the same reward as everyone else.
Equal Opportunity already and always has existed. What is not guaranteed, what you are really saying, is EQUAL OUTCOME.
I think Samuel has a valid point here.
Equal opportunity HAS NOT always existed. Sure, our taxes have always gone to funding for public institutions and services that are… Well… Open to the public. But some of these public areas were not always open to *everyone*. Think for a moment: racially segregated buildings, businesses that discriminate against LGBT, service discrimination against persons who appear low-class, etc. Some of these discrimination acts are outlawed, but even then, not everyone has equivalent access to some of the things we deserve as American citizens. Not every family can afford a decent education at a university no matter how hard their child works. Why? The child grew up in an area of poverty, the public school institution is not well-funded, or perhaps the child faces discrimination within their community. This is just one example of the unequal opportunities in today’s society. Samuel touches upon this.
If you’re “well-off”, you’re able to provide for yourself or your family without expense to your leisure or life happiness. It doesn’t mean your achievements and hard work doesn’t hold any value. Your ability to live in comfort is your reward for the efforts you made to get to your position. So if you’re well off, would it not make sense to turn around and see who else might need guidance and motivation to get to where you are? You didn’t become well off completely on your own. Someone or something was there to help you (teacher, boss, family, friend, etc.). Return the favor.
Echoing what Samuel says in a different way: YES – effort matters. You have to make the initiative and take advantage of those opportunities. BUT – if you’re not able to see or reach those opportunities due to financial restrictions, social restrictions, or health restrictions… Is it really your fault? Do you not deserve the American Dream due to the situation you were born into?
People who are upset that equal opportunity does not mean equal success. These people need to crawl under a rock.