U.S.A, Land of Limitations by Nicholas Kristof
In Nicholas Kirstof's article, I found many significant points that he made about the lower class struggling with financial benefits and opportunities compared to middle and higher classes. This article peaked my interest because I was able to see someone's point of view from the lower class sharing his struggles with "the land of opportunity." One quote that really stuck out to me about the gap between the lower class and higher classes was, "We are a nation of haves and soon-to-haves, of people who have made it and of people who will make it" (Kristof). I think that this was significant to the article because Senator Marco Rubio was giving people the fighting chance in "the land of opportunity."
"Alan Krueger, a Princeton economist, has noted that in the United States, parents' incomes correlate to their adult children's incomes roughly as heights do" (Kristof). I found this insane because that means if you're short you're likely to make less compared to someone who is tall. However, he states that this only happens often. This caught my eye because it's not something I would of expected to reflect on the amount of someone's income.
Finally, "Rich kids make a lot of bad choices," Professor Reardon notes.They just don't come with the same sort of consequences" (Kristof). I agree with this statement because I notice some people I know that are in the middle and higher class don't get disciplined as much as those who get more attention from their parents in lower classes. Usually, I notice that the parents of kids of higher classes' are always working and barely have time to give these kids consequences for their bad decisions. But, that shouldn't be any excuse regardless. Sometimes you have to realize your own mistakes instead of counting on someone else to do so for you. For instance, the author's friend, Rick Goff came from a lower class family. His dad was a drunk and his mother died. He grew up with barely a mother or father figure and still was able to be a hard working man. Although, he didn't get the attention he desired he still realized his own mistakes and learned from them.
One question I can ask in class: Can you believe that statistics show how much money you'll make depending on how tall you are?
"Alan Krueger, a Princeton economist, has noted that in the United States, parents' incomes correlate to their adult children's incomes roughly as heights do" (Kristof). I found this insane because that means if you're short you're likely to make less compared to someone who is tall. However, he states that this only happens often. This caught my eye because it's not something I would of expected to reflect on the amount of someone's income.
Finally, "Rich kids make a lot of bad choices," Professor Reardon notes.They just don't come with the same sort of consequences" (Kristof). I agree with this statement because I notice some people I know that are in the middle and higher class don't get disciplined as much as those who get more attention from their parents in lower classes. Usually, I notice that the parents of kids of higher classes' are always working and barely have time to give these kids consequences for their bad decisions. But, that shouldn't be any excuse regardless. Sometimes you have to realize your own mistakes instead of counting on someone else to do so for you. For instance, the author's friend, Rick Goff came from a lower class family. His dad was a drunk and his mother died. He grew up with barely a mother or father figure and still was able to be a hard working man. Although, he didn't get the attention he desired he still realized his own mistakes and learned from them.
One question I can ask in class: Can you believe that statistics show how much money you'll make depending on how tall you are?
I definitely agree that rich kids do not have to deal with the same consequences as kids with less money. Its very unfair!!
ReplyDeleteI also agree that rich children are more privileged and do not get as disciplined as children who are lower or even middle class. I feel like the rich kids get away with more because either their parents have money or maybe even they have money.
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