USA, Land of Limitations?

Reflection

This article was written by Nicholas Kristof and was published in the New York Times. This article argues that depending on the type of environment someone grows up in will be based on whether or not they succeed. He also talks about the wages gaps between the rich and the poor.
In the article Kristof explains that there is a 4% chance for a child who is born in a low-income household can raise up to a top quintile in the United States. While in Britain the percentage more than doubles to a 12% chance. Alan Krueger who is a Princeton economist says that "about the same as the chance that a dad who is 5 feet 6 inches tall having a son who grows up to be over 6 feet 1 inch tall." There is a chance but it is mostly unlikely for that not to happen. Which is honestly the sad truth because no matter what people who get the short end of the stick have to try twice as hard to make it. But it is not all about “choices” and “personal responsibility.” it is something a lot more than that. Kristof is trying to explain that even with hard work and intelligence it is hard to turn around a life of poverty. 

Questions/Comments/Point To Share:
I personally really liked this article I felt like Kristof got his point across really well also had enough evidence to back up his argument. Another thing that I really liked was that it was not only statistics and scholars but he related this argument to himself by talking about one of his good friends Rick Goff. Kristof describes the thought “talent is universal, but opportunity is not.” This is real in a lot of ways. When I hear of this I think of the struggling artist and musicians because these people have a whole lot of talent but the only way to make it big is to know somebody or when it is the right time.  What do you guys think of this quote?