[quote=SDEngineer][quote=jpinpb]I understand the two different scenarios. However, look at Obama. Single mom. There are many people that struggle but still have choices. [/quote]

And there always will be those success stories.

However, in the U.S. (one of the most capitalistic of the industrialized nations), vertical class mobility is far lower than in most of western Europe (where most of the nations have a more socialistic capitalist system). In other words, which economic class you are born into in the U.S. is more likely to determine where you will economically end up than in other industrialized nations.

Opportunity is there, but it’s harder to take advantage of in our system compared to many others.[/quote]

sources?
as far as I know, most successful people in US made it there on their own.
In addition to Obama, there are Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter Bill Gates, Warren Buffett,Jerry Yang, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniac, Troy Aikman,Carlos Mencia, A-Rod,Jennifer Lopez, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kelly Clarkson, Magic Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Brad Pitt, Jody Foster, Jim Carrey. The list goes on and on.
the only exception are George Bush and the Kennedy’s.
I can give 10 “self-made” names for every “legacy” name you give.
the professor is an idiot. case closed.