Reply #122: If you are poor and doing cocaine you almost guaranteed to stay poor

[True Earthling]

The rich who do cocaine usually started after they became rich.

Humans evolved from adaptations to many different environments undergoing constant change which led to variation and a diversity of skills and knowledge. As social beings, human evolution and survival depended not only on adaptations based on individual self interest but adaptations for cooperation within a group as well. Like biologic evolution, economic growth is dependent on a dynamic process of adaptation.

An economic system that guarantees equal outcomes does not rely on adaptation. A planned, pre-determined outcome makes as much sense as planning creativity, discovery and know how. The long term co-ordination of an economy cannot be achieved by planners who 'pull levers and press buttons' in a vain attempt to control the future.

There is a permanent underclass not because the "system requires it", but because in our adaptive economy, unfavorable skills and knowledge are constantly being replace by more favorable skills and new knowledge. Those with few skills and knowledge or skills and knowledge that become obsolete, become the underclass. Yes - the underclass is permanent but not the people who constitute it. In our free society it's possible to escape through the acquisition of new skills and knowledge that are in demand by growing economic trends. Although the overall economy is stagnant there are growth areas where skilled workers are needed i.e. health care, engineering and communications technology.