Do other countries have the goofy Horatio Alger rags-to-riches myth?

[raccoon]

Or something similar?

Sure, in just about any country, one out of umpteen million might get rich through music, sports, etc. About the chance of hitting the jackpot with the lottery.

[ThomWV]

1. Every society that ever existed has that myth, without it we all might as well kill ourselves.

[bryant69]

2. A new legend for new times

Failure Fred

Failure Fred never did a damn thing. And through his lack of work and insight, his total brick like sloth, he achieved all his dreams.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Didn't John Edwards and Bill Clinton both come from humble backgrounds?

:shrug:

[KG]

4. one of the more amusing myths i hear repeated;

that america is the only place that the rags to riches story can happen.

[msedano]

5. some prefer to hide their stories

the rap on the growth of billionaire count in PRC is uncounted members of the club who hide their achievement from scrutiny, according to a radio report i heard the other day. here's an article from november written by peter kwong, who seems to have an axe to grind. anent the PRC rich guys, if you enjoy good mystery stories, check out the Inspector Chen Cao stories from Qiu Xiaolong. the Shanghai cop finds corruption wherever there's money. e.g. http://labloga.blogspot.com/2007/11/review-death-of-red-heroine.html

here's the international herald trib article...


Every year Forbes magazine publishes the list of the world's richest people. When the list came out in March, 415 of this year's 746 billionaires were from the United States, 20 from China.

By November, the number of China's billionaires had grown to 66. At the same time, the Shanghai-based Hurun Report was listing 106 billionaires - up from 15 the year before.

. . . .
Sooner or later this stock market bubble will burst. The officials will have inside information and escape harm, leaving small public investors to bear the brunt. Most of China's billionaires will disappear as quickly as they emerged, and millions of the Chinese middle-class will be robbed of their savings.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/16/opinion/edkwong.php

[Javaman]

6. Sure they do, just look at Stalin!!!

came up from a nothing as a seminary student to rise up to lead the soviets and kill over 20 million Russians!

Now if that is not a rages to bitches story I don't know what is...what's that? riches? ooops, my bad.

[Orsino]

7. The powerful usually promise rewards for obedience...

...in addition to punishment for the dissidents--whether in this life or the next.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Michael Moore said it best:

"Horatio Alger Must Die" (chapter from "Dude, Where's My Country")

[Marrah_G]

9. Not sure what you mean

Are you talking about REALLY rich Oprah types?

I know a few people who were desperately poor as children and are quite well off now. Not filthy rich, but very comfortable. They worked hard, saved and spent wisely (I wish I had such willpower).

[raccoon]

10. No, not as rich as Oprah, but still, what most people would consider rich.

"They worked hard, saved and spent wisely " Good for them. And it also takes some luck.

[Marrah_G]

12. Yup they did well

No luck really, just alot of hard work. My Dad taught public school, my mom cleaned teeth part-time. Various part time jobs and wise investments made it all possible. I really wish I could be as good at it as they were. My mother has frugal down to an art form.

[LSK]

11. no, people like Richard Branson do not exist

:eyes: