> On Mon, 13 Sep 1999, Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> > They may not read anything longer than a short magazine article, but
> > they sure have high expectations. From the front page feature on
> > inequality in today's Wall Street Journal:
> >
> > "A recent survey by KPMG LLP, the accounting and consulting firm,
> > found that 77% of college students expect to become millionaires in
> > their lifetimes."
These kids are giving us one answer to the question raised a while ago about how Americans feel about inequality. That is, why don't they seem to care about the large and growing disparity in wealth and income.
The answer is, they see inequality, not as a curse, but an opportunity for the riches they see others enjoying. The more inequality, the bigger the prize for the winners. Elites for capital have done a good job of convincing people that that's what capitalism means. Opportunities for wealth abound, and if they don't make it, then surely their kids will. Add to that all the new ways to make money today, and you get those kinds of survey results. Little thought is given to the odds, of course.
Roger