First, I've been wanting to say this all day, so I'll say it now:
Okay, now that that's over, I can get back to my manuscript. This is the God-knows-how-may times I've edited this thing, and I'm still changing the wording here and there like it was a bloody rough draft. I feel like I'm getting into a car only to realize that it drives differently everyday. Today, it seems to be going sideways only.
The strangest thing happened today. My friend looked over at my computer, gave me a evil grin, and said "How's retirement, Blanche?".
She finally stopped when I threatened to call her "Scruffy" from now on, but I think it's her way of telling me the name sounds old. If anyone hasn't realized by now, "Blanche King" isn't my name; it's something I picked for brevity's sake. Now I'm thinking the name sounds old... but I still like it.
Another topic: Entitlement.
While visiting a friend's house during break, I had a chance to discuss the concept of entitlement with some of the better-off people of society. I've already heard the opinions of the middle and lower classes on social injustice, but the upper class had some interesting points to make. For one thing, some feel that they are all being judged based on the actions of a few, as in saying "all rich people are snobby " is the same as saying "all poor people are lazy". Neither holds any truth, but both are equally hurtful.
The general consensus is that, while some have inherited their fortunes, many have made their own, only to be later condemned for it. "We followed the rules and earned what we have. There's nothing shameful in either of those." I have to say they make a good point.
Looking around my university, I see different study habits. I see the ones who go out and get drunk every night (and puke all over the hallways...ew) and then the ones who set up a daily studying schedule and go to every class. As an economics major, I have to plead opportunity cost: effort made will pay, effort not made will not pay.
The concept applies to society in general (with few exceptions) and yet it is by the exception that we judged society. For example, a young man may have suffered a parental loss and had to drop out of school to care for his family. As a result, though he worked hard, he is not paid well for his effort. Similarly, a young man may not have worked at all in school, and using his parent's money, he paid his way into a brand name college and subsequently received a large trust fund. Both situations are statistically rarer than their counterparts (that man, after hard work, will achieved what he deserves).
So after much thought, I've decided to change my views to follow opportunity cost. Economically, it makes sense. There is no such thing as "no one deserves that much money". If they do not deserve it (most of the time) they will not have it to begin with. And even if they do have it, chances are they won't have it for long.
Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish.
