Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
The only thing more tiresome than the notion that people's fortunes are determined entirely by their own decisions is the notion that individual decisions play no part in people's fortunes.
Everybody deep down knows both structural and cultural/individual factors shape our lives. But for some reason, when it comes to politics we have to pretend it's one or the other.
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People's choices have a definite impact but their choices are directly impacted by past experiences and situationally depending scenarios. People who live in inner city communities with poor early childhood development, educational opportunities and nutrition; in communities rife with violence, with poor role models, income insecurity.
I understand that people can better themselves, but it is a system that is developed to ensure that people don't have those opportunities. The Libertarian attitudes espoused by those like Hockey Illiterate further the inequalities that are inherent in the system.