People will naturally assume whatever levels they choose.
Oh, I choose to be filthy rich. Nope, that didn't work.
Assuming you are an American (your aren't) if you are not well off you haven't really chosen to be. What have you done to attain and advanced education or skills? What idea for a business have you come up with and when have decided to assume the risks for getting it started? What is your plan to accumulate capital and find others with capital willing to invest in your idea? If you have not done any of these things, then you have not chosen to be "rich"? Obviously you have not or you would be.
Of course there have to be quotas. Not everyone can fit at the top, so if one moves up, one has to move down.
No quotas needed. As I stated, in a free society people will voluntarily fill all the levels needed. Most will gravitate to towards the bottom because they are either too lazy or cowardly to try anything else other than just "existing". Making money is HARD and requires more WORK than the vast majority of people are willing to endure. Taking all the "hard" courses in college majoring in something that is actually VALUED (because those are usually "hard and challenging" and most people, given the choice, are simply too lazy). And also most are far too afraid to take the risks as well. Are you willing to mortgage your home or bet your life savings on an idea to start a business? Probably not, but then most people wouldn't.
There are no "free" societies, there are only illusions of freedom. As long as that con job is still effective all will be well.
Everything is relative. Western Europe is much less "free" than America. Starting a business in France or Germany is a nightmare of red-tape and ridiculous labor laws. But then Singapore, Malaysia and other Pacific Rim economies as well as Eastern Europe are substantially freer than the United States in terms of business and economic activity.
It's still better to be born with rich parents, it's like being given a ten block start in a three-legged race.
That hasn't been so in the United States over the past 50 years. The "wealthy" as in those in the top 5% are far more likely to come from modest backgrounds than wealth. Lots of kids squander their inheritance...because...as I stated above, most will gravitate towards the bottom...even children of wealth.
For someone to have "free choice" as you put it, they have to have a real free choice. The fact is that in any stratified society my analogy about the three-legged race applies. Freedom is an illusion, it's a shibboleth and when closely examined its fetish nature is easily seen.
Education is free in this country through grade 12. And students can spend their time taking "shop", remedial grammer, and cooking classes or they can opt to take advanced math, science, language and prepare themselves for college. Most opt for the easy stuff and thus squander the opportunity. For those the really try most can pay for 100% of their college. There is also ROTC and countless minority, low income and all sorts of scholarships out there. My daughter works 30 hours a week and takes an 18hr load to pay for what scholarship doesn't cover. The rest is loans. I pay for nothing for her even though I could. But that is "hard" and MOST will not do it. But there is NOTHING preventing them from doing it other than fear of hard work, but most 18-25 year olds want to party and have sex and screw off, not work hard to gain skills and knowledge that will make them wealthy by age 50. Again, CHOICE given, and most will gravitate, by laziness, to the bottom.
Buying lottery tickets is another con, but it's a sign of the desperation they feel. They have to buy lottery tickets because they have no other way of getting out underneath the heap that is on top of them.
It's not desperation at all. It;s the "free lunch" syndrome. And it's "EASY". NO hard work or education needed. Of course there is virtually NO chance of success, because there is really no risk either. Great reward comes only through both great labor. great motivation, and great educated risk. Every able bodied, sound mined adult citizen of the US can get an education or technical training in a high demand skill at any time usually with little or no money of their own....if the WANT to. But almost NONE "want" to.....because it is HARD and most people do not like HARD...
As I said, it's better to be born to rich parents than poor parents. It's better to be born in to the upper layers of society than the lower layers. Freedom is an illusion for all, but the rich can afford nicer prisons.
Maybe in Belgium or France, but not the US. The statitistics prove it. I make a VERY good living, make a LOT of money. My mother dropped out of school after the sixth grade and eventually became a hair dresser. My father dropped out of school at age 15, lied about his age, joined the Merchant Marine in 1942 then the Air Force. He was a used car salesman. We weren't dirt poor but we didn't have much. I got an education and majored in math, chemistry and computer science. I did very well for my self. My wife was born to tennant farmer. Also got an education she paid for all herself and worked through school and is now a cheif nurse at a major medical center.
That's how it is here. You make YOURSELF and you don't need the STATE to help, just provide the opportunities....which this state....does to EVERYONE.
