The Role Of Luck
Nicholas Kristof absolutely nails it, in describing why some people succeed and some fail.
ONE delusion common among America’s successful people is that they triumphed just because of hard work and intelligence.
In fact, their big break came when they were conceived in middle-class American families who loved them, read them stories, and nurtured them with Little League sports, library cards and music lessons. They were programmed for success by the time they were zygotes.
Yet many are oblivious of their own advantages, and of other people’s disadvantages. The result is a mean spiritedness in the political world or, at best, a lack of empathy toward those struggling — partly explaining the hostility to state expansion of Medicaid, to long-term unemployment benefits, or to raising the minimum wage to keep up with inflation.
Too often we think our successes come because we “deserve” them and our failures are not our fault. Then we make the opposite conclusion about those below us on the socioeconomic spectrum. All of us need to recognize that luck plays a big role in why we have things that others do not.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro
Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.
22 responses to The Role Of Luck
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R.J. Carter August 11th, 2014 at 10:04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EZQvSCGaJI
Hirightnow August 11th, 2014 at 10:30
Proof again that RWers see cruelty as humor.
(Boy, I sure would like to have had the work ethics of, say, GW Bush, or Mitt Romney…both succeeded COMPLETELY on their own merits.)
Dwendt44 August 11th, 2014 at 12:16
The ‘you didn’t build that’ concept is over the head of the right wing jut jobs.
jasperjava August 16th, 2014 at 02:10
More proof that conservatives suck at humor.
Remember the “Half-Hour News Hour”? That skit reminded me of that.
R.J. Carter August 11th, 2014 at 10:04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EZQvSCGaJI
Hirightnow August 11th, 2014 at 10:30
Proof again that RWers see cruelty as humor.
(Boy, I sure would like to have had the work ethics of, say, GW Bush, or Mitt Romney…both succeeded COMPLETELY on their own merits.)
Dwendt44 August 11th, 2014 at 12:16
The ‘you didn’t build that’ concept is over the head of the right wing jut jobs.
jasperjava August 16th, 2014 at 02:10
More proof that conservatives suck at humor.
Remember the “Half-Hour News Hour”? That skit reminded me of that.
mea_mark August 11th, 2014 at 11:47
Good luck causes people to lose self-awareness and live in a delusional reality. Good luck is sometimes as bad as bad luck. Seeking self-awareness and understanding helps to balance things out.
mea_mark August 11th, 2014 at 11:47
Good luck causes people to lose self-awareness and live in a delusional reality. Good luck is sometimes as bad as bad luck. Seeking self-awareness and understanding helps to balance things out.
Khary A August 11th, 2014 at 12:25
Malcolm Gladwell kind of already touched upon these factors in Outliers. He made it more concrete i feel as he stated it was also an issue of location and time of action along with mentoring.
Dwendt44 August 11th, 2014 at 12:33
Not to mention the having family connections and political allies that help you along the way.
Conservative have managed to ship millions of well paying jobs overseas; then turn around and wonder why the poor can’t improve their station in life.
Khary A August 11th, 2014 at 12:47
Well i feel that is covered under “mentoring” albeit in a broad spectrum. essentially the successful persons potential is tapped by someone who gives a crap with the wherewithal to make that spark of change in the persons life.
Budda August 11th, 2014 at 13:42
Great book.
The last of the Thousad Sons August 11th, 2014 at 12:25
Malcolm Gladwell kind of already touched upon these factors in Outliers. He made it more concrete i feel as he stated it was also an issue of location and time of action along with mentoring.
Dwendt44 August 11th, 2014 at 12:33
Not to mention the having family connections and political allies that help you along the way.
Conservative have managed to ship millions of well paying jobs overseas; then turn around and wonder why the poor can’t improve their station in life.
The last of the Thousad Sons August 11th, 2014 at 12:47
Well i feel that is covered under “mentoring” albeit in a broad spectrum. essentially the successful persons potential is tapped by someone who gives a crap with the wherewithal to make that spark of change in the persons life.
Budda August 11th, 2014 at 13:42
Great book.
Suzanne McFly August 11th, 2014 at 12:50
Kind of reminds me of the thought process of Elizabeth Warren, you did not build that highway, bridge, community, schools….most of us make contributions one way or another and we need to appreciate each other by validating them with a paycheck that will keep them out of poverty.
Suzanne McFly August 11th, 2014 at 12:50
Kind of reminds me of the thought process of Elizabeth Warren, you did not build that highway, bridge, community, schools….most of us make contributions one way or another and we need to appreciate each other by validating them with a paycheck that will keep them out of poverty.
Budda August 11th, 2014 at 13:41
I know I am lucky…to still be alive.
Budda August 11th, 2014 at 13:41
I know I am lucky…to still be alive.