Tuesday, April 01, 2003

Unbounded optimism 

The Wall Street Journal has an editorial today (sorry, link only good for subscribers) that discusses a Gallup poll showing how many Americans think they'll be rich some day. From the editorial:
The recent survey of 1,000 adults found that only 2% of Americans consider themselves rich today, but a whopping 31% expect to become rich someday. Understandably, young people are most optimistic, with 51% of those age 18 to 29 anticipating the life of a sort-of Rockefeller. But the hopefulness extends across all age groups, with even 22% of those between ages 50 and 64 figuring they'll hit the jackpot someday, though only 4% of them are rich today.

Even more revealing is the fact that many low-income people expect a fat future payday. The Gallup survey found that more than one in every five persons earning less than $30,000 a year has that belief, with the share climbing to 38% for those earning between $50,000 and $74,000, and all the way to 51% for those who make more than $75,000.

Perhaps this is why our student body has trouble accepting the teachings of the class-and-diversity mongerers in our midst. Half of our primary market population thinks they'll be the ones attacked for their success some day.

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