locally grown

[kandrathe]

I was not mentioning the American dream as something negative. However, also there there are many examples of good people that work their bottoms off and don't make it.

I know. I was clarifying. But, what I was really commenting on was the whole idea of "making it" in the first place. When that person asks you in the eighth grade, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I think now nearer to the end of my life we would be better off teaching our children such that their answer would be more on the order of adjectives like; content, fulfilled, wise, successful. I just asked my sons that question; the younger one said, "A jungle explorer looking for lost species", and my older one said, "A special forces soldier and hero to go to other countries and help people fight against terrorists". Rane also has a fascination with VTOL jets. So, at this age, their idea of a life mission is not to get a job which allows them to get rich, and contribute to the worlds wretched excess.

Somebody in south central who has a good brain will be better off trying to get into university and study instead of becoming a professional athlete. (mind you, the first will be difficult enough)

Right, but that is because the smart person paves their career, but has options if one particular path is blocked. Counting on becoming a rock star, or major league baseball player is pretty much the same as winning the mega lottery. Then, knowing how to navigate that career without ending up impoverished, and with a broken down body is quite another.