LETTER: Sowell missed a few points

I read the recent [four]-part article by Thomas Sowell with some interest. It made some interesting statements about social and economic disparities among people. I especially appreciated out how he pointed out that a degree in higher education does not necessarily equate to the ability to earn large amounts of money. I personally know a man with a PhD in Chemistry from a top university who makes his living selling computers. Why? Because there simply not that many well paying jobs that use a doctorial degree in chemistry.

But he did not spend much time upon a few points that I feel need to stressed. Disparity has always existed among mankind. We have always had people who were driven to be the greatest innovators and businessmen in their generation.

We’ve also had people who were content to just be secure in their day-to-day jobs. Wealth and success was not what they desired. Instead they just want to do what is necessary and then enjoy the rest of their lives.

But we have also had people who resented others’ success. Not because opportunities were denied them, but because success was not thrust upon them in spite of their lack of drive to obtain it. It is the activities of this group that I find disturbing.

I have family members that are part of this group. While talking to one of them recently, she complained about needing to go back to college but not being able to afford it. But as the conversation went on it became apparent that she had been back to college on two different occasions. She just was not willing to do the actual work necessary to pass the classes.

Now she sits in her dead end job with no marketable skills. She resents her lower income status and the lack of success she has in her life. But instead of addressing the issues, her lack of marketable skills, she simply complains.

I see this as a major problem with many today’s youth. We have failed to educate them the importance of marketable skills. That higher education does not guarantee you a high paying job. A master’s in art history is great. But it’s a degree that just does not pay very well. You can make more money as a welder that never finished high school. With or without a higher ed, what you ultimately need is a marketable skill.

Acquiring, a marketable skill is your responsibility, not the governments. The government can’t force you to learn a skill; it’s your responsibility as an adult to do this. And if you don’t do this, then don’t expect us to give you an easy life. And don’t expect me to support you when you camp out in some park calling the rest of us “the 1 percent.”

Now we face what can easily be a decisive time in our history. We have a rich president who was elected by creating an ever-widening divide in our society. This is something he excels at. After all, it has been the way he has chosen to make his living for his entire adult life. He is running for reelection by promising to take more away from those who have earned it and give it to those who have not. He wants to punish the greatest innovators and businessmen in our society in an effort to garner the votes of the people who resent their success. These are actions that have never succeeded in improving any society in all the history of mankind.
And we have to ask ourselves is this even possible? Is it the society we want for our children and grandchildren? Or do we want a society where they can succeed and enjoy the rewards of their hard earned success, without being punished for it?

The society envisioned by our president is not the society that made America great, and it’s not the society that I want.

But you have to decide for yourself.

Sowell: Discussing an ignored 'disparity': Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV