Third, the bootstraps narrative implies that everyone can pull a Ben Carson (Carson himself falls for this fallacy). Some research finds that upward mobility has tumbled in the United States over the last half-century and is now lower than in Europe. These can be challenges, but they can be addressed to some extent — but not by sermons about bootstraps. But now I realize it is more than hard work and family help. I was privileged to have two parents who valued education (though they never went to college), I am white, and there was no abuse.”

Source: New York Times February 20, 2020 00:22 UTC