A Merit Based Society.

When my friend went back to her home country to visit friends and family she felt awkward about telling or showing them the extent of her massing of wealth or assets over the past 5 years by working and living here. My friend described her feeling how some people pretended to praise her for the hard work and good fortunes, but seemed somehow disingenuous. She sensed various levels of dishonesty, patronizing, sarcasm, and jealousy. She concluded how she felt that she could never go back to live in her home land now that she has adapted to the drastically different life style here in north America. This is where I jumped in to point out how hard she had to work to achieve all the rewards she has and how delicate of a balance it is to maintain our above average lifestyle. I reminded her that the people in her home land could not imagine what it was like to adapt to this country or how self reliant and independent we north Americans tend to be in comparison. Those who live beyond their means will quickly find them selves wanting or falling behind. Foreigners might think this is a land where the money grows on the trees, where they feel a sense of entitlement to be supported by a socialistic government. I reminded her how north American style capitalism will only reward you based on effort, perseverance, risk and personal merit of your actions. Generally you get what you earn and you earn what you are worth. The north American celebrity phenomena is the least realistic frame of reference and simply does not represent the people of our nations. Basically, you can make your our own destiny and you have no one but your self to blame for not realizing your goals.