You're absolutely 100% correct, but children of parents, or even grandparents, who are uber wealthy, can't accept anything other than the "My daddy was/is the smartest, most hard working person, therefore he, and by extension I, deserve more than everyone else" narrative. The logical next step in that line of thinking, which is obviously horrendously flawed as you've pointed out, is that the only reason Joe Blow Middle Class isn't as successful and as wealthy as me/my family is because he simply isn't as hardworking or intelligent. Basically, it's the ole "everyone deserves what they get" mentality that is an easy belief to adopt....assuming of course that the individual happens to find themselves in extremely comfortable surroundings. It's uncomfortable to confront ideas about inequity, dumb luck, birthright, and sometimes out and out shadiness.
Anyone with a brain will acknowledge that timing, opportunity, location, the benevolence of others, favorable laws, existing capital via inheritance or some other windfall not at all the result of some form of intellectual or work ethic superiority can and often are every bit as crucial and responsible for the success of a lot of people, particularly those at the far outer reaches of wealth.
But again, that doesn't fit the ideal. Very few people who have been incredibly fortunate, or even in some instances downright lucky, are willing to attribute their success to anything other than their wits, moxy, or some other intangible innate quality that sets them above in their own mind.
It's just too easy for successful people to dismiss points like yours and mine with fear-laden reactionary bs like, "OH SO WHAT?! I SHOULD BE SORRY FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL AND I SHOULD GIVE ALL MY MONEY AWAY TO THE LESS FORTUNATE?! THEY COULD DO IT TOO IF THEY REALLY WORKED FOR IT!"
And, like you said, the concept of what actually constitutes work is also worth exploring. Someone in this thread disparaged construction workers, which is absolutely hilarious and really just proves my point. The reality is that skilled tradesman are 100% fucking invaluable and indispensable and contribute more to the positives in modern living than many high powered, high-paying jobs.
Tradesman produce tangible, measurable, physical services and goods. Their output is quantifiable and often benefits the greater good to much a larger extent. And yet, some idiot in this thread literally used that profession as a diss. As in, pfft....what, construction workers, who are loser highschool dropouts by the way, should make a lot of money?! HA!.
There's the disconnect and it speaks to the entitlement that's rampant. "I'm white, upper class, my mom tells me I'm handsome and charming, I'm good at lax, my dad drives a benz, gosh darn it, I deserve success! I deserve a high profile, low sweat equity job that pays me 4-5 x more than the average income well because I got A's in school. But I'll look in the mirror in a Brooks Brother tie before I head off to my internship at the law firm I got because my dad plays golf with a senior partner and tell myself that all is right in the world because after all I earned all that I've got through my hard work!"
Obviously, I'm taking something of a devil's advocate position for the sake of argument, I don't resent other's success, but I do resent the entitled attitude and complete obliviousness that so many seem to have. If you're living well, and headed to a successful, comfortable life, that's excellent...but don't walk around smug thinking it's all the fruits of your work and work alone and that everyone you see who is struggling is just lazy and stupid. Be grateful, and be mindful.
