‘It used to be that you could take the lowest job in the company and, through hard work, have the opportunity to advance. That’s largely not the case any more.’
America was never like that. There was never some golden age of great times that we need to get back to.
My grandfather went to work in the mines when he was 14. He owned his own mine by the time he was 40. He had a 3rd grade education. My dad owned 1/2 the co. by 1957 and the rest in ‘62. My family has produced several engineers, a lawyer(black sheep), school teachers, a cpa, several upper level executives in fortune 500 cos., and several multimillionaires, along with a colonel in the army. Big family, 13 children and adopted 2 others. All this from a hillbilly whose dad died when he was 8 and he along with his mother provided for his 6 siblings until they got old enough provide for themselves then he left to seek his fortune at age 14. When grandad died he had a pretty good chunk of change a farm and 2 small businesses he started after retirement. Don’t know where you are from but here it is still possible. Maybe you believe in one of the ism’s that don’t allow you to dream of what might be possible.
I’m not saying that there was a golden age, but there used to be a time when it was much easier. Many baby boomers, for example, are doing quite well despite having no more than a high school diploma.
Today, that high school diploma is hardly worth wiping your behind with it.