"You didn't build that" - Obama

[richardhutnik]

HappySqurriel said:

richardhutnik said:

 

So, you believe an individual who makes it and is successful didn't get any help?  They did it totally on their own?  He says individual initiative and what people do together are why people succeed.  You disagree with this?  You believe a person's success is completely and totally by what they do themselves?  So, if you were to drop your must successful person you know, financially, etc... in the middle of Somolia, the Artic, or the ocean, they would suddenly find themselves a success?

 

 

To that extreme, no ...

I have known a few people who made poor business or investing decisions who were financially ruined that then pulled themselves out of poverty within a couple years; and were well off within a decade.

And the debate here has to do with what role society has to play with it, and the role of government, and its functions, which do that.  I think the Craig Nelson quote in regards to government fits into this.  I do believe I understand where that comes from at this point.  Government does nothing to get people to succeed.  It, however, it can help to keep things together and keep people alive, and prevent things from falling apart.  The degree to which it does this the subject to debate.  What I see in the Obama quote here is the degree someone is self-made.