lmp4 Jan 2006

you use a lot of words to convey your premise, but if it is - as i suspect - a rant, that is forgivable.

i also think that one point hidden in there is that a certain amount of wealth (somewhere between wealth and poverty, shall we say middle class?) allows for leisure time. it can be said that those with intelligence tend to spend their leisure time in some sort of artistic or inventive pursuit, thereby bearing the fruits of intelligence. the one who must constantly struggle (work several jobs to make ends meet, forage for food and shelter) will have very little spare time to bend their mind to "leisurely" pusuits.

i agree that wealth does not beget intelligence. however, being of humble means myself, i do recognize that wealth does open many, many doors of opportunity to those who can pay for it. alternatively, as one who is neither minority nor immigrant nor poor nor female, i do see that in my country many who come here are offered more opportunity with fewer "strings attached" than i would ever be offered. does that mean they are more or less intelligent than i? more or less fortunate than i? or just more qualified to receive assistance than i because of many convoluted and - in my eyes - unjust principles that define our government.

but to get back to your essay (?), i think it could benefit from more clearly constructed ideas and more succinct phrasing. in general, i do lean toward your side of the debate.