My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
My 10 year-old daughter, a competitive figure skater, recently learned to execute an axel, a move in which the skater jumps in the air, spins one and a half times, then lands on one foot, while skating backwards. By my estimate, only one in one thousand people can land an axel. Further, I think that’s a conservative estimate—more likely, it’s only one in ten thousand.
When my daughter reaches adulthood, I hope she will also be among the top 0.1% of income earners. As I will teach her, earning lots of money is difficult, and it’s an achievement to be proud of. Further, when you earn lots of money, it means that you’ve provided lots of valuable products and services to people. That also is something to be proud of.
At one level I can understand some of the goals of the Occupy Wall Street protests. Many genuinely want to raise the incomes of the poor.
However, I cannot understand the protestors who carry the “99%” signs, especially those who are parents. Such signs are a celebration of mediocrity. Is that what they want for their children—for them to aspire to be part of the 99%?
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Dec '10
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
The OWS protesters believe in the hard work; they just think they've already done it.
Nov '11
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Can´t agree more on this comment.
Oct '10
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Will she represent the U.S. or the Philippines in the Olympics?
Mar '11
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Be proud of your pride, too.
Sep '10
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
At one level I can understand some of the goals of the Occupy Wall Street protests. Many genuinely want to raise the incomes of the poor.
And therein lies the fallacy: that they can raise the incomes of the poor. It's a mechanical fantasy and one born of egoism, not love.
Sep '10
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Brava, Tim's daughter!
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
John, What a nice question. You just made my and my daughter's day! (And you caused us to have a conversation about what the phrase "dual citizen" means.)
Believe it or not, the Philippines actually has some outstanding skaters. The 2009 Philippine champion, Mericien Venzon, is a student at UCLA. Notwithstanding the talent of the skaters, however, that championship was held a shopping mall! Here's a video of Venzon skating in the mall at those championships: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l19JKgNceic
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Congrats to your daughter! Mine is a competitive skater, too, and it took her a year plus to land her axel consistently. It is definitely a huge accomplishment.
I'm glad you appreciate the OWS movement's concern for the poor, because if your daughter keeps going in this expensive sport, as mine did, we both well be there.
Apr '11
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Must be something in the æther. Just an hour ago I was thinking how Liberal Fascists' crisis generation relies on so much bad thinking, in this case blatant violation of the IS-OUGHT (or maybe that should be IS-OUGHTN'T) restriction and bad accounting.
Apr '11
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
First-World Problems, all around.
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Grendel
First-World Problems, all around. · Nov 20 at 11:52am
True. And don't think I don't pay gratitude for it every day.
Apr '11
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Denise Moss
Grendel
First-World Problems, all around. · Nov 20 at 11:52am
True. And don't think I don't pay gratitude for it every day. · Nov 20 at 12:03pm
Not on Rocochet. Never on Rocochet.
Aug '10
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Leslie Watkins: At one level I can understand some of the goals of the Occupy Wall Street protests. Many genuinely want to raise the incomes of the poor.
And therein lies the fallacy: that they can raise the incomes of the poor. It's a mechanical fantasy and one born of egoism, not love. · Nov 20 at 7:46am
Exactly, in any society there will always be people who are in the lower sixth of incomes - it is simply math.
The question really is, "are they hungry?" and in the US the answer is no.
Oct '10
Re: My Daughter, A Member of the 0.1%
Tim Groseclose
John, What a nice question. You just made my and my daughter's day! (And you caused us to have a conversation about what the phrase "dual citizen" means.)
The hottest football team in RP is the Azkals--mostly made up of Filipinos players who grew up in Europe.