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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  1. Profile Photo Inactive
    @DanielPerez
    The King Prawn: The OWS protesters believe in the hard work; they just think they’ve already done it. · Nov 19 at 10:53pm

    Can´t agree more on this comment.

    • #1
  2. Profile Photo Inactive
    @JohnMarzan

    Will she represent the U.S. or the Philippines in the Olympics?

    • #2
  3. Profile Photo Inactive
    @knucklehead

    Be proud of your pride, too.

    • #3
  4. Profile Photo Inactive
    @LeslieWatkins

    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.

    • #4
  5. Profile Photo Inactive
    @LeslieWatkins

    Brava, Tim’s daughter!

    • #5
  6. Profile Photo Member
    @TimGroseclose
    John Marzan: Will she represent the U.S. or the Philippines in the Olympics? · Nov 20 at 2:29am

    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

    • #6
  7. Profile Photo Member
    @DeniseMoss

    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.

    IMG_NEW.jpg

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  8. Profile Photo Inactive
    @TheKingPrawn

    The OWS protesters believe in the hard work; they just think they’ve already done it.

    • #8
  9. Profile Photo Member
    @DeniseMoss
    Grendel

    Denise Moss: 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 will be there.

    First-World Problems, all around. · Nov 20 at 11:52am

    True. And don’t think I don’t pay gratitude for it every day.

    • #9
  10. Profile Photo Member
    @Grendel
    Denise Moss

    Grendel

    Denise Moss: 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 will be there.

    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.

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  11. Profile Photo Thatcher
    @Instugator
    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.

    • #11
  12. Profile Photo Inactive
    @JohnMarzan
    Tim Groseclose

    John Marzan: Will she represent the U.S. or the Philippines in the Olympics? · Nov 20 at 2:29am

    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.

    • #12
  13. Profile Photo Member
    @Grendel
    Tim Groseclose Further, when you earn lots of money, it means that you’ve provided lots of valuable products and services to people.

    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.

    • #13
  14. Profile Photo Member
    @Grendel
    Denise Moss: 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 will be there.

    First-World Problems, all around.

    • #14
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