a) they did something to deserve it (which is often not the case), and

b) that they are superior to those who don't have wealth by the mere fact of having wealth, when more often than not their moral character is seriously mangled, distorted, or completely nonexistent.

I get a kick out of all the wealthy pious folk sitting holier than thou in church blithely ignoring:

Except for Whites, the 1999 poverty rates for the nation's major racial and ethnic groups set or equaled historic lows. The rate for African Americans, 23.6 percent, was the lowest ever measured by the Census Bureau, and about 700,000 fewer African Americans were poor in 1999 (8.4 million) than in 1998 (9.1 million).

This is a case where real world results trump the unattractive nature or an impure process.

First, after many years of feeling kind of lukewarm about her, last year's primary changed my mind, and I saw just how valuable this woman is.

Second, she continues to be, for me, one of the smartest people in the public eye, but beyond being smart, she is able, like her husband, to express what she knows in ways ordinary people can relate to - in ways that show people they can make a difference.

There's a part of me that just wants to weep when I listen to her and think about what she could have brought to the presidency, to health care, to human and civil rights; it's actually painful to think about.  That being said, I'm glad she has a position from which to give speeches like this, and I know she will continue to make a difference in people's lives.

Destroy Medicare? He stood up to Gingrich when he shut down the government in order to save Medicare.

Tonight I propose that we reserve 100 percent of the surplus, that is every penny of any surplus, until we have taken all the necessary measures to strengthen the Social Security system for the 21st century. Let us say, let us say to all Americans watching tonight, whether you are 70 or 50 or whether you just started paying into the system, Social Security will be there when you need it.

Let us make this commitment: Social Security first. Let's do that together."

The Clintons never cared about them, and if you aren't a future Prime Minister, Secretary of State, or Senator, you aren't even a blip on their radar.

It is a recurring theme in my writing -- the world is not fair and those of us lucky enough to have had opportunities in our life should understand how much the luck of the draw has put us in a position to achieve whatever successes we have in our lives.

Everyone should understand how much the luck of the draw has put them in a position to achieve whatever successes they have in their lives.

iow, just like there's always someone [many someones] richer, better looking, better married, better opportunitied, etc., than YOU, there is also someone [many someones] less wealthy, less good-looking, worse married, worse oportunitied, etc., than YOU.

Therefore, instead of spending your life bitter about everyone else's opportunities & successes and demanding that they give YOU your undeniably and in-arguably well-deserved props, try spending it doing exactly what BTD suggests - ie., understanding how lucky YOU have been. That many people are much worse off than you. Look to give THEM a hand up, and not spend your days expecting others to give you the dues you feel they they owe you.

The former sounds more selfish to me, the latter more selfless.

I will be very vigilant about that in the future and suspend myself from commenting today for my lapse.