Some conservatives claim that the main ingredients for individual economic success are genetic

[Boojatta]

Let's assume for the sake of argument that their claim is correct. Some women who have difficulty earning enough money to support themselves living alone will accept offers of marriage and produce offspring. However, half of the genes of the offspring will be those of the mother. Thus, we have a mechanism for the perpetuation of poverty.

Even if there were no divorce, the above problem, assuming that it actually exists, would continue to exist. The problem isn't a failure to keep marriage vows. The problem is the original economic incentive for a woman to enter into living arrangements that increase the chance that she will have biological children.

When governments don't provide enough relief for the economic distress of single mothers, are governments being prudent economic managers, or are governments providing those mothers with an economic incentive to enter into new relationships, produce additional offspring, and ultimately increase the population of poor people?

[AnnieBW]

1. Of course it's correct!

If you have the right genes, like George W. Bush, you'll be successful. Makes perfect sense. :D

[Ernesto]

10. Or John McCain nt

[Demeter]

2. The Social Darwinists At Work

The only "socially acceptable" form of Natural Selection for the anti-intellectuals. "I'm rich and powerful because I am innately deserving, thanks to my superior genes". The stuff of Naziism, anti-semitism, the KKK, and all other forms of racism.

It's a direct descendant of Calvinism: The Calvinistic doctrine of predestination is a doctrine of Calvinism which deals with the question of the control God exercises over the world. In the words of the Westminster Confession of Faith, God "freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass."<1> The second use of the word "predestination" applies this to the salvation, and refers to the belief that God appointed the eternal destiny of some to salvation by grace, while leaving the remainder to receive eternal damnation for all their sins, even their original sin. The former is called "unconditional election", and the latter "reprobation". In Calvinism, men must be predestined and effectually called (regenerated/born again) unto faith by God before they will even wish to believe or wish to be justified...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination_%28Calvinism%29

As such it is not only unscientific, immoral, anti-human and anti-social, it is also anti-intellectual and anti-democratic. It is, in a word, balderdash.

[provis99]

11. thats one way to look at it.

At least they're not arguing that they're richer because they work so much harder than the poor folk (as David Brooks seems to believe). I have an alternative theory: people are rich because they are born to rich parents, whose ancestors got rich because they were criminals. We live in a kleptocracy, not a meritocracy or some social darwinist paradise.

[Demeter]

12. Well yes, I wasn't going to Mention That Embarrassment

but generally, great wealth is dirty stolen money.

[DJ13]

3. I think their stupidity is born of the elitist eugenics movement from early 20th century

Its the same crap as the 'some people are inferior and theres no reason they should exist' sentiment that reached its zenith in Nazi Germany.

Only difference now is that they are using that sentiment to excuse making many people into a permanent class of serfs they can abuse in their pursuit of increasing wealth.

(And many of those dullards in the tea party movement cant grasp they are the serfs the right is talking about.)

[Gman2]

8. Damn straight. And I intend to take out 100s, before I'll allow another

holocaust, even a soft one. They will see us dead, if we do not get dangerous.

[Fresh_Start]

4. they are absolutely correct,

being "born to money" pretty much assures an individuals economic success

[MattBaggins]

5. Jesus Harold Christ... Didn't we bury Malthus over a century ago?

[unpossibles]

6. morans. Yes, the accident of birth makes a big difference in being rich

but it has nothing to do with genetics.

Besides, you'd think that they would not like this argument since it shows that their success is NOT due to their own bootstrap tugging....

[Gman2]

7. Surprise, the beast they want to starve, is all of us. Us parasites.

And I am ready to go to war. I have heart failure, and am unable to provide for myself. I was industrially poisined. Do they provide any care? Not a fucking dime. And Teafuckwads, and Rupukes, talk about we just dont have the money to take care of vampires anymore. Unlike a single mother, I will destroy anyone that has the guts to say it to my face. The entire system is rigged to make us all too harried to protest for a better life. And they enshrine capitalism in Godshit. Making it too sacred for any but our high priests to touch. Witness how they want to stone Obama for touching it.

[devilgrrl]

9. Those main ingredients have a name - Sociopathology

eom

[rustydog]

13. Paris Hilton...Case closed. No talent except for sex tape but

will inherit untold wealth...I guess the genetic claim is true.

[madchick44]

14. Yes. Some genes make folks lie,cheat,steal more thn others. nt

[applegrove]

15. The main assumption behind all economic models is that

'given perfvect information, people will behave.....'. Well to give people perfect information they need to be healthy and educated which come from all the "socialist" programs liberals want.

[Boojatta]

16. Kick

[Boojatta]

17. Kick