Are America's Winners/Losers Pre-Determined?

One of the strengths of capitalism, supposedly, is that anyone can win. This assertion comes from various channels: influencers, teachers and even fictional characters have a hard on for the free market. And while I can appreciate capitalism in theory, the outcomes are too fixed to admire.  In other words, regardless of one’s hard work, mindset, etc, America’s winners and losers are pre-determined.

Of course, race/ethnicity will factor heavily into an American’s success.  Even today I heard an NPR story about a black homeowner suing Rocket Mortgage for appraising their property at a lower price due to their race. Though incidents like this happen rarely, it speaks to how an American’s pre-determined attributes (eg, their blackness) can’t be overcome by respectability politics. Further, I’ve never heard of someone’s whiteness negatively affecting their quality of life.

Additionally, one’s family and upbringing will factor into their success in a capitalist economy. Though, it’s kind of redundant as it correlates heavily with race/ethnicity. Fatherless households, like the one I was raised in, are more prevalent in black communities for example. And as it relates to my main point, the capitalist race will have checkpoints where, again, something a person can’t control determines their ability to ascend. One example would be getting into a good college. Though not impossible, it will be a feat if one doesn’t come from a two parent household.

Sex/gender also determine one’s ascension in Western capitalism. Further, compared to their female counterparts in America, men are inherently losers. Truly, we’re more likely to go to prison, die by homicide. Etc. And it’s not just the morbid stuff. Economically speaking, Western men are overrepresented in dirty, low-paying jobs while women are overrepresented in professional, high paying jobs. Thus, here again a genetic attribute has major implications on one’s aptitude.

All things considered, when you win at a game you’ll have a positive bias towards it. So, the assertion that America is the land of opportunity isn’t false, it’s just conditionally true. Indeed, one’s ascension in Western capitalism is set, almost before birth. With that said thanks for reading and stay pissed.