Paul,
I think you're over-simplifying the question as to why your minimum wage couple don't trade.
Why don't they trade? Little if any, spare cash; lack of security/uncertainty - their minmum wage at least ensures survival; long learning curve (realistically I reckon on 1-2 years) - how is this to financed, ie what pays the bills in the interim? However, these questions also apply to those of a middle-class background.
decent gene pool, some education to "open" the mind, lack of desperation, inability to be able to select time for study, alcoholism and drugs, not being in the "right" place at the right time and a multitude of other reasons, both real and imagined, prevent most of the "lower" classes (implied is lack of education, lack of intelligence, lack of motivation, depression, poverty and inadaquate nutrition and yes, a load of other things also !)from working their way up, although once their children grab some education, the upward mobility tends to begin !
I think it's sad that this, or any other, country cannot tap into unrealised potential be they those on a minmum wage, unemployed, prison population (ever noticed how US con's seem particularly intelligent and articulate?). I remeber hearing an account of steel worker from many years ago who left school at 14 years old, no qualifications who taught himself Sanskrit and was eventually translating into English. And became and recognised expert.
many are examples counter to what we might believe of the "lower classes" or other races and more often than not, we get slapped in the gace with the truth --- i personally think that theres an awful lot of "baggage" carried by those in those socio/economic groups and some can overcome the weight and most cant, but on down the road, as said, their children improve.
I personally failed high school, getting my diploma a year later --- tried college and failed miserably. went thru a number of auto repair jobs, was married BUT HAD NO CHILDREN, and at the age of 30, i tried college again, which proved to be a very great experience that offered me inroads into the motion picture business where, being older than most college grads, i appeared to have more experience than i really did, was hired and did good work, and became known for my photography of woman ! after MANY years of that, a second marriage WITH children, the house, two cars and all the etceteras, i rfetired young and decided to start trading, which over a period of many years developed into a rather decent income, surpassing even the unusually high income of people in the film business !
my mother was a waitress and my father was a building superintendent !
However, I don't accept the current thinking that everyone has potential or talent, contrary to the mis-placed practise of lowering standards to enable more to go to university, for example. The solution is a better education system from the start.
unfortunately, not all of us are gifted and some are not even average --- society goes thru changes and while I must state that i consider the communist system of education horrid in one way, it DID product the greatest artists and athletes not to forget chess players and spies that the world has ever seen ----- I hate the lack of freedom, but if one wants to produce an excellent "product", they sure know how to do it !
Sad, but there you go.
Grant.
