Hi, Buz;
I agree with you that to succeed you need to work at succeeding..which, to me includes education, mentoring...among other things.
I believe in a hand up for those who can. Some can't because they simply Do Not Know How.
Not knowing will keep people from even trying, better they think, to stay with what you know ( or don't know ) than to try.
That is why, we must try to equip people with access to the knowledge, places to learn. Not only a trade ( as much as I don't want to, I guess we could include 'Lawyer' as a trade ) skills that are needed by employers and wanted by the persons.
We all don't get to be astronauts, one of my biggest disappointments in life, but there are a lot of good trades out there that are creative, need brains and to each their own on what they find enjoyable.
I just want the next generation to be better than the ones that went before it, to have more opportunities and choices in their lives.
I am A conservative..by nature. I want for mankind what I want for my child, a better future and life than what I had.
There are people out there that do need hand outs.
Some are old and no longer able to work, some never could. Its all the people that can that we want to reach, not with a club, beating them to the mills and factories...but with the idea they can be more independent and less dependent on any government.
To work and earn your own way is better for them, not just everyone else...its a win-win.
A person's spirit, their sense of self worth increases when they earn their own way in life. Their children learn from birth by watching the parents...what are we teaching them?
To teach, to inspire others by sharing what we've learned and by what we do.