Whose Opportunity?

Now I’ve been throwing the word ‘opportunity’ around a lot these days, and well I thought I would add a little bit more context to it. The statement “opportunities for all” isn’t exactly encouraging to here with the way the world is going right now; however, if we really take a minute to think about, we’ll see how it’s not the problem in our society, it’s the solution!

First off, as we struggle through a recession, day after day jobs are lost and opportunities harder to find. While many believe that during this most difficult time there are ‘too many people, and not enough jobs,’ in my opinion it’s that there’s ‘too few jobs in the hands of a few.’

What do I mean? Well think about it, day in and day out unknowingly we fuel the multi-national corporations and big businesses of the world. Sure these companies provide jobs, but you really think that a sweater costs $150 to make sure a student get’s their $10/hr? The truth is (at least the way I see it) that we are feeding the wallets of Big Bosses, CEOs, and Multi-Millionaires.

Here’s the real kicker though, when we feed their pockets, do we, the middle class, ever see it again? I’m pretty sure a CEO isn’t going to put a GM car on the top of their list… I’m guessing that Big Boss isn’t going to make “Mojo’s Pizza” – a new small business pizzeria that opened up on College st. this week – his first choice… and something tells me that the multi-millionaire isn’t going to drive their Benz down Kensington market to support the small businesses that exist there. Hmmm It’s ok though, because at least we know we’re getting a “quality” product from them. How many Ipods or cell phones have you been through in the past 5 years?

BUT it’s not fair when other middle class people or new immigrants get the jobs. After all, it’s not like they’re helping us keep our job… or are they? Aren’t they the ones who go through the same daily grind we do, buying services and products that have much more of a potential of putting the money back into the middle class market?

Now “opportunity for all” may spark judgement from some as ‘socialism.’ How can we live in a capitalistic society and provide opportunities for all? Well the real question should be, how can we not? How did that guy who got fired from apple, started from scratch, and ended up becoming a software tycoon do it… opportunity. How do two guys create one of the most popular search engines from out of nowhere… opportunity. You see opportunity merely means one thing… a chance. A chance for someone in Ghana to sell their leather made goods to a greater market, the chance for a farmer to purchase useful technology at a decent price to expand their business, the chance for anyone to become someone in this world. Although opportunities can be presented for all, it’s up each and every person to take advantage of that opportunity they’ve been given. When I go overseas I’m not there to feed every person because obviously I can’t, but what I can do is teach someone to fish; however, it’s up to them to keep fishing. Invest in chance… Invest in Opportunity!

“The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.”
                                                                                          ~ Barack Obama