Couldn't agree more. My parents immigrated to Canada from Europe in the 1950s. My dad was nearly penniless when he arrived and ended up doing extremely well - as did nearly all his friends and family who came over at the same time. Success in those days was the rule and not the exception - sure these people worked hard and I'm not taking anything away from their courage and persistence, BUT wealth was much more evenly distributed in the 50s and 60s,  the economy was clipping along at 5% growth a year, stable jobs were plentiful, a house cost four years wages, university tuition was much lower, PLUS there was also a generous social safety net in place. Times have certainly changed.