growing up privileged enough to be anti capitalist

Striving for Greatness: A Journey Rooted in Privilege, Survival, and Social Inequality

Growing up with privilege, it's easy to take for granted the opportunities and resources that come my way. But with that privilege comes a responsibility, one that makes it crucial to examine the very system that affords me my comfort. As I look around at the world, I’m becoming more aware of the contradictions and inequalities built into the systems of wealth and power that we all navigate. And this is where the concept of “striving for greatness” gets complicated.

Striving for greatness, success, or even financial stability often emerges from a place of necessity, a drive to survive. It can come from the experience of not having enough, from the fear of scarcity, and from the desire to create a better life for oneself and others. It's in those moments of struggle and deprivation that many people find the resilience and determination to push forward, even when it seems like the odds are stacked against them. And yet, there’s a difference between wanting success because it's a way of surviving and wanting it because it’s what we’ve been taught to chase.

For those of us lucky enough to be born into privilege, the idea of striving for greatness can be very different. We may not face the same existential struggle or systemic barriers that others do. And yet, I’ve found that acknowledging this privilege can sometimes lead to a strange paradox: being anti-capitalist while benefiting from a capitalist system. It’s a position that many of us who grew up with privilege might find ourselves in: criticizing the system that allowed us to thrive, while also understanding that our survival was never truly at stake.

But it’s also important to recognize that not everyone in the pursuit of success or greatness is doing so from a place of comfort. In fact, many people, especially those from marginalized communities, pursue success from a place of survival. For them, striving for greatness isn’t about the luxury of choice; it’s about getting by, making a living, and finding security in a system that often leaves them behind. That drive for success, born of necessity, often pushes people further than they ever expected, with few safety nets.

However, this doesn't mean that all efforts to become successful are born from hardship. Some are, but others are fueled by ambition, ego, or desire to “make it” in a world where wealth and status are too often seen as the ultimate measures of value. The discrepancy between how people from different backgrounds strive for greatness reveals a lot about the inequities built into our society.

Wealth Redistribution and The Role of Social Welfare

One thing is clear: no matter how you look at it, wealth redistribution is essential. The disproportionate concentration of wealth in the hands of the few continues to widen the gap between the rich and the poor, and no amount of personal ambition will ever fix that. Billionaires, regardless of how “ethical” they claim to be, will always be profiting from a system that exploits others in order to build their wealth. Capitalism, as it stands, is inherently flawed because it elevates personal gain over collective well-being. So, while individuals may aspire to greatness, the very structure of the system ensures that only a few can achieve it.

Social welfare is crucial in addressing this inequality. Welfare systems should prioritize those in need, those without the luxury of financial stability or the opportunity to climb the ladder of success. It’s a sad reality that many people are born into circumstances that make success a distant dream, yet the current system rarely provides the safety net they deserve. To dismantle the inequality in wealth, we need social policies that are compassionate and supportive, rather than punitive or dismissive.

The UK's Disincentive and The US’s Capitalist Extremes

In the UK, we see one form of an issue with the current system, particularly in how income above £100,000 is taxed. While the intention behind the policy may be to ensure wealth is fairly taxed, the effect is that it can disincentivize individuals from striving for higher earnings. For many, the sheer amount taken from income over this threshold makes it feel as though there’s little point in pushing for more financial success. It’s a system that, in a way, discourages ambition and makes complacency more appealing.

The danger here is that when everyone is stuck in this cycle of just scraping by, it becomes easy to settle for mediocrity. We stop aiming for greatness because the rewards just don’t seem worth the effort. It stifles the very innovation and drive that could help push society forward. Without the incentive to earn more, we risk falling into a cycle of resignation, never fully realizing our potential, not just as individuals but as a society.

On the flip side, the US takes the opposite approach. The capitalist mentality there is extreme, everything, from healthcare to education to basic human rights, is seen through a lens of profit. In a country where everything has a price tag, there’s very little room for the collective good. Access to basic needs becomes a privilege, and the pursuit of profit trumps any real efforts at equity or sustainability. Healthcare is a business, education is a market, and even the environment becomes something to commodify.

In the US, striving for greatness isn’t just about success—it’s about profit. And if you're not making money, you're not valued. The system leaves little room for those who don't have the resources to play the game, forcing people into survival mode where the only goal is to make ends meet, regardless of how. It’s a culture where ambition and success are often reduced to a monetary equation, with little regard for ethics, fairness, or the well-being of others.

A Call for Balance

Both systems have their flaws, and neither is ideal. But what’s clear is that both the UK and the US need fundamental shifts in how we view success, wealth, and the role of government in fostering equity. Social welfare must be a priority, and policies should be designed to support those who are struggling, rather than punishing them for their circumstances.

As for me, I’m continuing to reflect on my privilege and how I can use it to challenge the status quo. Wealth may never be equally distributed, but the fight for a more just world requires all of us to examine the systems we benefit from and advocate for those who don’t have the same opportunities. It’s about more than just striving for greatness—it’s about working to create a system where greatness can be achieved by all, regardless of background or circumstance.