Part Two: Soccer Dreams

Last week’s post discussed how our cognitive systems perpetuate an unintended yet pervasive type of modern slavery. Today, soccer (or any team sport) will illuminate how our current system creates unintended consequences that erode our American Dream.

Capitalism, like sports, is founded upon competition. The competition itself is grounded in meritocracy, the idea that the system is based on our abilities. This is one reason why capitalism is so popular because it insinuates that the ability to progress socio-economically is within our grasps and this is mostly true. However, this system also comes with the understanding that some level of inequality will manifest itself through the winners and losers of the competition. Nevertheless, we accept and persevere in this system because just as in a soccer team, we understand that we have different abilities with some players being taller, some faster, some stronger, and so forth. While our ability to progress can certainly be aided by these circumstances, we ultimately believe that hard work will be the key determinant of our results. This is true both on the soccer pitch as it is in the workforce.

The problem arises in the soccer tournament. Ascending the socio-economic ladder is akin to participating in a soccer tournament that every American has the right to participate in. However, our tournament has become a pay-to-play model. The same can be said about actual soccer in America but that topic is for a different discussion! The entry fee that exists is antithetical to the American Dream because this fee creates inequality that is not based on merit. The entry fee manifests itself in a variety of forms such a the exorbitant rent in many cities and college tuition increases that grossly outpace inflation. While these two examples may seem obvious, there is a specific reason for selecting them. College tuition’s high price tag is certainly an issue that creates inequality in opportunity but it is somewhat nullified by the solution of student loans, albeit a problematic solution in itself.

Now consider rent, which generally speaking, has grown much faster in the past two decades when compared to wage growth, which in some cases has not grown at all. While questionable institutions such as payday loans exist to provide relief, they are in no way comparable to the way student loans cover the high costs of college tuition. These are short term fixes and are therefore not designed to be enough for the rapidly rising costs of living that often cannot be covered by the low-wages that many companies continue to pay their entry-level employees. Therefore, companies end up unintentionally discriminating against those who cannot afford their opportunities. It doesn’t matter if a company is an Equal Opportunity Employer because the opportunities themselves are inherently discriminatory. Continuing to pay low-wages is no longer a part of figuratively paying your dues to climb up the corporate ladder. Rather, it is becoming a form of discrimination that ignores the financial reality for many Americans, especially that of minorities who are often the ones that find themselves in those difficult circumstances. The reality in America is that wealth is still concentrated among the few, which inevitably, under our current system, means that the opportunity to advance becomes concentrated among the few. That is the entry fee that has become unintentionally propped up against each player in the tournament. An entry fee that disproportionately affects minorities and the less fortunate.

While this outlook may seem bleak at first, it is actually a great reminder to ourselves that despite the fact that we participate in a skewed system, we must continue to believe that one day we will become the winners of the tournament. And when that day comes, will you rest on your laurels and perpetuate the system that you were fortunate enough to succeed in? Or will you acknowledge the likelihood of luck and privilege that helped you succeed? Will you use your position of privilege to improve the system? It’s up to you.

Soccer is best played when the whole team is involved. Remember that when you have the ball (privilege) to pass it (opportunity) around equally.