Originally Posted by WT Sharpe
I think that's exactly what Melville was saying. He was criticizing the smug, "They only need to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps" attitude so prevalent among those who have never suffered poverty. Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps is fine, as long as you have bootstraps, or the ability, or boots. But there are many who truly need help. As you say, it's east to criticize when you haven't walked a mile in their shoes (or had a daddy to set you up in radio).
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