I live in a post-communist country. Things aren't exactly rosey here. So no I don't believe "anybody can be a rockstar or a president"... but you still got a lot choices. And I don't think I am "cruel" for saying that.

I acknowledge my advantages. Yeah, my family has some savings. I had free education (free in money only). But I am not a rich priviledged brat. I would not even call myself a first world brat.

I sometimes think do for fear for not saying "they haven't tried hard enough"... dismiss people who made their way. We call them luckier, as if it made us somehow better. Many of them are however not "luckier", but did really work harder.