> I was born behind the iron curtain and emigrated on my own to western Europe.

This actually demonstrates that you are a pretty special individual... and that (by definition) not very many people are like you.

So I think it kind of demonstrates that your premise in this discussion is not really valid.

Being from a different (or unique) background doesn't delegitimize the logic of someone's premise. Or is that not what you're saying?

Guess I could have stated that better. I'm saying that people who emigrate obviously are tenacious and by necessity have worked harder than most to achieve their goals. They are in that sense a-typical and (thus) by definition not everybody is like them. (The sense I got from some of OPs posts was basically "I avoided committing any crimes, therefore others should easily be able to by sheer force of will". I was questioning the premise.)

Thanks for clarifying!