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The myth of pulling oneself up by the bootstraps to achieve anything is a core American value. This sense of optimism pervades the moguls in Silicon Valley and Wall Street to make obscene amounts of money, fuels scientists to look for the next paradigm-shattering breakthrough and encourage pioneers to go where no one has gone before. This myth has also contributed to the belief that those who are less fortunate can rise from the pits if they only choose to work hard as the rest of the country.