Most societies will tolerate the idea of well-rewarded winners, as long as there is equality of opportunity and the losers also clearly gain something from the system.
This striking spirit of enlightenment has been expressed by the justification of human desires, individual emancipation, and of the challenge against the authoritarian doctrines.
These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens.
Turner claimed that the frontier produced the individualism that is the hallmark of American culture, and that this individualism in turn promoted democratic institutions and economic equality.
"You have to grumble in life, otherwise you get trampled on," was the main reason given by almost one in six people in the land of liberty and equality.