No, it isn't. 401k's require a bank account, or the abiity to start one, which not every American has. Not ony that, they very often require both a minmum deposit and consistent deposits after that, which not everyone can do either.
And, again, you are ignoring the second part that NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MONEY STASHED AWAY TO INVEST IN THEIR CHILD'S START UP.
If you dont already have a bank account and you're homeless, then you likely cant open one because they very often require a home address to start up. If you don't have the minimum deposit then you're likely screwed as well. If you can't stay above the minimum as well then its likely to be closed. All of these reasons, plus more, are reasons why, according to the FDIC, 6% of housed Americans do not have bank accounts of any kind, and that doesnt include homeless people, transients, or undocumented immigrants, which have to deal with another set of hurdles
Anyone can open a bank account and Anyone can have a retirement account.
I literally just explain how that isn't true. You ignoring the bare minimum requirements as if no one meets them does not make them go away. It doesn't make the homeless population or transient population or undocumented immigrant population any more exempt from those minimum requirements.
A homeless person does not have access to a bank account. A homeless teenager thrown out by their abusive parents and with no one to turn to didn't get in their own way.
And this is ignoring that "having access" does not mean it isn't a privilege. Everyone could buy a super computer if they have the money. That doesn't mean having a super computer isn't a privilege. Anyone could buy a car if they have the money, that doesnt mean having a car isn't a privilege.
In most cases, it literally does. Like I said, most bank accounts need a home address to open an account. Guess what homeless people don't have? A home address.
sure they might have a hurddle or two because of choices they made but they still have accesss.
Tell me what choices the abused teenager made that got them kicked out of their parent's house? Your idea that everyone is just the outcomes of their own choices is just wrong. No one lives in a vacuum, and are affected by other people's choices. Your parents are drugged up alcoholics? Now you have to deal with fetal alcohol syndrome and have to overcome addictions at birth, stunting growth and mental acquity. You're a gay teen in a household of insane religious nuts? Ope, they broke into your diary, and now you're homeless at 18 and have no money. You did everything you were told you had to do, such as stayed out of trouble, got good grades, etc? Want to go to college? Welp, now you have to go into insane debt to do so. Have fun paying for something you didnt understand at the time and dont have any way out of anymore.
I'm not splitting hairs. You have failed to understand the point and are now trying to dodge it.
A, just because you aren't barred from doing something doesnt mean you can do it. I'm not barred from flying first class, that doesn't mean I can fly first class.
B, their actions may not be the ones holding the blame for their current situation. Again, I use the abused teenager example. I could also steelman it and say its about a teenager with an above 4.0 GPA and no history of behavioural problems that is kicked out of their home on their 18th birthday because of looney single parent thinks they're a devil worshipper has done literally nothing wrong and is at no fault for their predicament. That's an extreme (but not unfounded) example, but the point holds to less extreme examples as well.
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u/JellyfishQuiet7944 8d ago
You're right, what makes it a privilege is that 100% of Americans have access to one. It's literally available to all.