When destiny is an accident of birth

AS our little country feels the bony fingers of the IMF on our shoulder and the cold winds of financial oblivion against our grubby face, we are often lectured – throughout the media – by so-called ‘self-made men’.

These millionaire business people, known to us all, proclaim to have pulled themselves from nothing, leaning on no-one in the journey and boasting no early advantage. This, of course, is nonsense.

Every one of us has enjoyed a certain leg-up (education, interested parents, opportunity, privilege, whatever). None have arrived at this current destination in an empty carriage.