“Lip Gallagher:
It’s like I said, the only way to make money if you are poor is to steal it or scam it. But, hey, let me know if the rules are changing…”
Shameless (episode 3.2, written by Nancy Pimental)
The Frustrated CFO’s commentary:
If you take this opinion of a 17 year-old genius with a 4.6 GPA and an IQ of 200 out of its literal white-trash, destitute, semi-criminal settings, you will find the undeniable metaphorical truth in it. Both Lip (too wise for his age, thanks to the middle-aged screenwriter) and I are aware of the American Dream reality as it stands right now. No matter how talented and hard-working a person is, he or she will not be able to achieve the recognition his abilities merit if he doesn’t have the “right” background and connections that can push complete retards through the doors closed to regular people. There is no such thing as a “self-made man” anymore. Most of the time those who say that about themselves mean that they had less money when they started then they have now. But no doubt there was a phone call, or a letter, or a conversation over drinks, or some old-farts reunion that gave him a start. Not even a degree from a fancy college can beat that. In the grand scheme of things, there is not much difference between Lip, Fiona, their father, a young talented doctor with a residency in some Bumblefuck, the first-in-the-family MBA, an artist or a writer with no connects, or me.
The Frustrated CFO 