This post reminds me of an interesting phenomenon I keep noticing in my friends-- those who are the least sympathetic to the poor (in the 'those poor darlings never had a chance' sense) are those which came from the most modest backgrounds and have achieved some measure of success.
The sympathy seems to be inversely proportional to the modesty of the background and the level of current financial success.
Similarly, it's those who had everything handed to them who are most sympathetic (at least, vocally so).
tjic said they were born with $0 net worth, which is generally true of all newborns, no?
Your assumption that they bootstrapped themselves up seems misplaced. I would very strongly guess that they had a comfortable middle-class existence. Only such a person thinks it's just a matter of work hard versus laziness.
The sympathy seems to be inversely proportional to the modesty of the background and the level of current financial success.
Similarly, it's those who had everything handed to them who are most sympathetic (at least, vocally so).