Is a hard life inherited, not just by genes but also through the context (family, environment, socioeconomic status, culture, historical period, social policies, etc.) into which someone is born?

Written Assignment #1 Nicholas Kristof, an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, wrote an interesting piece entitled, Is a Hard Life Inherited? (NY Times, Sunday Review, Aug. 9, 2014) In it, he writes of a man who survives on disability assistance because his hand was mashed in an accident. He also has heart problems and kidney cancer. Kristof goes on to say that Millions of poorly educated working-class men like him are today facing educational failure, difficulty finding good jobs, self-medication with meth or heroin, prison records that make employment more difficult, hurdles forming stable families, and, finally, early death. Kristoff argues that when the limitation to escaping poverty is one variablelow incomeescaping poverty is easier than when other social pathologies are also influencing the task; e.g., drug addicted or indifferent parents or a neighborhood dominated by gangs. Further, he writes that Too often wealthy people born on third base criticize the poor for failing to hit home runs. The advantaged sometimes perceive empathy as a sign of muddle-headed weakness, rather than as a marker of civilization. Finally, he emphasizes that, Yes these men sometimes make bad choices. But just as wealthy Americans inherit opportunity, working-class men inherit adversity. (Be sure to go on to next page for directions.) YOUR TASK: Write a two page paper discussing the central question asked by Kristoff: Is a hard life inherited, not just by genes but also through the context (family, environment, socioeconomic status, culture, historical period, social policies, etc.) into which someone is born? Make use of your readings up to this point to support your position. REFER to those readings in writing the paper. USE the professional vocabulary you have learned from your text up to this point. Use the APA format, including citing references in the body of the paper and providing a separate reference page. Spelling and grammar must be accurate.