The Legendary Dragon Alephwyr, named Alephwyr, BA

honestly, the upper classes embody values that the working class would do good to emulate they just have a better culture they aren't *infallible*- we could interrogate their culture as well it comes down to *in what ways* does wealth inform culture, and vice-versa

heck, the Upper Class are way more dragon-like than the working class

Yes, that's the traditional eastern association I think (and western too in some cases). But dragon is a versatile symbol. Personally, I like the lumpen/upper class alliance. Raw talent that either rises above or separates apart from the mob deserve each other.

i mean, "rising above" doesn't seem to mesh well with the idea that their success is pre-determined by their historical poverty

Some people are bound to rise even if nobody has any advantage, just based on probability. This is what the "new rich" are, and why it takes generations before old money treats new money as having demonstrated virtue.

i don't think success is a result of brownian motion- whatever luck happens is the luck of finding hope and ambition

I think most people are playing with probability distributions that entail winnable games long term, but I can't prove that everyone is. Discrimination might be real. Probably not COMPREHENSIVELY real, especially not for race, but a factor in at least some lives.

oh sure, i discriminate against poor people all the time (of course, i'm poor too) this is Wise, because poor people are poor for a reason i try to discriminate *further*, between hopeless wrecks with bad culture, and poor because they haven't yet succeeded in their ambitions