Yes, Horatio Alger ....
I came across this piece:  http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2012/11-myths-about-horatio-alger-every-american-should-know/.  It might be interesting.
I think that everyone who is so keen on "cutting costs" is just trying to hide the number of people and circumstances that helped them get where they are.
And these are the folks who have accused so many of us of being cafeteria Catholics and of lacking humility.....