"The quintessential American quality is the belief that every person has the right to control their own destiny."

So you don't think you have this right? I believe you have the right of opportunity, but not of outcome.

I learned what this guy learned pretty early on: If you are an employee (developer or not), you will be paid to do things you are against and people less intelligent and experienced than you will be making decisions for you at some point...and you can't do anything about it.

This is the sole reason I started my own company. I was sick of being forced to go down a path of failure..after every attempt to do otherwise was ignored.

After our failure, management never wanted to look bad, so they almost always picked someone to blame. Sometimes it was me or my team, sometimes someone else. Speaking up about it meant you weren't a 'team player' and you would probably be on the chopping block during the next round of layoffs.

I was able to survive most layoffs because I learned how to play politics, but at the cost of never feeling satisfied with my job.

I've had my own company for 5 years and I don't regret a thing. It was the best decision I ever made.

"I just have to say this: So typically american"

Really? I was thinking it was typically Chinese. My wife's family is from China and they pretty much all try to one up/compare each other in terms of assets, money, or jobs.

"If you want to control your destiny, you'd better learn how to make money."

This message is pretty truthful. The more you rely on someone to support you (the government, friends, family, job), the less control you have over your life. Money gives you the ultimate power and freedom to do what you want.

Regardless of your culture, this doesn't change. If you have more more money, you will always have more options/freedom.