There is no such thing as a “level playing field,” genetics and karma being what they are, and to the extent that we pretend there is such a thing (by conflating wealth with virtue) we are playing a fool’s game, taking credit for that which was given to us (a good family, health, affluence, basic ability, intelligence, et cetera, et cetera) by fate. And I expect some of that feeling makes its way into my stories. I hope so, anyway.
