The period immediately after the end of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia was exceptional in that there was a functioning infrastructure, a population with considerable savings, a highly educated workforce (much better than today) and yet no consumer goods companies or businesses. An absolutely virgin market!
Basically, anyone who could start a business back then got rich. Apart from the cases of looting of huge communist assets, which created another layer of tycoons.
I often have the opportunity to meet very successful people whose success started back then. From those who have a few million dollars in savings as well as a nice mansion and a second property, to billionaires.
And I’m beginning to notice an interesting pattern of opinion.
Some see their success as something like: “I was just exceptionally lucky and in the right place at the right time. Of course, I had to work very hard and prove myself, but a few years later, even hard work wouldn’t have helped”.
Others see it this way: “I was rewarded for being better than others. I’m harder working, more intelligent and above all morally better. That is why I am rich and most people are poor. It is not a question of circumstances. It is a question of character. And I actually resent having to live in a country with poor people, because I am offended by their lack of character”.
The latter vote almost exclusively for Soros’ globalist parties, the former almost exclusively for the populist opposition. At least according to my limited observation.