Let's also not forget that XIV's fictional setting allows for Square-Enix to portray the extremes, good and bad, of a capitalist culture through Ul'dah. I doubt anyone takes issue IC or OoC with the merits of a system that allows you to earn a good living, a good standing, etc. What many take issue with ICly, and some take issue with OoCly, are the negative facets: that the Monetarists have become so affluent as to control the Syndicate and thereby monopolize power and wealth to the detriment of the lesser folk. This is the crux of the Royalist vs. Monetarist conflict as portrayed in the MSQ, of course (otherwise known as "Nanamo and Raubahn vs. Everyone on the Syndicate other than Godbert").
For a real-life comparison: the government, news media, and education systems of the U.S.A. are fond of toting "The American Dream," the ability to earn your success through hard work and entrepreneurial initiative, as one of most praiseworthy aspects of the country... despite how rare it actually is for someone to break through economic class barriers to such an extreme as to go from "rag-to-riches," largely in part due to suppressive measures from above.
EDIT: Telluride kinda beat me to it.
For a real-life comparison: the government, news media, and education systems of the U.S.A. are fond of toting "The American Dream," the ability to earn your success through hard work and entrepreneurial initiative, as one of most praiseworthy aspects of the country... despite how rare it actually is for someone to break through economic class barriers to such an extreme as to go from "rag-to-riches," largely in part due to suppressive measures from above.
EDIT: Telluride kinda beat me to it.
![[Image: 1qVSsTp.png]](http://i.imgur.com/1qVSsTp.png)
