American System

Cruz’s story is about the corruption of the American system and how your climb is based solely on the acceptance of those in the highest seats of power, not pure perseverance and skill. Cruz found that he was allowed to climb based on his “likeness” to his superiors and was being used as somewhat of an ethnic poster child. This is sort of similar to Dick having to work hard and be educated to a certain extent in order to succeed. Beyond this similarity there isn’t much that ties the two together. Dick was willing to aid those that he left behind in his climb to the top, a sort of homage to where he’d come from and who had helped him get there. Cruz on the other hand wasn’t necessarily unwilling to help others, but he encountered a completely different attitude altogether. He found most minorities and different social niches willing to sell each other out for their own personal gain. Instead of banding together to benefit all, they were more willing to watch others that they used to be like fall back down the ladder as long as the man on top would give them some goodies.