All those felons and losers did pretty good over the years don't you think? A lot better than their betters who stayed behind, since those felons and losers had to save their betters from themselves 3, count 'em 3 times in the 20th Century. (Normally I hate bringing that up but sometimes it needs to be done.)
In any event, I think you are incorrect in your assertion. Many of the Jews came over here because they disliked pogroms, which could be considered a facet of the social structure. Many Germans came here because they didn't want to do compulsory military service, another facet of the social structure. And I believe most of the rest could be viewed as coming here to improve the economic positions of themselves and especially their children. They did that, quite spectacularly. You could view them as losers I guess, they probably viewed themselves as being held back in Europe (by the socio/economic structure perhaps) so they went someplace where they wouldn't be held back. Their judgment was pretty good I think, for felons and losers I mean.
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