He didn't escape. There was no confinement or external threat to escape from. He couldn't find customers to remain in business doing what he wanted to. He was driven out, but did not give up. He took an honest job to work his way back up (and as arranged for in the script to meet Dominique under a great contrast in social position). A plot requires conflict. That doesn't make it "escape".

The primary qualification should be immigrants seeking to live as American individualists in a free society regardless of how smart, industrious or rich they are -- and not those who pose a physical threat coming for welfare in whole or in part, spreading disease, or seeking to overthrow American government for sharia or socialism. Those who meet that basic requirement are coming by right as individuals who have the same moral rights as human beings regardless of where they are, not to "improve our country" which is a collectivist standard.

Here in Texas, two families of Syrians entered from Mexico. They found the border patrol and turned themselves in. They had paid $50,000 each to be smuggled in. These are people of means, producers.

I never felt that way, and neither did my parents, wife, or child. My mother told me about Atlas Shrugged, though she never read it, actually. My wife had read The Fountainhead just before I met her. Of course, our daughter would be in accord with all of that.

That said, our daughter also did the math, and offered to buy us a condo near her when we are too old to fend for ourselves. She said that it was the least she could do in return. But she offered: we did not ask.

That is the difference between benevolence and sacrifice.

Why should this extend to your parents? Surely you did not ask for parents, and did not willfully enter into the relationship with them... While it may give you personal pleasure to assist your parents, and if doing so makes you happy, then doing so is for your gain. Do not make the mistake of thinking it is their right.

As for the spouse and kids, I agree. By an measure, you willfully entered an arrangement with a spouse, and it goes with the territory. With minor children, you caused them, you care for them. Again, you may enjoy that, which adds bonus value to your life, so good. Once they cease to be children, they should be capable of self care, and if not, it should be your responsibility to correct the problem, and not anyone else to take care of them, unless that person enjoys doing so to the extent that they believe it is worth the expense to them. While I'm sure your kids are lovely, I have no desire to support them, so make sure they are capable of self support and care. I'll do the same with my kids, and maybe some day we can sit around an old folks home and when other complain about their kids, we can remind them that the child has no objective obligation to the parent. (however, it would of course be my hope that I've been such an awesome parent that my smart and capable children are filled with joy to visit me and find that a relationship with me continues to add value to their lives.)