Rachel Maddow calls it: It is going to happen.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You cherry picked one piece of what I said. Getting a marketable degree is just one way. The key is to do something that isn't easy.

Get a marketable degree. Learn to build something not any tom ####### and harry can build. Do something that isn't easy.

Those are certainly ways in which to live the American Dream....I'm not discounting that. I'm saying that not everyone has those opportunities or the capacity to go beyond low-skilled jobs. For them, the American Dream shouldn't be out of reach. They should be rewarded for their hard work, by being able to afford adequate housing, food and clothing. Right now, many of these workers depend on programs like the EITC. I'd rather give them the fair wages, than give them federal programs that essentially make up for the wages that their employer won't provide.

Edited March 2, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Those are certainly ways in which to live the American Dream....I'm not discounting that. I'm saying that not everyone has those opportunities or the capacity to go beyond low-skilled jobs. For them, the American Dream shouldn't be out of reach. They should be rewarded for their hard work, by being able to afford adequate housing, food and clothing. Right now, many of these workers depend on programs like the EITC. I'd rather give them the fair wages, than give them federal programs that essentially make up for the wages that their employer won't pay them.

I disagree. If a person can't get an education because he or she is too stupid, isn't good with their hands, can't put a sentence together for the life of them, they have no business achieving any kind of dream.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Those are certainly ways in which to live the American Dream....I'm not discounting that. I'm saying that not everyone has those opportunities or the capacity to go beyond low-skilled jobs. For them, the American Dream shouldn't be out of reach. They should be rewarded for their hard work, by being able to afford adequate housing, food and clothing. Right now, many of these workers depend on programs like the EITC. I'd rather give them the fair wages, than give them federal programs that essentially make up for the wages that their employer won't provide.

The problem is not the wages, it's the cost of housing, materials, goods, etc...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I would say it means the opportunity for economic mobility within the field of work you do, as the foundation of the dream. And then the ability to provide for yourself and family, an adequate standard of living (housing, food, clothing, health care).

That dream is still alive and well, then. I'm living it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

That dream is still alive and well, then. I'm living it.

Puh-leez! You're well known around here as being a liberal. Liberals don't work, everyone knows that. You can't afford anything you can't buy with your welfare checks.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Puh-leez! You're well known around here as being a liberal. Liberals don't work, everyone knows that. You can't afford anything you can't buy with your welfare checks.

Sorry for messing up the stats. I'm a working liberal. A rare and endangered species. Treat me well.

[Dan J 277]

The problem is not the wages, it's the cost of housing, materials, goods, etc...

For the most part, those two elements are tightly linked as the cost of goods and services has a large cost of labour component to it.

Costs of goods go down, when you can pay workers less or automate and make the remaining workers more efficient. If those displaced workers can't replace their former income, your potential customer base goes down too.

[mawilson 2,133]

Some people put them on to masturbate.

WHY??????????????

Ask this guy:

[mawilson 2,133]

Agreed. Not everyone is supposed to achieve the American dream. That's what makes it the American dream. It's supposed to be something to strive towards. Sometimes, it may even take multiple generations after entry for a family to realize it. The new immigrant lays the foundations, their progeny build on it and so forth. If it's something you can achieve with minimal effort, minimal education and within a few short years of cashiering at Wal Mart, ####### is the point? What kind of lame dream is that?