CHAPTER 1

The Next Generation’s American Dream: What Can Be Done to Achieve It?

Work hard in school, get as much education as you can, play by the rules, and you will do well in life. That was the advice I got from my parents, and it clearly served me, and the majority of my baby boomer cohort, quite well. We were fortunate to graduate from high school, vocational school programs, or college into an economy that was growing, pushing new technological frontiers, and providing ample opportunities to pursue our interests. We were able to live the American Dream.

I wish my generation could promise our children and grandchildren that they would have similar opportunities. But if we are honest, at this moment, we cannot. A majority of Americans now ...

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