PROVIDED BY ...
>> THIS WEEK ON ITO THE CONTRARY
...
>> UP FIRST ... THE WEEK IN
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES.
CAN WE STOP CHILDREN BORN INTO
POVERTY FROM BECOMING
IMPOVERISHED ADULTS?
HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A
DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL
TRENDS FROM DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
IS HILLARY CLINTON BECOMING
COMPLACENT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
RACE?
HEAD-TO-HEAD POLLS SHOW CLINTON
WINNING COMFORTABLY OVER DONALD
TRUMP AND TAKING THE HOUSE SEATS
EVEN AWAY FROM REPUBLICANS.
BUT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED
THIS EARLY LEAD MEANS THERE'S
NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN IN THE 3
MONTHS 'TIL ELECTION DAY.
SHE DID, HOWEVER, UNVEIL AN
ECONOMIC PLAN THAT INCLUDES MORE
JOB CREATION THAN ANY GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM IN 70 YEARS. AND SHE
PROMISED UNIVERSAL
PRE-KINDERGARTEN, TAX CREDITS
AND SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE AND
DEBT-FREE COLLEGE FOR EVERYONE.
MEANWHILE DONALD TRUMP WORKED
HARD THIS WEEK TO WIN BACK
REPUBLICAN WOMEN.
POLLS SHOW THE REPUBLICAN
NOMINEE HAS DROPPED BY 13
PERCENT AMONG GOP WOMEN SINCE
THE PARTY CONVENTIONS.
MAINE SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS SAID
FOR THE FIRST TIME SHE WON'T
VOTE FOR TRUMP.
AND MAJOR GOP DONOR MEG WHITMAN
DECLARED HER SUPPORT FOR HILLARY
CLINTON.
TO COURT WOMEN, TRUMP ALSO
CALLED FOR A CHILD-CARE
DEDUCTION AS PART OF HIS
ECONOMIC PLAN---CRITICIZED BY
THE LEFT AS HELPING ONLY THE
UPPER CLASS.
IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, MR. TRUMP
SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA AND CLINTON
FOUNDED AND CO-FOUNDED ISIS. HE
ALSO SAID, ".••MAYBE THERE IS" A
WAY FOR "SECOND AMENDMENT
PEOPLE" TO STOP HILLARY CLINTON
FROM NOMINATING PROGRESSIVE
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.
WAS THAT A CALL FOR AN
ASSASSINATION OR A VERY POOR
ATTEMPT AT A JOKE? THE TWO SIDES
DIFFER.
SECRETARY CLINTON HAS HER OWN
NEW PROBLEMS INCLUDING EMAILS
THAT SUGGEST HER STATE
DEPARTMENT AIDES ENGAGED IN WHAT
CRITICS ARE CALLING "PAY FOR
PLAY" OPPORTUNITIES.••.THAT, FOR
BIG DONORS TO THE CLINTON GLOBAL
INITIATIVE, WHICH THE FBI WANTED
TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER, BUT THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAID NO.
>> I THINK THEY'LL TRY DO
WHATEVER THEY CAN TO KEEP THE
FOCUS ON DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE
THE MORE THE MEDIA ARE TALKING
DONALD TRUMP THE LESS THEY ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE CONTROVERSYS
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
WE WERE IN THREE CITIES IN
FLORIDA AND WENT TO DETROIT AND ^
OTHER STATES, COMPLACENT IS NOT
THE WORD.
>> THE "NEW YORK TIMES" LOG ON
POLITICS GIVES HER AN 80.
T IN 85 DAYS OR HOWEVER MANY
DAYS ARE LEFT UNTIL THE ELECTION
BUT AN 87-13% CHANCE FOR TRUMP
OF WINNING.
HOW CAN YOU NOT BECOME
A LITTLE COMPLACENT, AND WHAT
ARE THE DANGERS OF THAT?
>> IF I THOUGHT SHE WERE
COMPLACENT THAT WOULD BE
TERRIBLE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS
A WOMAN WHO
HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME
AND NOTHING IS DONE UNTIL
NOVEMBER 9TH AND SHE WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT, I AM SURE AND
I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
SHE GAVE THIS ECONOMIC SPEECH
WHICH I SHOULD SAY, I DISAGREE
WE GAVE MENTALLY ON ALL OF HER
PLATFORMS, VEHEMENTLY, ON ALL OF
HER PLATFORMS.
IT LETS HER COME ACROSS AS A
LEADER.
>> AND YOU KNOW SHE GOT A BIG
BOUNCE BIGGER THAN TRUMP OUT OF
THE CONVENTION.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT PAST
DEMOCRATS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN
BIGGER BOUNCES, CARTER, DUKAKIS,
THESE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO KEEP
THOSE BOUNCES AND SHE IS NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM.
AT SOME POINT, TRUMP IS GOING TO
SHUT HIS MOUTH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> DO YOU THINK SO?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YOU'RE MAKING HISTORY HERE.
>> AT LEAST LONG ENOUGH TO LET
SOME OF HER WEAKNESSES WHICH ARE
PILING UP COME OUT AND BE
DISCUSSED.
>> TWO POINTS ABOUT THE E-MAILS.
WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IS
THAT, POLLING SHOWS THAT
TWO-THIRDS OF
AMERICANS THINK SHE IS STILL NOT
TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT HER
E-MAILS AND ROUGHLY THE SAME
AMOUNT OF AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE
TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE
E-MAILS.
AND SO THAT TO ME SAYS THAT THE
E-MAILS MAY NOT BE THE BEST
ISSUE TO BEAT HER ON.
AND THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING
TO SAY --
>> BUT WILL THEY KEEP BEATING
HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH AND
JUST STARTED A NEW SERIES OF ADS
ABOUT, IS RELEASING HIS TAX
RETURNS AND SHE RELEASED HER TAX
RETURNS FRIDAY FOR 2015.
SO IS THAT --
SHE IS BEATING HIM OVER THAT?
>> I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY
AMERICANS ARE GOING TO THE
BALLOT BOX SAYING HE DID NOT
RELEASE HIS TAX RETURNS SO I
CAN'T TRUST HIM.
BUT ABOUT THE POLLING COMING OUT
OF THE CONVENTION SHE WENT ON A
BUS TOUR OF OHIO AND
PENNSYLVANIA AND EVERY WEEK
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE GOING BACK TO
OHIO AND SWING STATES AND
PUTTING UP ADS IN THE SWING
STATES.
ND
PENNSYLVANIA AND EVERY WEEK
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE GOING BACK TO
OHIO AND SWING STATES AND
PUTTING UP ADS IN THE SWING
STATES.
HE HAS NOT PUT UP ADS AT ALL.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE CLINTON
CAMPAIGN KNOWS THIS BOUNCE COULD
NOT LAST AND THEY ARE PUTTING IN
THE WORK RIGHT NOW THAT THEY
WILL NEED FOR ELECTION DAY.
>> AND ALSO IT IS TOO EARLY TO
TRUST THE POLLS.
QUITE FRANKLY, MOST AMERICANS
ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT
IT'S AUGUST.
THEY WANT TO ENJOY THEIR SUMMER.
AND THEY WANT TO KEEP WATCHING
THE OLYMPICS THEY ARE NOT READY
TO FOCUS ON OR MAKE ANY
DECISIONS ABOUT A PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN
UNTIL NOVEMBER.
>> THAT CONVENTIONAL WISDOM BUT
WHEN TRUMP STARTING CALLING FOR
THE NRA SECOND AMENDMENT FOLKS
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR --
>> SOME ARE NOT PAYING
ATTENTION.
>> I THINK THEY ARE.
>> THEY ARE SAYING INCREDIBLE
[INAUDIBLE]
HISTORICALLY INCREDIBLE THINGS.
>> NORMALLY --
>> I TELL YOU WHAT THE DATA ARE
FROM PEW BECAUSE IT IS TRUE.
WE HAVE HIGH INTEREST IN THIS
ELECTION AND LARGE
DISSATISFACTION.
WHEN YOU PUSH PEOPLE IN FACT ON
WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO TURNOUT,
MANY PEOPLE STILL SAY THEY DO
NOT KNOW YET THEY ARE DISGUSTED
WITH BOTH.
AND MANY PEOPLE STILL --
>> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
THAT.
THAT WAS NOT THE QUESTION.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INSEND
AREA COMMENTS IF YOU LOOK AT THE
COMMENTS, YES, THE MUSLIM
PARENTS OF THE, THE
ASSASSINATION TYPE REMARKS,
THESE COMMENTS NOT ONLY ARE
COLORED BUT HAVE TO BE COVERED,
THEY ARE COVERED BY FOX, THEY
ARE COVERED BY CNN WHICH IS MORE
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THEY ARE COVERED BY MSNBC AND
COVERED ON THE NATIONAL NEWS.
THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM
MAKING UP YOUR MIND.
BUT THESE ALL ARE WAY OVER THE
TOP NEVER BEFORE HEARD KINDS OF
REMARKS.
>> PEOPLE ARE STILL TUNING OUT
AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING.
YOU ARE BOTH RIGHT.
BUT I THINK THAT ONE THING IS
PEOPLE ARE TUNING IT OUT AND THE
OTHER THING IS PEOPLE NEED NEW
INFORMATION IN ORDER TO MOVE
THEIR OPINION.
AND ONE CHALLENGE FOR HILLARY
CLINTON OR FOR THE REPUBLICANS,
I SHOULD SAY THAT EVERYBODY
HEARD ABOUT THE E-MAIL SCANDAL
AND THEY ARE SICK OF IT.
AND WHILE I THINK IT IS A VERY,
VERY REAL THING THAT WE SHOULD
BE TALKING ABOUT IT'S GETTING
HARDER TO MOVE OPINION ON IT.
EVERY TIME DONALD TRUMP SAYS
SOMETHING NEW IT'S NEW
INFORMATION THAT IS MOVING
VOTERS WHO MIGHT BE IN THE
MIDDLE TO THINK GOODNESS.
REPUBLICANS HAVE TO FIND
SOMETHING ELSE.
[INAUDIBLE]
>> SOMETHING WHICH THE DAYCARE
WARS, THEY BOTH SAVE GAVE THEIR
ECONOMIC SPEECHES AND SHE WANTS
FEDERAL SUBSIDIES AND WANTS TAX
ENHANCEMENTS FOR DAYCARE AND
FAMILY LEAVE.
HE WANTS JUST TAX CREDITS WHICH
THE --
WHICH THE CONSENSUS FROM THE
MEDIA WOULD ONLY HELP RICH OR
LOWER MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASS
PEOPLE.
BOTH OF THEM WERE ACCUSED OF
FORGETTING ABOUT THE POOR ON
DAYCARE IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
>> I THINK THAT I AM NOT USUALLY
A PROPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP BUT
HE IS CLOSER TO THE MARK ON THIS
ONE THAN SHE IS.
WHAT WE WANT FOR ALL FAMILIES IS
FOR THEM TO MAKE THE CHOICES FOR
THE CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS THAT
WORK BEST FOR THEM.
AND WHEN GOVERNMENT GETS INTO
BUSINESS OF HELPING SUBSIDIZE
CHILDCARE IT BIASES PEOPLE
TOWARDS PEOPLE TOWARDS
PARTICULAR CHILDCARE AND
ENCOURAGES PEOPLE NOT TO USE THE
FAMILY ARRANGEMENTS THAT
EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE
ACKNOWLEDGES IF THERE IS AN
OPTION IS GOOD.
THE PROBLEM ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE IS THAT THEY IGNORE THIS
IMPORTANT NUMBER FROM PEW WHICH
IS THAT ONLY 23% OF WORKING
MOTHERS WOULD CHOOSE TO WORK
FULL-TIME IF THEY HAD TO.
OR IF THEY COULD.
SO I THINK THAT TOO OFTEN
REPUBLICANS SEEM OUT OF TOUCH
BUT I THINK THAT GIVING PEOPLE
MORE OF THEIR OWN RESOURCES TO
MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WORK FOR
THEM IS THE BETTER ROUTE.
>> AND THE LAST SEGMENT WE
FINISHED DISCUSSING AND YOU SAID
THE ONES YOU ARE THE MOST
CONCERNED ABOUT ARE THE POOREST
WOMEN WHO CANNOT GET ANY LEAVE.
WELL IN TERMS OF CHILDCARE THEY
ARE OUT OF IT.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEDUCTION
AND A CREDIT.
AND IF YOU ARE MIDDLE CLASS, THE
DEDUCTION YOU TAKE OFF OF YOUR
INCOME TAX AND THAT IS GOOD YOU
PAY LESS INCOME TAX.
IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE,
THEN YOU GOT TO GO TO A CREDIT.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SHE IS
TRYING TO DO.
SHE IS TRYING NOT TO HELP ME AND
NOT TO HELP YOU.
SHE IS TRYING TO HELP THE WOMEN
WHO NEED IT MOST AND YOU
CANNOT --
>> WHY --
OF NOT DOING ENOUGH FOR POOR
PEOPLE?
>> ON WHAT BASIS?
>> ON THE DAYCARE.
>> ON WHAT BASIS DO THEY SAY
THAT?
THEY WANT MORE OF A CREDIT?
>> THEY WANT IT FREE.
AND THEY WANT FREE COLLEGE
TUITION.
[INAUDIBLE]
OK.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES BECAUSE
WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.
GARY JOHNSON OR THE GREEN PARTY
CANDIDATE.
ARE THEY A REAL THREAT TO
ANYBODY?
>> THEY ARE IF THEY CAN MAKE IT
ON THE BALLOT.
IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING IN THE
SWING STATES, HILLARY CLINTON
WOULD BE WINNING BY A LARGER
MARGIN IF THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO BE ON THE BALLOT.
SO SOME OF THIS WILL COME DOWN
TO THE BALLOTING DEADLINES AND
THEY COULD PULL MOST STATES BOTH
THE GREEN PARTY HAVE PARTY LINES
ON THE BALLOTS THEY SHOULD BE
ON.
>> ARE WE LOOKING AT --
ARE WE LOOKING AT ANOTHER
BUSH-GORE 2000 WHERE IT CAME
DOWN TO THE VOTERS AND RALPH
NADER TOOK ONE OR 2% OF THE VOTE
IN FLORIDA?
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A SITUATION
WHERE IT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT
MORE LIKE 92 IN THE SENSE THAT
THE WINNER DOES NOT EARN A
MAJORITY OF THE POPULAR VOTE
WHERE THESE TWO CANDIDATES
ESSENTIALLY TAKE ENOUGH OF THE
VOTE THAT THE WINNER IS ONLY A
PLEASURE RATTLE POPULAR VOTE
WINNER.
>> IT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT OR NOT
IT'S WHETHER YOU GET IN THE
DEBATES OR NOT.
AND THAT YOU NEED 15% OF THE
VOTE.
>> I'VE SEEN POLLS SO HE IS
NOT --
[INAUDIBLE]
>> WHERE IS THE POLLING FROM?
>> HE IS PULLING A LOT FROM
HILLARY CLINTON.
>> IT'S EQUAL.
>> FOR BOTH OF THEM.
>> BUT IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE
FOR HER BECAUSE I'VE SEEN POLLS
SHE WOULD BE RUNNING FOUR POINTS
AHEAD OF DONALD TRUMP IN SWING
STATES AND IT BRINGS HER DOWN.
>> GO BACK TO THE 92 REFERENCE
BILL CLINTON'S FIRST TERM WHY DO
WE CARE IF IT'S 43% BECAUSE --
>> BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO GET
WELFARE REFORM DONE AND GOT
MAJOR THINGS DONE.
AND THE FIRST TWO YEARS WERE
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AND WHAT
THIS HAS TO DO WITH IS THE
NOTION OF A GOVERNING MANDATE.
IT WOULD BE QUITE A CHANGE OF
HEART FOR DEMOCRATS TO ALL OF A
SUDDEN SAY THEY LIKE THE
ELECTORAL COLLEGE WHEN THEY HAVE
BEEN --
HAVE HAD AVERSION TOWARDS IT.
YOU WILL SEE THE IDEA REVERSAL
HERE BUT THERE IS MORE THE ISSUE
OF WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO GOVERN.
BARACK OBAMA WON A MAJORITY OF
THE POPULAR VOTE IN 2008 AND IT
WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY HE
HAD A HIGHER APPROVAL RATING
AMONG REPUBLICANS THAN BILL
CLINTON DID AMONG REPUBLICANS ON
THE DAY OF HIS OR GEORGE BUSH
HAD AMONG DEMOCRATS ON THE DAY
OF HIS.
>> ONE LAST QUESTION: IF TRUMP
LOSES, IS HE GOING TO CLAIM IT
WAS RIGGED AND TRY TO START A
REVOLUTION WITH SECOND AMENDMENT
PEOPLE?
>> YOU SAID HE WAS GOING TO GO
ON A VACATION.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE A
LOT OF AMERICANS WHO ARE HURTING
AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM LIMITED
GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER
FOUR YEARS.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> YES, I THINK TRUMP IS SETTING
UP THE SCENARIO TO LOSE NOW AND
EVERYTHING YOU HEAR PLAYS INTO
THAT AND THE RIGGED ELECTION
WHEN ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN
50 STATES, IS THE MOST BOGUS OF
ALL.
>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE
OR TO THE CONTRARY.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES, GROWING UP
IN THE OTHER AMERICA.
RESEARCH SHOWS IT'S INCREDIBLY
HARD FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO
MOVE INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS.
BUT A GROUP OF RESEARCHERS WERE
SURPRISED TO FIND ONE COMMON
THEME AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DID
MOVE AHEAD.
>> ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING
PROMISES OF THE AMERICAN DREAM
IS THAT ANYONE CAN SUCCEED.
BUT RESEARCH SHOWS ANOTHER
STORY.
KIDS BORN TO LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLE MIGHTLY TO
ENTER THE MIDDLE CLASS.
>> IN THE 1990s, OUR PUBLIC
HOUSING PROJECTS IN AMERICA HAD
BECOME TOXIC DANGEROUS PLACES TO
LIVE.
YOU KNOW AT THAT TIME THERE WERE
SHOWED THAT CONCENTRATED POVERTY
IN NEIGHBORHOODS WAS BAD FOR
CHANCES OF FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN.
A LOST THIS COMBINED INTO A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO
WITH THE INNER-CITY AND SOME OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S
RESPONSE WAS THE MOVING TO
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM WHICH DE
LUCA STUDIED FOR 13 YEARS.
>> WE SET OUT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
HAD HAPPENED TO FAMILIES WHO ARE
PART OF THE MOVING TO
OPPORTUNITY EXPERIMENT.
WHICH FOCUSED ON BALTIMORE 600
FAMILIES, A THIRD OF WHICH GOT A
CHANCE TO MOVE OUT OF THE
PROJECTS INTO LOWER POVERTY
COMMUNITIES.
>> THE RESULTS OF MOVING TO
OPPORTUNITY WERE MIXED WHILE
LEAVING BAD NEIGHBORHOODS HAS
ADVANTAGES, MANY KIDS WERE STILL
HINDERED BY FACTORS SUCH AS
RACISM OR LACK OF FAMILY
SUPPORT.
STILL THERE WERE SUCCESS
STORIES.
>> OVER THE COURSE OF THE
RESEARCH, WE STARTED TO FOLLOW
THE YOUNG ADULTS AND THEY WERE
LAUNCHING INTO INDEPENDENTS.
AND WE STARTED TO NOTICE SOME OF
THE KIDS ARE REALLY RESILIENT.
>> AND WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
DE LUCA SAYS THEY FOUND 94% OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD AN IDENTITY
PROJECT HAD JOBS OR WERE GOING
TO COLLEGE.
>> WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING
TO LEARN ABOUT IDENTITY PROJECTS
AND WE STARTED.
THERE ARE ACTIVITIES THAT
PROVIDE AN ESCAPE FROM THE
DIFFICULTY OF DAILY LIFE
CHALLENGES WHICH MANY YOUNG
PEOPLE HAD.
BUT ALSO PROVIDED A WAY TO
DEFINE WHAT YOU WERE AND WERE
NOT.
WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT AND NOT
ABOUT.
THAT DISTINCTION IS LIFE-SAVING.
>> ONE PERSON WHO FOUND HER
IDENTITY PROJECT IS BRITNEY.
SHE DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR
DANCING.
>> I WAS SO COMMITTED TO
DANCING, EVERY TIME EVERYDAY I
CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL I WOULD GO
AND DANCE AND PRACTICE
EVERYTHING TO BE BETTER.
AND IT KEPT ME FROM GOING DOWN
THE WRONG PATH AND I WAS GETTING
IN TROUBLE THAT MOST PEOPLE
WOULD GET INTO IF THEY DID NOT
HAVE THE ACTIVITIES OR IF THEY
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING WITH A
PASSION TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING
SOMETHING TO BEING IN THE CITY.
AND THE TROUBLE THAT YOU GET
INTO.
>> BRITNEY WENT TO A SPECIAL
SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS AND ENTERED
THE ARMY AND WENT TO SCHOOL TO
BECOME A MEDICAL ASSISTANT.
TODAY SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN AND
LIVES WITH HER CHILDREN'S FATHER
WHO IS ALSO MOTIVATED TO MAKE A
BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY.
BRITNEY IS PLANNING TO GO BACK
TO SCHOOL TO BECOME A NURSE.
BUT BRITNEY HAS HAD HER STRUGGLE
STRUGGLES, TOO.
SHE GREW UP AROUND PEOPLE WHO
DID DRUGS OR COMMITTED VIOLENCE
AND SAW PEOPLE DIE IN FRONT OF
HER.
>> LIVING IN IT ALL THE TIME,
YOU LOOK AT IT LIKE OH, BECAUSE
YOU ARE SO USED TO IT.
SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I DID
NOT WANT MY KIDS TO GROW UP
AROUND ALL THE VIOLENCE AND THE
DRUGS.
>> AS HARD AS YOU WORK TO MOVE
FORWARD YOU STILL HAVE CLOSE
TIES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING.
AND THAT DOESN'T JUST GO AWAY.
GRIT IS NOT ENOUGH.
BUT THE YOUNG ADULTS HAVE GOTTEN
TO THE STARTING GATE AGAINST THE
ODDS BUT NOT ALL CAN FINISH THE
RACE AND THAT IS HOW WE STEP IN
AND WE CAN DO BETTER BY THEM.
>> DE LUCA SAYS
INTERJENNINGSRATIONAL POVERTY
DOES NOT HAVE TO BE INEVITABLE
BUT SUPPORT SHOULD GO BEYOND
PRESCHOOL.
>> WE COULDN'T ALL OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN OUR STUDY SHARED
DISADVANTAGED ORIGINS.
AND WE LOOKED TO SEE WHETHER
THERE WAS A PATTERN IN THOSE WHO
FOUND AN IDENTITY PROJECT.
A LOT OF POLICY ATTENTION IS
FOCUSED ON VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
IN THE EARLY YEARS.
BUT WE CANNOT ABANDON OUR YOUNG
ADULTS INSTEAD OF SAYING AFTER
AGE 5 THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN
DO.
WE FIND THAT NOTHING CAN BE
FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH FROM
THAT.
>> SO SINCE THE ANTI-POVERTY
MOVEMENTS BEGAN BACK IN THE
1960s, WE HAVE SPENT MORE THAN
$20 BILLION, WAY MORE, ON
ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS AND YET,
THE POVERTY RATE IS HIGHER NOW
TODAY.
WHY IS THIS GOING ON IN THE LAND
OF OPPORTUNITY?
>> I THINK A HUGE ISSUE HERE
THAT WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT IN
THE BEGINNING HERE IS EDUCATION.
AND LETTING PEOPLE HAVE THE
CHOICES TO GO TO SCHOOLS AND TO
BETTER THEMSELVES.
AND WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES --
>> DO YOU THINK CHARTER SCHOOLS
IS THE ANSWER.
>> I DON'T THINK JUST CHARTER
SCHOOLS, BUT I THINK THE TRUE
EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM WHETHER OUR
FAMILIES THAT HAVE A DAUGHTER
LIKE THIS SAYING SHE DOESN'T
WANT TO FALL INTO THE CYCLE OF
CRIME AND VIOLENCE.
SHE HAS ASPIRATIONS AND TALENTS
LET'S FIND HER AN OPPORTUNITY
AND THEY DID.
THERE'S MANY MORE FAMILIES OUT
THERE LIKE THAT.
>> I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH
YOU ABOUT THE EDUCATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO
AMERICANS FROM THE BEGINNING AS
EACH GENERATION DID BETTER
EDUCATION HAS BEEN A KEY.
AND WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE THAT
IS NOT THE ISSUE IT WAS.
A GENERATION OR TWO AGO.
WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
PROJECT IS THIS NOTION OF A
PASSION OR AN IDENTITY PROJECT.
THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT IS WHAT MIDDLE CLASS KIDS
GET FROM THE BEGINNING.
>> PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS.
>> JOHNNY WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE
WHEN YOU GROW UP?
YOU FOCUS THE KID ON THE FUTURE
FROM THE BEGINNING.
SO IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING THAT,
IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING THAT
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE, THEN THIS
NOTION AND THE FIGURES ARE
AMAZING, 90% OF THOSE WHO HAD A
QUOTE IDENTITY PROJECT AND IT
DID NOT MATTER WHAT IT WAS IT
MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATIONAL
PROJECT IT MAY HAVE BEEN FIXING
CARS BUT IT FOCUSED ON SOMETHING
THAT SEEMED TO TO BE A ROAD TO
THE FUTURE.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE
BREAKTHROUGH AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.
AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY SAY
THESE KIDS STILL NEED HELP THEY
NEED HELP BEYOND HEADSTART AND
THEY NEED HELP AFTER.
AFTER HEADSTART THEY GET INTO
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FOR
SOME REASON IT'S GONE ALL OF
THAT ELEVATION THAT THEY HAD.
SO THIS IS WHY THESE PROJECTS I
DO NOT THINK THIS WAS A
GOVERNMENT SPONSORED PROJECT ARE
IMPORTANT TO TELL US WHAT IS THE
KEY THAT WE DID NOT KNOW BEFORE.
>> AND YET THERE WAS A STUDY OUT
THAT SHOWED THAT NEIGHBORHOODS
AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS
IMPOVERISHED AFRICAN-AMERICANS
ARE MORE CONFINED IN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALL POOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE THAN
WHITE PEOPLE.
WHITE IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE MOVE
INTO MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASS
AREAS.
MORE EMPHASIS
CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WHO ACTUALLY
MAKE IT.
>> ARE YOU SAYING INTEGRATION
IS --
>> NO I'M SAYING --
>> I WANTED TO ASK 80% OF THE
PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATE TO AMERICA
ARE TOTALLY IMPOVERISHED AND DO
NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION.
WHEN WE ARE IMPORTING POVERTY AS
WE DO THROUGH OUR IMMIGRATION
POLICY, WHILE FIGHTING POVERTY
IS IT COUNTERPRODUCTIVE?
>> NO.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS IS
TRUE IS PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR
COUNTRIES TO COME HERE ARE
PROFOUNDLY COMMITTED IF YOU
WILL, THEY ALL HAVE AN IDENTITY
PROJECT BEFORE THEY ARRIVE TO
GET THEMSELVES INTO A BETTER
PLACE AND BETTER POSITION.
THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE
RISKS AND BASICALLY DONE THE
WORK THAT IT WILL BE TO DO
WHATEVER IT IS TO SUCCEED.
I THINK YOU DO HAVE TO REALIZE
THAT THE AMERICAN DREAM IS A
LITTLE BIT MORE CONSTRAINING
THAN PEOPLE THINK IT IS.
IN THE SENSE IT TAKES A LOT
LONGER.
>> WHY HASN'T THAT GENERATION
THINGS WORKED FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS?
>> THE OTHER PIECE THAT
FRUSTRATES ME AS A COLLEGE
PROFESSOR AND SOMEBODY THAT HAS
SEEN THIS TIME AND AGAIN THOSE
STUDENTS WHO COME TO
UNIVERSITIES WHO DO NOT HAVE THE
ADVANTAGES OF MIDDLE CLASS OR
WEALTHIER CLASSES, ALSO DO NOT
GET TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGES OF
THOSE STUDENTS IN COLLEGE.
FOR INSTANCE POLITICAL
INTERNSHIPS.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW OFTEN I AM
FRUSTRATED BY THE NOTION THAT
OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN POLITICS
CAN'T BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO WORK
FOR FREE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN
ORDER TO GET OFFERED A JOB.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I
STRUGGLED WITH.
I COULD NOT DO THE FREE
INTERNSHIPS AND YOU DO NOT HAVE
THE EXPERIENCE ON YOUR RESUME
WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO GET A
JOB.
I'M PRO FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT
PAY FOR THE INTERNSHIPS.
>> WHICH IS MOST NON-PROFITS.
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