Talking about ways to build, while acting in ways to tear down.

More proof that our President doesn't have a clue on how to "create" jobs, strengthen the middle/lower classes or bring down the deficit. If he would stay in Washington and do his job, things might actually get done. Remember, he still hasn't put forth a budget yet he's going to fix the countries woes. I'm proud to say I didn't vote for him. Either election.

All Obama has done for the Middle class is try to destroy it. Look at your paycheck, Check out the cost of Food, Look at the skyrocketing cost of Health insurance, No real attempt to create jobs in over 4 years.

You cannot help someone who isn't ready to help themselves and you cannot stop somebody who is ready to climb this ladder. No government program will change this. Encouragement works best from one on one usually from someone close to the person or from a charitable source.

"...how government can build "ladders of opportunity" into the middle class." Are you kidding me?!?!?!? Ladders to the middle class are built by individuals who, through going to school, hard work, and dedication of there own, make it to the middle class on their own. If the individual can't figure that out and thinks that they need the government's help then our society is lost.

Isn't this where President Obama worked for years? Shouldn't Chicago be the model he points to as he highlights what he's accomplished in his career? Or, is it murder city? Is it entitlement central? Is it a drug capital? Is it a drop-out haven? Is it a culture of fatherless homes, welfare moms and minority street gangs? NOW, he's got the answers? Well, at least he's beginning to talk about marriage and two-parent homes and not only throwing more entitlement funding at his hometown. As is very obvious on the south side of Chicago, SO FAR Obama has taken the wrong approach to solving his own community issues. But then, no one ever said we elected this guy based on his record!

The ladder already exists. Education is power and all have the access to a public school education and a library card. If they won't use what's in place now, what on earth makes him think that they would have the initiative to use any others he would try to put in place?

these right-wingers make it sound like we're at 100% employment and no company is in need of trained workers.

Theodore Roosevelt: “There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.” right-wingers live in a delusional fantasy land.

russ999 "these right-wingers make it sound like we're at 100% employment and no company is in need of trained workers." Perhaps keeping in step with the left wingers making it sound like we don't have a spending problem and people are dying in the streets.

I guess Obama isn't satisfied with a 25% teen unemployment rate; is he going for 100% with his minimum wage hike attempt?