ith it. they've won elections twice since they voted for i it. >> host: which is remarkable because of the medicare reform sunny can explain it to young people, middle aged people, retired people, and say this is not a threat to you. this is a hope to you and your kids' future and your future. you have that base of understanding. i think makes all the difference in the world. the establish. left has always believed that there would be this grand bargain, that unchanged, we go to 40% of gdp spent by the federal government and become france. we're at 20 now but but go up to 40. /...

>> and. >> i think we're a lot of time. spinning disk it is the fun but the road to over a

number of months. >> is like someone who lives in a different time zone. >> i very much enjoyed reading it. it is based on very insightful observations. thank you very much.

[inaudible conversations] >> okay everybody. welcome. can i ask everybody to take their seats please. fate you very much for being here this is a particularly important book talk in thank you to those to help sponsor. this is a particular important book talk because this is the most important book you could read this year. in fact, it could be the most important book this

decade because we are growing the economic opportunity gap is the biggest political and moral and economic issue of our time. we want to make sure betty gets a book from politics & prose that the professor will sign then by another one gets the most influential political person you know, to make sure they read them and then tell people to buy copies. it could help transform a political death -- debate is the important way. professor robert putnam of public policy at harvard university although you are a lot more than that. the poet laureate of civic discourse and also a rock

star when it comes to harvard professors which says a lot that they all aspires to be rock stars. [laughter] i want to begin by just asking everybody knows that you wrote about that's a big capital society so tell less about this book. >> thanks for giving me a chance to talking and to invite me for coming. this book describes the consequences of some of the big trends of we are aware of in general to become economically polarized country we know that the we're socially segregated.

or free go to school with people or live with people or very people from a different class so we are more socially and economically polarized place to look at those implications for those children in america because we found was growing gaps between rich kids and poor kids. along many measures of child well-being and though the bill gates or buffett's kids but that part of the hierarchy are just people that are college graduates

major hand plays so when i say rich or you. [laughter] i just mean you are the upper third of american society the lower third have not gone past high-school and there you can see a gap from college-educated to high school educated the growing gap on many measures with how much time there has been the quality of schools they go to. the stability of their families and with the support that they get from favors than churches and community institutions. because now i can see more clearly that the ultimate

victims are "our kids" or rather i now see that group meant to and used the term "our kids" we now have a different sense when i grew up that we have to do things for our kids for those ruple they did not mean me and my sister they met all of the kids in town. but now they've read my biological kids now it is seen as she is not my kick that is the way the trend has been the going on to focus on more individualism

and less responsibility. >> is a combination of stories and fax social and economic analysis but real people real the core. in 1959 i don't want to give away your age. [laughter] what are the stories from the rest that have been now? >> ameritech in the '50s was not ideal and of course, this in is they got out of high school.

it was gender and racial equality but it was in the egalitarian time and place. not just with the rose colored glasses paul classmates the 59. nobody very rich or poor this is a pretty modest place with my classmates almost 80 percent did better in education. we had a remarkable upward climb we were poured but we

did not know it. we were rich with social support. there were two black kids in my graduating class there were cross burnings and so on. it came from homes nobody had ever gotten past the third grade. the bulls went to college sybil's graduated because they had mentors in in the community. in the case of the black guy

eggs he says very gently and with those low expectations on the football field. even more striking is cheryl who has had a terrific life. and she is deeply aware the price she paid for the color of her skin but the wife of one of the females in town that she was a hard worker cheryl astor you going to college? i can imagine she said the

school could help you and she said no. and then she put on her for coach and pounded on the desk to say this girl is marco get her to college. >> is the mentality. >> the graphic team especially but now the kids are mostly in brooklyn where did you find these kids? who was a potentially throw a child.

and then changing partnerships through the family and then was left alone for long periods of time in then went to juvenile detention has not had any serious skill. and hoping somebody will provide help and protection. just day couple of weeks ago she said the guy she is with found a job for her. then two weeks ago she said on facebook she said that it is instead anybody loved her so she will have a baby. honestly when i first heard

the story i thought this is a little town. lot rediscovered is to seek the this is not just enough. but honestly if you see these stories else could not write them. but it has a theory. is essentially it is a gated community 150 yards deep

with a million-dollar mansions. >> so let's talk about the socio-economic values. i think the rich kid was of a kid named frank and then there was a young girl named chelsea. >> as a wonderful guy. i didn't know that. but when you go. >> so don't flaunt your wealth in other words, . >> exactly. >> but her parents have built 1850's style in the basement every year they

have a birthday party for her. and come to their home. >> do the of parents also care about other people's kids? >> no. chelsea's mother doesn't think that she should pay for anybody else's kids. there is somebody else's kids. with that encapsulates the change. >> so half the book is the stories to give the wrenching meeting -- meaning the other half as analysis i could point the mouse but tell us and with the

shocking ones are. >> but to spend time with the kids and respecting the is right after the kid comes from college compared getting better and better. so the kid will be getting worse and worse for and. >> cute kids see it in the sanatorium where parents read to their kids.

if there is a social class get now there is 45 minutes per day that meantime but that is the way the brain develops with the amount of social support they get from their communities and. but 90 percent of all kids raised in a two-parent family but now it is only 30% better raised in two parents at high-school. i am just saying it is harder to raise them with

the one parent home. also perhaps in all the other support systems from schools to churches you can see the extracurricular activities. high-school football was not invented by god gives them all the chance to live with skills with delayed gratification. so over the last 20 years from friday night's now on average you have to pay $400 per kid.

>> edison nothing but a free new american income is less it is what i am trying to show a very you y range of indicators. increasingly they're letting those and abilities. parents. spouses. there is the graph that i find unbelievable the disheartening. based on test scores and income. rich kids who are smart with test scores are very likely to graduate from college.

but the smart poor kids are less likely than it began to cause me to see examples. like to be on a bus to watch a mother have to play a ice by. -- i spy. >> it is a problem that is worse in part because of the children that i mentioned so it is factually true from

those folks coming from the higher up. and much less likely to contact or no or interact with then from a couple of generations ago. we are aware of what is happening looking at how things have gotten there are important racial differences but this is about social class with the gap by one to be clear there are racial discrepancies but for black kids this part is getting worse.

>> you talked about a there was a divergence to go to college and he said they come from richie and well-off family but i think the difference has grown over the past 40 years percentage points actually. that is the problem. but of course, it might be bad enough but this is the changes didn't used to be. we had a much more egalitarian america. i'm not saying it was perfect but we have gotten a lot worse. i hate to say this but if we do nothing about it it will get worse. unless we begin to address

these problems. just think about that. >> the great equalizer that helps to happen with that opportunity is k through 12 education. why is that? prefers to call to be a little in control of schools like tracking this is not a problem the schools caused because we have a tendency to blame everything on the school's. they did not cause this problem. but the most important thing

is. >> no matter what your background if you go in with close on or in when students provoked with that fact with that structure for a long time so give affect headed is segregated by class we're more likely to go to school with rich kids other rich kids. there are things we need to do to fix that purpose in things in school but does that make sense? in then to try to do to weigh from the education.

brett -- with the new lab school that is testing about these things. it is what we would call could do you think the internet is helping to close that divergence or exasperated it? ltd. is making it worse. and i say that because i am not anti-technology i'm is as plug din is everybody else. [laughter] but because it turns out but

to make sure that access gap is closed to talking to all those across america. >> i'm sorry but kids that are well educated there are more calculated like the kennedys in the poor kids because they lack that surrounding support of loving adults but what you want to of the size but the bottom line is there's a gap

there also from the neighbors end mary sue recently posted love hurts trust kills. think about a world where you could not trust anyone. and the fact they tell everyone. but then there are striking consequences to the air bags. he feared they have not gotten in trouble than just wait. they will.

but then to call a couple weeks ago to say she was devastated when her grandson's were picked up bin colorado. he was selling drugs and you can imagine she was where about the family. but then to know we have the best smarter in town. [laughter] and also the right to rehab place in canada can. some of it is all worked out.

the exact same thing happened but for these kids don't have everybody coaching them. then they are dropping out of extracurricular is. of course, a lot of that has happened with the income gap but when you get down to is the kid in think we're there is not quite as many mentors, pastors, preachers

for were the community window. >> i want to be silly to say if they can read the book that would solve the problem that i and trying to use practicum examples to explain ways that we used to take care of every betty's kid. >> the after-school program when you salute, shopping in the afternoon. >> where you see this not just the airbag but the little things that if you don't have a credit card you cannot get a cell phone that easily. and for it to be connected to people to have a plan that allows a new data to pick up the diaphone but the

kids from portland that we talk to but david had a horrible life. recently we tried to get in touch with david and can because his phone has been shut off. but the best example and through the beginning of the 20th century facing a problem much like this. i don't want to lecture on the progressive area but there is a lot of parallels. >> did you read doris kerns

goodwin? did you read. >> he says he will do it a square deal. >> the other interesting thing about that period is that is the solution to our problem. but there was the discussion about the challenges. especially roosevelt. but most of the actual policies did not come from washington that conversation gave options to places all around america.

so at that time they came from galveston. and n. iowa kansas. high schools were invented in iowa and count - - kansas. with the idea with the secondary education. but how old? >> the 20th century.

but it will levels the playing field. it happened but for all the kids socially immorally in mentally fit to be built into the economy? >> is about 12% of gdp per year her carry big chunk of

that is the colonel justice and then we will have to pay for those rats it is not the normal thing. that is not a major part of the cost. because they're much less healthy. because poor kids are much more obese but there is day percentage but the other important part is the of lost opportunity. with a 3 million potential workers. and that means through no

fault of their own with that very simple-minded make or take. this is the most important point then you said to focus with $500 billion per year? >> yes. over the lifetimes of these kids is $5 trillion. >> of someone gave a comparison of the view to

space get into another discussion but we will be better off to pay more attention. >> so it sounds great politically and morally. >> it is partly disenfranchised so they are

completely disconnected from politics. with all the networks of information. so it is from that point of view. the first order of 43 ted isn't likely to happen. says they don't have those organizational skills it is tempting to say be careful but if you go back to the people who reflected where fascism came from in the third season with the

academic reflections the people that were fodder underdress through those that were disconnected so even though the political apathy and keeps them from being a threat this is so great for the equality of america but it is a little risky that we have that many people that think of themselves as a member with that argument is the moral create.

>> i have converted from a methodist a long time ago but then to be excused of the evangelical. >> it is just wrong. it isn't right she made one really good decision in her life she chose well educated parents. it and really only made one mistake. henhawk is morally and fundamentally wrong. somebody noted you have all

these descriptions please don't offer solutions and one of the chapters of your book is called what can be done? >> big hard things that would have a big effect. that is what we could do is to end the stagnation. or how to get the american in the economy working. i don't know if i have much to add to that. the other big thing like early childhood education we

know has a very high a payback rate. there is it debate about that it is ill informed but the return on investment is between 7:00 a.m. and 11% sell that works. there is the debate whether headstart works or not but cheap headstart does not but it expensive does so will the you get your money back you can't do that on the cheap. if it is just babysitting or day care than it as a matter.

but that is not yet entirely politicize. it is a shock final. but the most comprehensive program in america that is something we could do. there are smaller things like mentoring. the crucial thing is not having lunch once a year you have to be the allies with the air bags to assist. that would make a big difference. but the fact that school

boards about thinking of the consequences so anybody who thought that is what you got there also sauce kills ask the school board if they have pay-to-play then paul you there ask what else you could do to help the kids in that school. so there are a range of things around the country to the small things. >> talk about the agriculture to the industrial age with the progressive era.

to make community college june trade school that's right and we do talk about that quite a bit is great the president has called attention to that. by saying let's make community college free. but actually it isn't so much the dollar cost per by talk to these kids who don't have any adults that could help them guide them through the process of what school we should go to. the thing that is most important to cut back across the country those around the advising counseling and that is the worst thing that is

what makes that dropout rate very hard. if you talk about this course next term then you could say that is going to be taken the next term. >> if you do dialogue on race and what came out of it is the students in the high school and the former superintendent said it should be seamless we don't worry about getting from eighth grade to ninth grade but the weather you give them to their proper community college of every

kid having a mentor and an after-school program and every kid having early childhood and every kid post secondary education. lewis are questions of political will so with that franklin project you were close sanded biased paul ryan with the economic opportunity play in. and barack obama gave to the national medal.

says the $64,000 question. there are some tough questions to fix the problem but this is not a case where we don't have a good policy ideas and we don't have that political will fundamentally we're we don't think of them as "our kids" but somebody else's.

now in the parking lot you will see there part right next to each other with parents whose kids are on the right we would call the major leaguer. and the parents of the one don't think of as the other that is my call them "our kids" because that is the crucial step. it is true political leaders of both sides seen this as a major issue part of my goal is to make this problem of the of opportunity gap part of the elections if you're a serious candidate for president what is your solution to the problems? that is my aspiration and a

think we're making progress to talk about that. that is the way democracy works then we can talk about how to fix the problem but they do worry this will turn into research for villains. event the magnetic field will be so strong it is all about fixing the economy is to be loose sight of the kids.

>> it is not money or education. i have seen for kids that are highly motivated to succeed in work very hard but the rich kids have not been very motivated despite their education and have not done well. speak to that issue please. >> but we should not assume that motivation comes from jeans or god somehow from outside the kid or maybe they just woke up that's morning and decided not to. but it comes from having successful sequences of the in life so very soon how

then is a result of her parents are college educated she goes off to france somewhere and becomes a good french historian and is highly motivated. soap just for somebody to pull the lever. better her motivation comes out of her experience so we will get them off the hook to say i know that is in which you are saying but i want to be careful because to. -- just players tell but this just fine for q i had to argue with that feeling. if i can do it it was

someplace between investing in the eagle. >> becomes harder to pull yourself up by your bootstraps the last 60 years >> has become harder. and it is harder in the following way that we have privatized most. you used to pay attention to the older kids that gradually has been privatized but it is quite striking because kids from

all across america from the boston area with of those activities and then he says somewhere. that is a strong statement we have to show that just to say that chelsea's mother does in your book it has consequences. >> "our kids" our own biological kids do well and that's great. there is nothing evil about that.

>> but i eric shirley thought it was one of my kids and then i tried to get you to see. >> we have so many hands. >> starting with the national conference of citizenship as a result of boeing we do have a to those volunteering into latin america that shows a strong correlation between education and civic engagement. i know we don't have the same data set but is a different back then in and why? >> thank you very much for that question but the observation those who have more education that it will

be quite as true because there were other institutions that mobilize them. with the unions and the churches. one of my earliest research papers was on the importance of these organizations to mobilize politically. >> iran and we don't have that now. the political party spend as much time as they do with their advocates. >> hq very much.

this is wonderful. between to be in the middle of that there is a whole group, a fast group of people, of young people who are not college material. what has happened to the trade schools? at my house i had a washing machine man the telephone meehan the refrigerator may in i cannot begin to tell you of all the trades that come to my house. they're perfectly capable and what happened? >> first of what can i get the names? [laughter] i agree. of course, . you are right that is a big gap with opportunity with

our kids for a number of years there was a program that all kids in america they all believe they need to go with a college. . .