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.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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