It is a sign of an economically challenged country when the middle class is doing less well.

It is easy to get $500,000 of debt to go to school because university endowments funnel that money back into the market, so big business likes this. It is hard to get $500,000 of debt financing to grow or start a business.

I think the measure of economic health is how far hard work can get a person.

I think hard work and determination should be respected, valued, and rewarded.

I'm not sure that the Greatest Generation immigrant success stories are as likely today as they once were. But I believe that hard work can eventually lead to success, no matter what the starting point.

Will most Millenial or Gen X citizens outperform or equal their parents' or grandparents' quality of life? Not a sure thing in middle class work-for-a-living circles and that is a problem.