o　are　losing　their　union　jobs　at　the　Maytag　plant　that's　moving　to　Mexico；　and　now　are　having　to　pete　with　their　own　children　for　jobs　that　pay　seven　bucks　an　hour。　More　to　do　for　the　father　I　met　who　was　losing　his　job　and　choking　back　tears；　wondering　how　he　would　pay　4；500　a　month　for　the　drugs　his　son　needs　without　the　health　benefits　he　counted　on。　More　to　do　for　the　young　woman　in　East　St。　Louis；　and　thousands　more　like　her；　who　has　the　grades；　has　the　drive；　has　the　will；　but　doesn't　have　the　money　to　go　to　college。

Don't　get　me　wrong。　The　people　I　meet　in　small　towns　and　big　cities；　in　diners　and　office　parks；　they　don't　expect　government　to　solve　all　their　problems。　They　know　they　have　to　work　hard　to　get　ahead　and　they　want　to。　Go　into　the　collar　counties　around　Chicago；　and　people　will　tell　you　they　don't　want　their　tax　money　wasted　by　a　welfare　agency　or　the　Pentagon。　Go　into　any　inner　city　neighborhood；　and　folks　will　tell　you　that　government　alone　can't　teach　kids　to　learn。　They　know　that　parents　have　to　parent；　that　children　can't　achieve　unless　we　raise　their　expectations　and　turn　off　the　television　sets　and　eradicate　the　slander　that　says　a　black　youth　with　a　book　is　acting　white。　No；　people　don't　expect　government　to　solve　all　their　problems。　But　they　sense；　deep　in　their　bones；　that　with　just　a　change　in　priorities；　we　can　make　sure　that　every　child　in　America　has　a　decent　shot　at　life；　and　that　the　doors　of　opportunity　remain　open　to　all。　They　know