Bring up the income inequality issue and what most point to as a remedy is an improvement in education. While education is important, the Atlantic article I reference here suggests improving education will not reduce income disparity. Simply put – Hanauer’s argument is that the only way to put a dent in rising income inequality is to raise family income. He argues that “good schools are a product of the thriving middle class, not the other way around” and notes that 20% of student outcomes can be attributed to schooling and 60% to family circumstances primarily income. This reminds me of the conclusion from the Coleman Report I studied back in the ’60s.
Hanauer claims to focus on education appeals to the wealthy and powerful because it makes no claim on the need to share the wealth. Issues such as minimum income, affordable housing, health care, etc. must be addressed to result in real change. Job growth tends to be greatest in low paying jobs – food prep and service, health-care support, and sales. Hanauer puts it this way (my paraphrase) – focusing on STEM professions does little to help the 141 million workers in the bottom 90% of income jobs.