kalm wrote:
There's always going to be some who slip through the cracks but I'm guessing it would be a very wise investment. Especially if it was a work/study/CCC type program where they are receiving an apprenticeship while actually providing productivity.

Isn't that similar to the idea that everyone should get a college education? Eventually we'd have college graduates or tradesmen without jobs...or sweeping floors.
Wait a minute.
How many oil change mechanics do we need? And what would happen to the livelihood of those who are employed in whatever work/study program pumping out hundreds of thousands of newly trained people looking for work in that particular field?
A larger part of the problem comes down to a lack of financial education in our schools and communities. We learn some pretty useless stuff in school while ignoring the most basic tool of financial survival...save money...EARLY and often.
You want to get out of poverty? Save money...live with your family or extended family as long as you can while extending your education. Pool your resources with others who are trying to get out. Work hard and make sacrifices. Sure, it is a long haul, but you'll most likely get you and your family out of the bottom of the barrel within a generation.
But sacrificing for the next generation is far too long to wait for most people.
Instead, people expect to pop out a few kids, get their own apartment (who wants to live with their parents or adult kids when someone else can provide), buy the newest shoes and big screen TV, eat expensive crappy food, and generally blame the system for keeping them down.
