Failure is unfortunately as common as success.

We certainly want those at the top to do well but if you base your entire presidency and your entire economic platform on helping them do even better you're missing what makes the economy tick. Because not everyone has been as fortunate as Mitt Romney you cannot base your whole approach on a life experience as rarified as his.

I had one relative who passed away but fortunately none others. So my sort of experience of it is quite limited thankfully.

Unfortunately the real achievements of children on the ground became debased and devalued because Labor education secretaries sounded like Soviet commissars praising the tractor production figures when we know that those exams were not the rock-solid measures of achievement that children deserve.

Unfortunately the elimination of incentives such as parole good time credits and funding for college courses means that fewer inmates participate in and excel in literacy education treatment and other development programs.

I was really fortunate growing up to have a broad musical education. My parents listened to all kinds of music rock soul Motown jazz Frank Sinatra everything.

I had become increasingly concerned in recent years about the lack of civics education in our nation's schools. In recent years the schools have stopped teaching it. And it's unfortunate.

I grew up with not a lot of money and I definitely shopped at Goodwill. But even in my most unfortunate state I was really blessed compared to a lot of the rest of the world. I had a really great chance to follow my dreams and have them actually come true.

Having achieved my own dreams I want to give to kids who are less fortunate who struggle with everyday obstacles. I want to give them something positive in their lives: support.

I'm a big fan of dreams. Unfortunately dreams are our first casualty in life - people seem to give them up quicker than anything for a 'reality.'