The Tories and the Lib Dems talk about social mobility but short of winning the lottery the only way to guarantee young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to do better and to raise aspirations is through education.

We must promote upward mobility starting with solutions that speak to our broken education system broken immigration policy and broken safety-net programs that foster dependency instead of helping people get back on their feet.

America is not just a democracy it represents a certain culture of competitive mobility and personality aspirations politics is not merely a clash of interests but a clash of dreams.

Crucial to understanding federalism in modern day America is the concept of mobility or 'the ability to vote with your feet.' If you don't support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol - don't come to Texas. If you don't like medicinal marijuana and gay marriage don't move to California.

Americans have so far put up with inequality because they felt they could change their status. They didn't mind others being rich as long as they had a path to move up as well. The American Dream is all about social mobility in a sense - the idea that anyone can make it.