On December 4, 2013, in a speech at the Center for American Progress discussing the issue of economic mobility in the United States, President Obama said: “I believe that it t is the defining challenge of our time: Ensuring our economy works for every American worker. That’s why I ran for president. This was the focus of last year's campaign. It determines everything I do in this office. And I know I've raised this issue before, and some will ask me why I'm raising the issue again now. I do this because the outcomes of the debates we're having right now - whether it's health care, the budget, or reforming our housing and financial systems - all of these things will have consequences. real and practical implications for every American. And I am confident that the decisions we make on these issues over the next few years will determine whether or not our children grow up in an America where opportunity is real.” The president's remarks were in response to growing concern in our country about increasing income inequality and decreasing lack of upward mobility. Too many citizens have incomes so low that they struggle to make ends meet, and Americans are no longer convinced by the concept of the "Land of Opportunity" or the promise that if you work hard, you have a chance to progress. ProblemEconomic mobility is defined as the ability of an individual or family to achieve higher social or economic status and is generally measured in terms of income. Recent data suggests that economic mobility in the United States is declining and that children born into poor families find it particularly difficult to move up the income ladder. There is other information that indicates that there are stark differences associated with economic mobility, gender and economics...... middle of document ...... daily life provides opportunities for prosperity. These notions constitute the philosophy of our great nation, but income inequality in America is increasing and the economic mobility of some minority groups has stalled; So, for some people, the “American Dream” has become the “American Nightmare.” Of course, America is a much better country today than it was a few decades ago, in part because of policies put in place by the federal government to ensure economic security. Many other factors can contribute to achieving economic mobility, but for all of us, our progress depends on opportunities to obtain human capital. Therefore, by expanding educational programs and closing gaps in our public safety net, our nation can gradually become a better social democratic society, with a more flexible, revolutionary economy that supports economic mobility and promotes equity..