Rank, Mark R

"The United States has been epitomized as a land of opportunity, where hard work and skill can bring personal success and economic well-being. The American Dream has captured the imagination of people from all walks of life, and to many, it represents the heart and soul of the country. But there is another, darker side to the bargain that America strikes with its people -- it is the price we pay for our individual pursuit of the American Dream. That price can be found in the economic hardship present in the lives of millions of Americans"--Front jacket flap.

Addresses the social and economic problem of poverty in America, maintains that the root causes are found in both the economic structure and political policy failures as opposed to individual shortcomings, and offers strategies for reducing the financial burdens of the people.