Semi related to what FrankR said. He always has some very reasoned comments to various issues. Not only does he know the mechanical stuff, he knows the social stuff too.

He made a comment about helping to teach people to rise above their social status. (at least that is how I interpreted it).

Well, I work with a lot of Asians, Indians, Philipino, a few blacks, as well as whites. One strange thing I have realized. The parents of both whites and blacks do not want their kids to do better than they do. It is always, I did fine with xxx they should do fine too. While with Asians, Indians, Philipino, etc, they often want only the best for their kids. Gotta be a top school, gotta be a doctor or lawyer. I will probably get flamed for this, but note that I am including whites in this. White parents do not what their kids to exceed their success either. ( I am white, but I do want my kids to do better than me)

If you got a white janitor he tells his kid that wants to go to college, "why you want to go to college, aint what I do good enough for ya?" While the Asian janitor will want his kid to go to Harvard.

It's not the governments job to get people out of poverty. It is the parents job.