The author contends that equal opportunity in America, a tenet central to liberal ideology, is a myth and that society is not nearly as fluid as many believe. Children born into poverty, representing about 25 percent of every generation, have slim chances of rising out of that poverty. Despite decades of programs ranging from the Jacksonian era through the Great Society, odds against the poor have scarcely changed since the 19th century. The lack of change is attributed to a narrow focus of reformers on poverty rather than on the real issue of relative poverty or the unequal distribution of wealth. The author demonstrates that the marriage between liberal reform and children's issues has hurt more than helped children. He notes that liberal reformers have encouraged Americans to "defer the dream" a generation, assuming that children can better themselves if given a fair shake. Instead of expecting children to better their chances in an unfair society, the author argues that society must be reformed to offer fair chances to children. Chapter notes