in the middle of the OECD countries. A major factor behind that relative decline has been the US school system's failure to ensure high-quality education for disadvantaged Americans, particularly children from poor, minority, and immigrant households. ... As a result of these and other problems, the average American secondary-school student receives inadequate preparation in core subjects..., which in turn reduces college enrollment and completion rates. ... And a recent study by McKinsey suggests that the gaps in educational opportunity and attainment by income impose the equivalent of a permanent recession of 3-5% of GDP on the US economy. To address the skills gap, the US must boost the educational attainment of current and future workers. That means investing more in education at all levels --  in early-childhood education programs, elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, trade-school programs for specific jobs in specific sectors, and financial aid for higher education. Above all, it means addressing the income disparities in educational opportunity and attainment. Sunday, October 14, 2012 I saw Senator McCain on CNN talking about how the stimulus package is, essentially, reaching into the pockets of future generations and transferring their wealth to the present generation. He kept talking about how much poorer future generations will be as a result of the debt from the stimulus package (never mind that he voted for tax cuts that would have made the deficit much worse, e.g. "It's 'generational theft,' said Senator John McCain, just a few days after voting for tax cuts that