A few days ago, CNN released a fascinating poll on how many Americans feel that the American dream is beyond their reach. According to the poll, it's a majority now, 54 percent. The poll also reveals that 74 percent of Americans regard Congress as "out of touch" and 79 percent feel that big business has too much influence over Bush administrattion policies.

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has promised (CQ-$$) the swift passage of a minimum wage bill if the Democrats take power. Prospective House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi has made a similar promise. Kennedy, who would be chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee if the Democrats can gain six seats Nov. 7, said he would try to follow Pelosi’s example. While a Democratic-controlled House could easily pass a minimum wage increase, opposition from conservatives in the Senate would make quick action more difficult.

The now-cooling housing market, which had been growing at rapid clip, priced a lot of housing outside the reach of many middle-class workers. Looking for affordable housing, a lot of families have opted to move further out into the suburbs looking for cheaper housing. This would seem like a solution to the problem of ever-increasing home prices. Maybe not (WSJ, $$): Moving to an area with lower housing costs often doesn't pay off for low-income Americans, according to a study to be released today by the Center for Housing Policy, a nonprofit research group based in Washington.

The President is mighty proud of the new deficit numbers. In fact, he called a press conference to say that the tax cuts he pushed have generated the surge in revenue that's partly responsible for the lower deficit this year. Hmmmmm. Well, corporate profits have gone way up, it's true. And he did cut taxes on corporate profits. There's a correlation there, for sure.