How exactly is it a simple issue?  There was a time in this country where you could graduate high school, get a decent paying job in manufacturing, or some other semi-skilled profession, and earn enough to live on.  Today, not so much, you need to be in a more skilled profession at best, and college certainly helps.  Changing cities isn't an option as it is pretty damn hard to save enough to relocate if you are already living pretty close to your limits.  A year or so ago, I had a conversation with a nice couple who were moving from somewhere in Aurora to somewhere in the Denver West area, moving would be cheaper and closer to work, they didn't have a car.  They were using the light rail to move.  I admire their drive to make it work, but not everybody is in their position and can do something like that.