Both Anna Burger, a representative from the SEIU, and Nick Penniman, from People for America's Future talked about the need for dignified work, including a full time job that pays well enough to own a home and send children to college. SO true, and an issue that has galvanized lots of students too advocate for living wages and wage parity on campuses.

John Burton, a research associate at Center for American Progress, made note of that generational aspect, when he said we young people have to make sacrifices and create the social movements, especially around what investments we make in human capital.

Ruy Teixeira offered some interesting insights about the limitations of populism, at least economic populism against cultural populism, like Reagan's anti-government rhetoric. Populism can be a tool in our toolbox, he said, one that connects to our origins as being the party of the people, against crony capitalism.

The big question from the session was, if we (progressives) are all populists now that there is such egregious abuse and crony capitalism, is the populist message something we connect to on a visceral level, through involvement in real working and immigrant communities, or is it simply a rhetorical messaging tool,with all the credibility that gives to critics who call us out-of-touch elites.

Its a big question, one that I hope continues in discussions even after the conference