A recent Wall Street Journal poll asked Americans whether the American Dream is still true. Only 36 percent of respondents said they thought so. Meanwhile, 45% believe that while this concept was once true, it is no longer relevant in today's society and has lost its luster.
At first glance, these numbers may seem alarming. However, the real situation is more nuanced. After all, the devil is in the details.
Specifically, the poll asked, “Do you think the American dream of getting ahead through hard work is still a reality, has never been a reality, or was it once a reality but is no longer a reality? “Do you think you haven't?” I asked.
This question was not asking Americans about the American Dream. The poll asked whether meritocracy (the idea that you can get promoted through hard work) still holds true. It's not the same thing. That's because when you take the time to ask Americans about the American Dream itself, “getting ahead in life” rarely comes up on the list of expectations.
A 2019 study by the American Enterprise Institute found that only 16 percent of Americans believe the American Dream is about becoming wealthy. Meanwhile, 85% of Americans said the American Dream includes “the freedom to choose how to live one's life.” Meanwhile, 82% of Americans believed they were on their way to or had already achieved the American Dream.
Most recently, a Chase survey released earlier this month found that a majority of Millennial and Gen Z adults believe the American Dream is still within reach. This optimism varies by region, with 85 percent of respondents in Miami affirming their belief in the American Dream and 71 percent of respondents in Seattle agreeing.
But these are all just numbers. After all, what does it mean?
The American Dream is not about money or career advancement. The American Dream is about living your life to the fullest, achieving your personal goals without being constrained by government.
Why do 85 percent of Miami Millennials and Gen Z believe in the American Dream, but only 71 percent of Seattle residents do the same? There are many possible explanations. Weather influences an individual's outlook on life, so the Sunshine State may be a more pleasant place to be than the gloomy Pacific Northwest.
The cost of living, which is 24.8 percent lower in Miami than in Seattle, may also play a role. It may be because of crime. Property crime in Miami is 14.2 percent lower than in Seattle. However, this is just a cherry on top, considering that violent crime is not particularly prevalent in Seattle.
The truth is that the American Dream includes all of these issues, not just one. But ultimately, the best way to measure the American Dream is to take a holistic approach.
In the 50-State Index of Personal and Economic Freedom, Florida ranked second-freest overall in 2022, while Washington ranked 37th. Perhaps this is why Miami residents find the American Dream more attainable than their distant brethren in Seattle.
The American Dream isn't complicated. It's a very simple ideal: the promise of being able to chart your own destiny. Americans feel happier and more fulfilled when they are free to chart their own destiny.
Gabriel Nadales is the national director of Our America.
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