Fewer and fewer voters are placing their faith in the American dream and the belief that hard work leads to success, a recent poll has revealed.
The poll, conducted by the Wall Street Journal and the University of Chicago, found that only 36% of voters still believe in the American dream, with 45% saying the dream was true in the past but is no longer, and 18% stating that it was never true.
Belief in the American dream has been steadily declining, with only 48% of voters in 2016 and 53% in 2012 expressing faith in it.
According to the poll, fewer women (28%) than men (46%) believe in the American dream, and younger voters (28%) are less likely to believe in it compared to older voters (48%).
The poll also delved into voters’ opinions on whether life in America is better today compared to 50 years ago and whether the economic and political systems are stacked against them. Approximately half of voters believe that life is worse now than it was 50 years ago, and half agree that the systems are biased against them.
While 35% of voters believe the economy is in “excellent” or “good” shape, a significant increase from 20% in May, 65% still rate it as “not so good” or “poor”. Many voters attribute their lack of economic confidence to inflation.
The poll, conducted from Oct. 19-24, surveyed 1,163 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Unique Perspective:
It’s clear that the foundational belief in the American dream has become increasingly shaky, reflecting shifting attitudes towards hard work and success. This decline in faith could signify a broader sense of disillusionment with the current economic and social landscape, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of our societal values and opportunities.
