Decline in Belief in American Dream, Poll Reveals

Survey shows only 36% of voters still believe in the American dream, with half stating life is worse than 50 years ago.

According to a Wall Street Journal/NORC survey, only 36% of US voters believe the American dream is still possible, marking a decline from previous years.
Half of the respondents believe that life in the US is worse than it was 50 years ago, and that the country's economic and political systems are 'stacked against people like me'.
Responses to the poll were more divided along gender and age lines, with 28% of women voters and 46% of male voters saying the American dream is still alive, and 48% of voters over the age of 65 believing in the potential to advance through hard work, while 28% of voters under the age of 50 agreed.
Despite the pessimism, the percentage of US voters who currently rate the economy as 'excellent' or 'good' has doubled since last May, and unemployment rates for black Americans hit a record low 5% in April.
Inflation outpaced increases in workers’ wages in both 2021 and 2022, but could reverse course by the end of this year.