Nearly Half of Youth Say ‘American Dream’ Is Dead
American’s youth are down on the future, with nearly half of those ages 18 through 29 believing the “American Dream” is more dead than alive, a nationwide survey released Thursday by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics shows.
Reflecting the sour mood of the overall electorate, 48 percent of those asked “For you personally, is the idea of the American Dream alive or dead?” responded “dead.” Those who picked “alive” accounted for 49 percent.
While the race or ethnicity of the poll’s respondents didn’t significantly impact the results, the level of education of those questioned did play a role in determining the answer. Fifty-eight percent of college graduates said the dream was alive for them personally, compared to 42 percent of those not in college or who had never enrolled in college.
“It is disturbing that about half of the largest generation in America doesn’t believe the American dream is there for them personally,” said John Della Volpe, the institute’s polling director. “That frustration, I think, is tied into a government they don’t trust and they don’t think is working for them.”
The survey also found that America’s young Democrats, who helped propel President Barack Obama in his 2008 primary victory over Hillary Clinton, are more supportive of Senator Bernie Sanders than the former secretary of state, senator, and first lady. (Read more from “Nearly Half of Youth Say ‘American Dream’ Is Dead” HERE)
Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.
