Pew Research recently came out with its latest political typology of the American people. Here are a few highlights:
The Pew report is fascinating, full of surprises and counter-intuitive findings. It’s available in full online. I encourage you to read and appreciate at your leisure. In the meantime, here’s a chart to ponder:
In other words, substantial majorities of all political groups feel they've achieved the American Dream or are at least getting there. Yet we hear all the time that "the American Dream is dead". Take this Chicago Tribune commentary, "The American Dream is dead, and voters are angry". To quote:
“The Trump election likely signals a new era of extreme voter discontent and improbable national election results. Why? Because the so-called American Dream — that each generation would live better than its predecessor — has ended for most of our citizens.”
The citizens appear to disagree. Over 80% of Trump supporters say they have either achieved the American Dream or are bullish about their prospects. So why is there such a disconnect on this issue? Perhaps the American Dream for most people isn't based on comparing themselves with their parents.