American Dream Out of Reach for Most Americans

American Dream Still Alive But Out of Reach for Most Americans

Thursday, March 10, 2011

New Survey Shows Widespread Concern About Wages, Healthcare, Gas Prices

WASHINGTON, DC -- A majority of working Americans now believe their children are going to be worse off economically than they are, according to a poll of 800 non-supervisory workers released today by Change to Win (CtW). This, along with other striking results, reveals that on Labor Day 2006, the American Dream is slipping away. Among the key findings:

• A majority of workers say the number one issue they face is that the wages they are paid are not keeping up with the cost of living.
• More than half expect to have to work longer before retiring than they thought they would five years ago.
• More than a third have been forced to go into debt in the last year just to pay for basic necessities like food, utilities, and gasoline.

The survey also found a substantial majority believe that by joining together with other workers in unions, workers can help restore the American Dream.

The "American Dream Survey: Hope and Fear in Working America" was conducted by Lake Research Partners, a Washington, DC-based polling firm.

Change to Win chair Anna Burger said CtW commissioned the Labor Day survey to see how the country is contributing to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of working Americans -- the people who contribute most to the nation's strength, prosperity, and well-being.

"We've known for a long time that working Americans are being squeezed," said Burger. "But these results tell us that five years into an economic recovery working families are feeling battered, and are losing hope for the future."

The survey found that while the ideal of the American Dream is still very much alive for working families, most see it slipping away. Also, more than eight out of ten non-supervisory workers in America say that that no matter what you hear about the economy, working families are falling behind.

Survey participants were asked to describe the American Dream and the vast majority spoke about being able to make ends meet, not worrying about debt or meeting basic expenses, and ensuring a good future for their families. When asked to rate attributes of the American Dream, the top scorers were: being proud of the work you do, being able to ensure a better future for your children, owning a home, having affordable health care, having a secure and dignified retirement, and feeling secure in your job. 

"The American Dream for American workers is simple, direct, and powerful," said Burger. "It is not driven by personal greed, and its fulfillment is not great individual wealth, but core American values." 

More than half of working Americans believe that the American Dream is still achievable, but only 14% believe they have obtained it. Among the top economic concerns of the majority of working Americans: keeping up with the cost of living, rising gas prices, and rising health care costs.

On the issue worrying most workers, health care, they feel strongly (61%) -- and 82% overall agree -- that America cannot rely on the marketplace for health insurance; government has a responsibility to make sure Americans have health insurance.

Burger said the findings should set off alarm bells for Congress and urged them to focus their attention on the very real issues facing the majority of American families -- good jobs, decent wages, affordable healthcare, and retirement security.

She also said the survey findings confirmed Change to Win's belief that while the American Dream is at risk in an economy that fails to respect or reward work, workers are ready for change, and see joining together as the way to make change happen.

"Our challenge," concluded Burger, "is to move forward and build on the hope that workers have and increase our efforts to unite more workers in their industries. The challenge to America -- from the corporate boardroom to Congress -- from Wall Street to Pennsylvania Avenue -- is to remain true to the workers who do the jobs that make the profits. Working Americans are the foundation of our country and our economy.  We must keep the dream real for them and for future generations."

The poll was conducted in August 2006, for Change to Win by Lake Research Partners, and surveyed a random national sample of 800 non-supervisory American working adults.