Is the American Dream attainable?
JACKSON, Tenn. — Do you believe the idyllic American dream is out of reach? According to a new poll, nearly 60 percent of people think the dream is impossible to achieve. Among people ages 18 to 34, 63 percent say reaching the dream is impossible. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News spoke with residents to gauge their opinion on the matter. “We do have our downfalls in the country but, at the same time we do have opportunities here and that is a lot to say compared to other places around the world,” Ti Wong Nance, a Jackson resident said. The poll also shows there isn’t much hope for the younger generation. Only 34 percent said most children in the U.S. will be better off than their parents. “I believe that I probably had it better growing up because there is not as much pressure as there is today,” Heather Barker, an Alamo resident said. Researchers say these negative views aren’t necessarily supported by facts. Earlier this year, two major studies showed the ability to climb the economic ladder has not changed that much over time.
