The American Dream must be part of ’24 campaigns
The 2024 presidential race has already begun. There are already four people on the Republican side, including former President Donald Trump and former Governor Nikki Haley, who have officially thrown their names in the hat.
On the Democrat side, even though no one has officially announced their candidacy, most expect President Biden to run again and there is no shortage of potential candidates in a Democratic primary.
Some of the main themes we will hear about in the party platforms will be a repeat of recent elections. The economy will be the main worry for many Americans, as recession fears still loom large and the inflation rate—albeit trending down— is still high. We will still hear about Russia’s unjust war on Ukraine and U.S. involvement, and we will most definitely hear about the culture war.
However, one topic that should be front and center in all platforms and for all campaigns is the American Dream. According to recent surveys by More in Common, there is an exhausted majority of Americans that wants something different. Independents and swing voters still decide elections, and many of them are tired of polarization, the lack of unity, and a chaos narrative that usually arises during election season. They want a more positive vision for the country.
The American Dream provides that positive vision. Recent surveys on the state and health of the American Dream provide a hopeful unifying narrative. When asked if the American Dream is alive and well, eight in 10 Americans say that they have either achieved the American Dream or are on their way to achieve it. Only two in 10 say the dream is out of reach.
Additionally, the survey asked what the American Dream means to them and if they think different statements like freedom of choice on how to live, owning a home, or becoming wealthy are essential, important but not essential, or not important for the American Dream. Freedom of choice in how to live and having a good family life are the two factors that most people value as essential for the American Dream (83% and 79%, respectively). Becoming wealthy is only essential for just one in 10 people, and only half of Americans claim owning a home is essential to the American Dream.
Delving into the politics behind the data helps paint an even more hopeful vision for both political parties and, more importantly, hope for what seems like a potential unifying narrative—one that can help us address the polarization permeating elections and politics.
The survey asked people to self-identify as very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative. And, across the political spectrum, people had similar responses. Most people— regardless of politics—think the American Dream is alive and well. Liberals are slightly more pessimistic about the American Dream, with 24% of them saying it is out of reach compared to 17% of moderate and conservative respondents, but there is still a clear consensus.
When it comes to what is essential to the American Dream the story is the same. People value freedom of choice in how to live and having a good family life as essential. Owning a home and having a successful career was not as essential. And very few people believe becoming wealthy is essential for the American Dream.
Across the political spectrum, people find their American Dream in freedom and purpose. When exploring the survey findings across categories such as level of education, age, income, and ethnicity, the story remains the same. All of these ingredients are prime to make the 2024 race about the American Dream.
The American Dream will not mean the same to each candidate or voter. Freedom of choice in how to live and having a good family life can have many interpretations, but that is the beauty of it. The dream is one of the few hopeful narratives that can unify Americans given our political and individual diversity.
With a common thread based on freedom, aspiration, overcoming obstacles, the American Dream brings a purposeful, action-oriented mindset that enables more upward economic mobility and human flourishing. All of this can be true across the party aisle. The American Dream is extremely popular politically, and the 2024 candidates should take notice.
A healthy discussion and focus on the American Dream is exactly what the country needs in this upcoming presidential race. In the American Dream, we can find hope, we can find unity, and we can reinvigorate a discussion on the national ethos of America — one of the most powerful ideals we have.