American Dream Still Alive for Most Americans, WaPo Argues

Washington Post contributor Gonzalo Schwarz makes a contrarian case as the U.S. celebrates its 250th birthday: most Americans are still achieving the American Dream.

The op-ed, published July 3, challenges the widespread pessimism. Many observers point to wage stagnation and housing affordability as evidence the Dream is fading. Schwarz, who directs the social capital project at the Archbridge Institute, argues the alarm is overblown. He cites measures like income mobility and homeownership rates that, while strained, have not collapsed.

The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has amplified debate about the country's trajectory. Schwarz's argument injects a minority view backed by institutional data.

Whether the debate shifts depends on how the data evolves.