Doing “Right” Can Go Wrong.

There is a persistent myth that a person who does everything the “right” way, will succeed in America. Go to college. Get married. Get a good job. Stay out of trouble. Keep your nose clean. Have some kids. That white picket fence is a sure thing.

This is not reality, and the false belief in the “American Dream” is detrimental.

The Myth

While it is possible to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” — a phrase often used by conservatives and social Darwinists who portray an ideal of someone who works hard (and gets a little bit lucky) that can drag themselves out of poverty into financial success.

People will refer to “rags to riches” exemplars like LeBron James, Denzel Washington, and 2020 Democrat Presidential candidate Andrew Yang. However, these are the exceptions, not the rule.

According to a study by U.C. Davis, someone who has been in poverty for seven or more years has only a 13% chance to move out of poverty.

Those are not good odds.

The Effects

In short, national depression. The post-Boomer generations that have been victims of the American Dream mythos — especially millennials and Gen Z — have seen a massive increase in mental health diagnoses, reliance on antidepressants, and suicides.

Imagine being told that going to college will increase your chances of getting a high paying job, only to be unemployed and saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

Imagine being told that you are special only to find out you are just like everyone else.

Imagine being raised believing that hard work is all you need, only to see good jobs going to incompetent peers who benefit from nepotism.

For millions of Americans, we need not imagine, because this is our reality. The rug has been swept out from underneath us, and all we are left with is despair.

The Solution

There are no guarantees in life. The economy is moving quickly from industrialization to service and technology. Postmodern intersectionality is driving the social conversation from collective unity to hyper-individualization.

We need to understand where we are and where we are going. We need to learn from the lessons of the early industrial revolution and the impact to agricultural farmers so that we can prepare for another seismic economic shift.

Companies want college graduates with highly-specialized degrees. Broad based degrees like the social sciences are not as sought after as engineering, medical, or statistics. Eschew that sociology or women’s studies degree and head to a trade school.

Most of all, accept reality and be reflective. The American Dream may not be your reality, and that is okay. You are one of millions who are in the same situation. It is not your fault, because you were just following the path that you were led to believe was the “right” one by your parents and teachers.

In a very real sense, you are the victim of misconception and outright deception. You also have autonomy and free-will. You must choose to break free of the social chains holding you back. You must break free of the psychological and emotional chains that are driving you to stress induced mental illness.

Do what you can, but do not be discouraged. You are not alone. I am one of you as well. We can affect the future by improving our own.