This Week: America at 250 — Is the American Dream Still Alive?
Plus, significant rulings at the Supreme Court this week, a special offer related to the nation's birthday and a moving nine-minute view of our nation's history that should be viewed by all.
Tomorrow, the United States marks its 250th birthday. The fireworks, celebrations and parades are sure to be grander than ever, and it’s an apt moment to reflect not only on the nation’s past but also on one of its defining ideals: the American Dream.
For generations, the promise that hard work could lead to a better life has shaped how Americans see themselves and their future. But as the country celebrates this milestone, many are questioning whether that promise still holds.
Recent Gallup polling found that only about one-third of Americans believe the American Dream is still attainable, while a majority say it has become harder to achieve than it was for previous generations. Rising housing costs, inflation, stagnant wages, and growing economic inequality have fueled concerns that upward mobility is slipping out of reach, even as others argue it is evolving, and both Democrats and Republicans call the American Dream unfinished.
This week's debaters brought their own data to the conversation and argued vigorously and respectfully about American prosperity and access to realizing the dream.
So, is the American Dream truly in decline, or is it being redefined for a new era? As the nation looks ahead to its next 250 years, it’s a timely and necessary conversation about what opportunity, success, and prosperity should mean in America today. We hope you’ll take a listen – and of course, we wish you a happy and restful July 4th weekend.
Guest Moderator:
Nayeema Raza, Journalist and Host of “Smart Girl Dumb Questions”
Arguing Yes:
David Leonhardt, Pulitzer Prize-winning Editorial Director for The New York Times Opinion Section; Author of “Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream”
“For the last 15 years, we have had the worst life expectancy of any rich country. It's not even that close anymore. These are the ways, through healthcare that people can't afford, through good houses and good schools that people can't afford, through their dropping out of the labor force… this is the dominant way in which the American Dream is in decline.”
Arguing No:
Michael Strain, Political Economy Scholar and Director of Economic Policy Studies at American Enterprise Institute; Author of “The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It)”
“I think if you look back over the last 30 years, you see substantial progress. You see wage gains, income gains. You see an upwardly mobile society. You see improvements in quality of life….The fact that so many people of the world's hardest-working, most ambitious, most risk-tolerant people want to come to America is a sign that things in America are relatively good compared to other countries.”
The Last Week of an Eventful Term for the Supreme Court
As another Supreme Court term comes to a close, the justices have left behind a slate of decisions that will reverberate well beyond Washington. From expanding presidential authority over independent federal agencies, to upholding state bans on transgender girls competing in girls' and women’s sports, to issuing consequential rulings on immigration enforcement and campaign finance, the Court capped off the term with no shortage of headline-making opinions.
One ruling in particular touched on a debate we've explored before. In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's executive order that would have denied automatic U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil if their parents were in the country unlawfully or on temporary visas. The Court held that the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause — backed by more than a century of precedent — guarantees citizenship at birth and cannot be rewritten by executive order. If you missed our past coverage of the debate “Should America End Birthright Citizenship?” and the arguments the justices likely pondered in the courtroom, watch the debate now.
How Do You Explain the Country’s Full History in 9 Minutes?
From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, America’s role as a country and on the global stage has changed a lot. To celebrate America’s 250th, Kite & Key Media has released 250 Years of American History in 9 Minutes — a fast-paced walk through the milestones, misfires, and turning points that got us here.
It's a fitting reminder that democracy has always been an argument in progress—and that the debates we're having today are the newest chapter in a very long conversation. Watch the video here.
CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH: OTD offers 25% off an Open to Debate Subscription
Celebrate America’s 250th by supporting the tradition of thoughtful debate and open dialogue. For a limited time, enjoy 25% off an Open to Debate one-year subscription and join a community committed to exploring ideas from all perspectives. From exclusive livestreams where you can watch debates before they're released to the public to conversations with leading voices driving today’s biggest debates, like Andrew Yang, Jeffrey Rosen, Dr. Wendy Walsh, Simon Johnson, Chris Hughes, Rumman Chowdhury, and many more, this is a rare opportunity you don’t want to miss.
Offer applies to one-year subscriptions only and expires on Tuesday, July 7th at 11:59 PM ET
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dream? for a couple of decades ive broken that gravity addict mindlessness thinking usa is A#1. many here know little about their language, know little about their thoughts and little about their actions, all by design. united we stand, divided we fall, wtf does this mean? tons of slogans, mantras, mottos that are aimed at the immature. this is very extensive and i will shorten it with this simple jumble of words. democracy, what does it mean and what do you see. capitalism, what is it and what do you see. while democracy is ancient and an greek derived word, capitalism is slightly newer and the usage and meaning has morphed since then. capitalism and democracy, i see democracy as something the citizens repeat like the privelidged who have access to oxywhatever+xanax.