The Illusion of the American Dream

 It has been almost 250 years since the US adopted its Declaration of Independence. Throughout these years, the second sentence of this historic document has been the foundation of the ‘American Dream’ for future generations. The sentence in question states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

However, after 250 years, this ideal is not aligned with today's harsh realities. Statistics from the US Bureau of Statistics reveal some alarming inequalities: The death rate due to firearm injuries among African-American citizens is nearly twice as high as that of white Americans. Additionally, the highest rate of child abuse in the US is found among Native Americans. Despite the fact that the median family income in the US is $88,590, it is significantly lower for African-American households, at $59,541.

Back in 2021, approximately eight percent of white and Asian American families were living below the poverty line, whereas the rate of black households below the poverty line was around 19.5 percent. These inequalities are not solely based on race. Per capita national health costs have also skyrocketed in the US, particularly for the low-income segment, exacerbated in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. In conclusion, when examining the overall social and economic statistics in the US, once considered the land of opportunities, it is clear that they fall short of expectations in many aspects.