Essay
THE POLLS—TRENDS ATTITUDES ABOUT THE AMERICAN DREAM
SANDRA L. HANSON* JOHN ZOGBY
Abstract Results from a number of U.S. public opinion polls collect- ed in the past two decades are used to examine trends in attitudes about the American Dream. Trends are examined in the following areas: “What is the American Dream?” “Is the American Dream achievable?” and “What is the role of government and politics in the American Dream?” Findings suggest that a majority of Americans consistently re- ported that the American Dream (for themselves and their family) is more about spiritual happiness than material goods. However, the size of this majority is decreasing. Most Americans continued to believe that working hard is the most important element for getting ahead in the United States. However, in some surveys, an increasing minority of Americans reported that this hard work and determination does not guarantee success. A majority of respondents believe that achieving the American Dream will be more difficult for future generations, al- though this majority is becoming smaller. Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the opportunity for the working class to get ahead and increasingly optimistic about the opportunity for the poor and im- migrants to get ahead in the United States. Although trends show consistency in Americans blaming Blacks for their condition (not dis- crimination), a majority of Americans consistently support programs that make special efforts to help minorities get ahead.
Introduction
The American Dream is a dominant theme in U.S. culture. In this article, we examine trends in public opinion on the American Dream over the past few decades. Our findings will lend insight into whether Americans believe that
SANDRA L. HANSON is Professor of Sociology and Research Associate at the Life Cycle Institute, Catholic University, Washington, DC, USA. JOHN ZOGBY is President and CEO of Zogby Interna- tional, Utica, NY, USA. *Address correspondence to Sandra L. Hanson, Department of Sociology, Catholic University, 116 Aquinas Hall, Washington, DC, USA; e-mail: hanson@cua.edu.
Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 74, No. 3, Fall 2010, pp. 570–584
doi: 10.1093/poq/nfq010 Advance Access publication March 23, 2010 © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
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this dream is achievable for all and whether their faith in the Dream has erod- ed over time.
THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Cullen (2003) and others (Sherraden 1991; Newman 1993; Shapiro 2004; Moen and Roehling 2005; Johnson 2006; Ho 2007) have suggested that the American Dream may be unraveling as we see a growing wealth gap, ongoing race and gender inequality, and expanding poor immigrant populations. Per- haps the 21st century is not a time of increasing progress toward the American Dream.
Research on attitudes about gaining wealth and getting ahead in the United States and elsewhere shows that Americans tend to see individual hard work and effort as the key for getting ahead. Lack of thrift, effort, ability, motiva- tion, and self-control are the most popular explanations for poverty among Americans (Feagin 1975; Kluegel and Smith 1986). Thus, inequality is justi- fied and the Dream can stay alive in the context of one of the wealthiest nations with one of the greatest wealth divides. Attitude surveys from other countries show much more support (relative to the United States) for the no- tion that hard work does not always pay off (Kluegel and Miyano 1995; Mason and Kluegel 2000).
Three questions guide this research on trends in public opinion about the American Dream: 1) What are the trends in public opinion on the definition of the American Dream? 2) What are the trends in public opinion on whether the American Dream is achievable? Related to this are issues of who can achieve the Dream, as well as when and how it can be achieved. 3) What are the trends in public opinion on the role that politics and government play in making the American Dream achievable? Trend data from multiple public opinion polls that include data collected between 1978 and 2008 are used to answer these ques- tions. With the exception of the Zogby polls, the trend data come from survey results obtained through searches of the iPOLL Databank provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of Connecticut.
Findings
WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM?
Data in tables 1 and 2 show trends in public opinion on how Americans view the American Dream. Data in table 1 show that in 2001 and 2004, respondents were more likely to say that “spiritual fulfillment,” rather than “material suc- cess,” described their goals in life. Over this time period, the percentage of people who reported “spiritual fulfillment” dropped, however, to less than 50. A very small and stable number of Americans (seven percent) reported that “I cannot achieve the American Dream” in response to this survey item.
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Responses to a query that focuses specifically on the American Dream are presented in table 2. Consistent with figures in table 1, these data show the importance of spiritual happiness for Americans. Here we see that a clear ma- jority of Americans in every survey year said that the Dream, for themselves and their family, was more about spiritual happiness than material goods. This majority, however, decreased slightly from 1998 to 2001. Conversely, the per- centage of respondents who reported that the American Dream is about material goods increased during this time.
IS THE AMERICAN DREAM ACHIEVABLE?
Data in table 3 show that a majority of respondents from 1985 to 2006 re- ported that hard work (rather than luck) matters most in getting ahead. The percentage of respondents citing hard work never fell below 63 in polls fielded during this period. What is interesting is a slight upward trend from 1985 to 2002 in the percentage of respondents who reported that hard work and luck are equally important for getting ahead. However, the trend data
Table 1. Goals in Life. Zogby: Which of the following descriptions best rep- resent your goals in life?
Material success
Spiritual fulfillment
American Dream means material success. It exists, but it is more likely to be attained by my children and not by me
I cannot achieve the American Dream Not sure
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
6/6–7/27/2001 24 53 11 7 5 3,019 11/16–19/2004 29 48 8 7 8 1,204
Table 2. Defining the American Dream. Zogby: For you and your family, do you consider the American Dream to be mainly about achieving material goods or is it more about finding spiritual happiness?
Material goods Spiritual happiness Not sure (%) (%) (%) N
5/11–7/7/1998 21 56 23 1,583 2/10–3/8/1999 21 57 22 1,690 6/6–7/27/2001 32 51 17 3,019
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show another shift in the later survey years, with the 2005 and 2006 data showing a reverse in the trend.
Between 1999 and 2007, over 60 percent of respondents in each of six sur- veys agreed (either strongly or not strongly) that “most people who want to get ahead can make it if they’re willing to work hard” (table 4). However, this trend shows a slight decrease, overall, in the percentage of respondents taking this position, accompanied by a slight increase, overall, in the percentage who thought that hard work and determination do not always pay off.
Figures in table 5 show the levels of satisfaction that Americans express with the opportunity for a person in the United States to get ahead by working hard. Although more respondents were satisfied than dissatisfied in each year from 2001 to 2008, there was a notable increase in the percentage of respon- dents who were very dissatisfied with this opportunity. The percentage of respondents who were “very dissatisfied” rose from eight percent in 2001 to 14 percent in 2008. The percentage of respondents who were “very satis- fied” with the opportunity to get ahead by working hard stayed rather constant over the survey years (with some minor variations). However, the percentage who reported being “somewhat satisfied” with the opportunity for a person in the United States to get ahead by working hard showed a consistent decline.
The next three tables also consider attitudes about what it takes to get ahead. Here it is the difficulty in getting ahead in the United States that the
Table 3. Getting ahead by Hard Work versus Lucky Breaks. GSS: Some people say that people get ahead by their own hard work, while others say that lucky breaks or help from other people are more important. Which do you think is most important?
Hard work most
important
Hard work, luck equally important
Luck most important Don’t know
(%) (%) (%) (%) N
2/1985 66 19 14 1 1,534 2/1987 66 19 15 1 1,466 2/1989 66 20 14 1 1,537 2/1990 65 21 13 1 1,372 2/1991 66 21 13 1 1,517 2/5–4/26/1993 66 22 13 0 1,606 1/27–5/31/1994 69 19 11 1 2,992 2/1–5/25/1996 70 18 11 1 2,904 2/1–6/19/1998 67 22 10 1 2,832 2/1–6/25/2000 65 24 10 1 2,817 2/6–6/26/2002 63 27 10 1 2,765 8/18/2004–1/4/2005 66 24 9 0 2,812 3/10–8/7/2006 68 20 11 1 4,510
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questions stressed. To begin with, most respondents disagreed with the state- ment that success is determined largely by factors beyond individuals’ control. The percentage of respondents who completely disagreed with this position decreased from 32 to 17 percent between 2003 and 2008 (table 6). However, there was an increase in those who “mostly agree” with the impor- tance of these forces outside of our control for one’s success. The percentage of respondents who either “mostly” or “completely” agreed with the statement about forces outside of our control showed only a slight upward trend during the 2003 to 2008 period, from 30 to 36 percent.
There was remarkable consistency between 1997 and 2007 in the public’s belief that hard work offers little guarantee of success. In each survey year,
Table 4. Getting ahead by Hard Work. Pew: I’m going to read you some pairs of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views—even if neither is exactly right. . . . Most people who want to get ahead can make it if they’re willing to work hard. Hard work and determination are no guarantee of success for most people. (If choice made, ask:) Do you feel strongly about that or not?
Most people who want to get ahead can make it if they’re
willing to work hard.
Hard work and determination are no guarantee of success for most people.
Strongly agree
Not strongly agree
Strongly agree
Not strongly agree Neither
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
7/14–8/9/1999 66 8 18 5 3 3,973 8/24–9/10/2000 66 7 20 4 3 2,799 12/1–16/2004 62 6 22 6 4 2,000 12/7–11/2005 56 8 25 7 2 1,502 2/8–3/7/2006 64 33 3 2,000 5/8–8/13/2007 67 29 2 35,556
NOTE.—In 2006 and 2007, respondents were asked which of the statements came closer to their views. The actual wording is as follows:2006: I’m going to read you some statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views—even if neither is exactly right. First statement: Most people who want to get ahead can make it if they’re willing to work hard. Second statement: Hard work and determination are no guarantee of success for most people.2007: I’m going to read you a few pairs of statements. For each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views—even if neither is exactly right. . . . First statement: Most people who want to get ahead can make it if they’re willing to work hard. Second statement: Hard work and determination are no guarantee of success for most people.
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approximately one-third of respondents reported that they “completely dis- agree’ with this position (table 7). In most survey years, the combined responses to people who “completely” or “mostly” agreed account for approx- imately another one-third of the sample.
In a case of slightly but unevenly declining pessimism, between 1995 and 2003, survey respondents came to agree a bit less with the position that the American Dream is impossible to achieve, with this portion of respondents dropping from 57 percent in 1995 to 50 percent in 2003. The percentage that disagreed with the statement was an increasingly large minority, ranging from 40 percent in 1995 to 47 percent in the last survey year, 2003.
In 1996 and 1998, a majority of survey respondents agreed that it will be “harder” for future generations to achieve the American Dream (table 9). However, there was decreasing pessimism during this period. The percentage
Table 5. Getting ahead by Hard Work. GALLUP: I’m going to read some aspects of life in America today. For each one, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. How about . . . the opportunity for a person in this nation to get ahead by working hard?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
No opinion
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
1/10–14/2001 36 40 14 8 2 1,004 1/7–9/2002 40 37 14 8 1 1,015 1/13–16/2003 33 36 19 11 1 1,000 1/12–15/2004 31 38 18 12 1 1,004 1/3–5/2005 33 33 19 14 1 1,005 1/15–18/2007 40 30 16 13 1 1,018 1/4–6/2008 35 33 17 14 1 1,023
Table 6. Success Determined by Forces Outside of Our Control. Pew: Please tell me whether you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree, or completely disagree with the following statements . . . Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of our control.
Completely agree
Mostly agree
Mostly disagree
Completely disagree
Don’t know/ Refused
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
7/14–8/5/2003 11 19 35 32 3 2,528 12/12/2006–1/9/2007 10 24 39 23 4 2,007 4/23–5/6/2007 7 26 41 23 3 2,026 1/24–2/19/2008 7 29 44 17 3 2,413
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that felt it would be harder for future generations to achieve the American Dream fell from 68 percent in 1996 to 55 percent in 1998, while those believ- ing it would become easier grew slightly from four to nine percent.
Data from 1992 and 1993 show that respondents were more likely to think that the American Dream is alive for their family than for their neighbors or the country in general (table 10). Between 1992 and 1996, respondents be-
Table 7. Success through Hard Work. Pew: Now I am going to read you a series of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. For each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it, or completely disagree with it. . . . Hard work offers little guarantee of success.
Completely agree
Mostly agree
Mostly disagree
Completely disagree
Don’t know
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
11/5–17/1997 13 20 34 32 1 1,165 9/28–10/10/1999 11 18 36 33 2 985 7/2–8/8/2002 12 18 35 32 2 2,502 7/13–8/5/2003 13 17 36 32 2 2,528 12/2/2006–1/9/2007 11 23 34 30 2 2,007
Table 8. American Dream Impossible for Most? Do you agree or dis- agree: The American Dream has become impossible for most people to achieve?
Agree Disagree Not sure (%) (%) (%) N
Time/CNN/Yankelovich 1/11–12/1995 57 40 3 1,000 Time/CNN/Yankelovich 1/17–18/1996 63 34 3 800 Time/CNN/Yankelovich 1/8–9/1997 55 41 4 1,015 Time/CNN/Yankelovich 1/14–15/1998 51 45 4 1,020 Time/CNN/Harris 1/15–16/2003 50 47 3 1,010
Table 9. American Dream Harder or Easier in the Future? CBS/NYT: Looking to the future—say a generation from now—do you feel the American Dream will be easier to attain than today, harder, or will it be about the same?
Easier Harder Same Don’t know/no answer (%) (%) (%) (%) N
8/3–5/1996 4 68 24 4 1,166 1/24–25/1998 9 55 34 2 943
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came more positive for each of these groups. However, beginning in 1995, the survey also asked about immigrants. In the 1995 and 1996 surveys, respon- dents were more likely to report that the American Dream was alive for immigrants than for any of the other groups.
Figures in tables 11 and 12 show responses to questions about whether two groups—the poor and the working class—have the opportunity to get ahead by working hard. The trend in table 11 shows an increasing satisfaction with opportunities for the poor to get ahead by working hard. Between 1993 and 2000, an increasing number of respondents, becoming a solid majority, were “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with these opportunities. Results also show that a decreasing number of respondents were not satisfied with the opportu- nity for the poor to get ahead by working hard.
Although the trend in table 11 showed an increasing satisfaction with op- portunities for the poor, results in table 12 show that there has been a decrease in the percentage of respondents who were “very satisfied” with the ability of
Table 11. Opportunity for Poor People to Get Ahead. GALLUP/CNN/ USA Today: I’d like you to rate your satisfaction with the state of the nation in some different areas. For each of the following areas, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all sat- isfied. How about . . . the opportunity for a poor person in this country to get ahead by working hard?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Not too satisfied
Not at all satisfied
Don’t know/ no opinion
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
1/8–11/1993 13 29 27 30 1 1,000 12/18–21/1999 16 32 28 21 3 1,005 1/7–10/2000 22 38 22 17 1 1,633
Table 10. For Whom Is the American Dream Alive? Money Magazine/ Willard and Shullman: Is the American Dream alive for . . . ?
The country in general
Your neighbors
Immigrants to this country
Your family
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
11/4–12/15/1992 48 52 56 44 ─ ─ 62 38 2,161 10/21–11/29/1993 52 48 58 42 ─ ─ 64 36 2,154 2/15–3/15/1995 52 48 56 44 66 34 64 36 1,416 2/2–3/13/1996 57 43 66 34 70 30 69 31 1,218
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the working class in this country to get ahead by working hard (from 25 per- cent in 2000 to 12 percent in 2007). In a parallel trend, the percentage of respondents who reported that they were “not too satisfied” or “not at all sat- isfied’ with the ability of the working class to get ahead by working hard increased significantly, from 33 percent in 2000 to 59 percent in 2007.
The next set of tables in this section on achieving the American Dream include information on factors, such as education and race, that might affect one’s ability to get ahead and to achieve the American Dream. Surveys from 1978 and 1997 show a large increase, from 49 to 75 percent, in the percentage of respondents who agreed with the necessity of a college education for get- ting ahead (table 13).
Figures in table 14 show that in nearly every survey year, respondents were more than twice as likely to “strongly agree” with the statement about Blacks being responsible for their own condition than they were to “not strongly agree” with the statement about racial discrimination as a factor for Blacks. From 1995 to 2007, there was very little variation in these attitudes. The data suggest a change in public opinion, with a slight increase from 2007 to 2008 in the percentage of respondents who see racial discrimination as the imped- iment for Blacks who are not getting ahead and a corresponding decrease in the percentage who report that Blacks are responsible for their own condition.
Table 12. Opportunity for the Working Class to Get Ahead. GALLUP/ USA Today: I’d like you to rate your satisfaction with the state of the nation in some different areas. For each of the following areas, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied. How about . . . the opportunity for the working class in this country to get ahead by working hard?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Not too satisfied
Not at all satisfied
Don’t know/no opinion
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
9/11–13/2000 25 41 21 12 1 1,008 7/6–8/2007 12 29 30 29 1 1,014
Table 13. College Necessary to Get Ahead? Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: In order to get ahead in life these days, it’s necessary to get a college education?
Agree Disagree Don’t know/no
answer/no opinion (%) (%) (%) N
CBS/NYT 4/3–7/1978 49 47 4 1,417 CBS 8/17–19/1997 75 24 1 1,307
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GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
The next three tables present trends in public opinion on a number of items dealing with government, political party, and the American Dream. Re- sponses to a question addressing programs that make special efforts to
Table 14. Racial Discrimination an Obstacle for Black People. I’m going to read you some pairs of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first state- ment or the second statement comes closer to your own views—even if neither is exactly right. The pair is: Racial discrimination is the main reason why many Black people can’t get ahead these days, or Blacks who can’t get ahead in this country are mostly responsible for their own condition. Do you feel strongly about that or not?
Racial discrimination is the main reason why many Black
people can’t get ahead these days.
Blacks who can’t get ahead in this country are mostly
responsible for their own condition.
Strongly agree
Not strongly agree
Strongly agree
Not strongly agree
Neither/don’t know
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
Princeton 4/6–9/1995 21 13 40 16 10 1,800 Pew 10/14–20/1996 19 9 45 13 14 1,938 Pew 6/18–22/1997 22 11 41 14 13 1,000 Pew 7/14–9/9/1999 19 9 46 13 13 3,973 Pew 8/24–9/10/2000 22 9 43 11 15 2,799 Pew 6/4–10/30/2003 16 9 47 16 13 1,089 Pew 12/1–16/2004 18 9 44 16 13 2,000 Pew 9/5–10/6/2007 19 66 15 3,086 Pew 1/9–1/13/2008 23 61 1,515
NOTE.—In 2007 and 2008, respondents were asked which of the statements come closer to their views. The actual wording is as follows:2007: Which of these statements comes closer to your own views, even if neither is exactly right . . . Racial discrimination is the main reason why many Black people can’t get ahead these days. Blacks who can’t get ahead in this country are mostly responsible for their own condition.2008: (I’m going to read you some statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views—even if neither is exactly right.) First statement: Racial discrimination is the main reason why many Black people can’t get ahead these days. Second statement: Blacks who can’t get ahead in this country are mostly re- sponsible for their own condition.
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help minorities get ahead appear in table 15. Data in table 15 show that from 1997 to 2008 a slight majority of Americans favored these programs. Public opinion was largely stable on this question, with only very slight growth in opposition to “special efforts to help minorities get ahead.” Note that the wording on this survey question involves “minorities,” contrasting with “Blacks” in table 14.
Responses in table 16 show public opinion on another item involving gov- ernment programs. In 1995, respondents were more likely to think that government programs hindered rather than helped their ability to achieve the American Dream. The trend over this period, however, showed a reversal in these attitudes. By 2001, more respondents agreed that government pro- grams helped rather than hindered their family’s ability to achieve the American Dream. The upswing in support for government programs shown in the 2001 data could be a post-9/11 period effect.
From 1988 to 2004, respondents grew somewhat more likely to associate the Democratic Party, rather than the Republican Party, with achievement of the American Dream (table 17). In 1988, 54 percent of respondents reported that the Democratic Party would do a better job helping people achieve the Dream. In the same year, 28 percent of respondents said that the Republican Party would do a better job. Although the percentage who replied “Democratic”
Table 15. Favor or Oppose Special Efforts for Minorities. CBS/NYT: In order to make up for past discrimination, do you favor or oppose programs that make special efforts to help minorities get ahead?
Favor Oppose Don’t know/no answer (%) (%) (%) N
12/6–9/1997 55 39 6 1,258 7/13–16/2000 53 38 9 954 1/19–22/2003 53 39 8 997 7/7–14/2008 51 42 7 1,796
Table 16. Do Government Programs Help or Hinder? Hart and Teeter: Overall, do you think that government programs do more to help or more to hinder your family in trying to achieve the American Dream?
More to help More to hinder Not sure (%) (%) (%) N
3/16–18/1995 31 56 13 1,003 2/20–24/1997 38 47 15 1,003 11/12–19/2001 54 34 12 961
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has remained somewhat stable (with a very slight decrease) between 1988 and 2004, there has been an increase in the percentage reporting “Republican.”
Conclusions
Beliefs about opportunity are essential aspects of social systems in that they involve subjective interpretations of the legitimacy and openness of the strat- ification system (Feagin 1975; Kluegel, Mason, and Wegener 1995). In the United States, there is considerable evidence that systems and structures work to the distinct advantage of some and to the disadvantage of others. Johnson (2006) suggests that inequality in the land of the Dream is a hard pill to swal- low. The resistance to questioning the American Dream, regardless of inequalities, is revealed in the poll data summarized here. Similarly, others have shown strong support for the Dream, even among those (i.e., minorities) who have less chance of achieving it (Hochschild 1995; Hanson and Zogby 2007).
How do Americans define the American Dream? Poll data show that the Dream is more about spiritual happiness than material success for most Amer- icans (although the percent stating “material success” is on the increase). Do Americans believe that it is possible to achieve the American Dream? Public opinion polls tend to show a rising optimism here. Trend data reveal that Americans increasingly disagree with the statement “The American Dream has become impossible for most people to achieve.” Most Americans were satisfied with the opportunity to get ahead in the United States by working hard. There was, however, a growing minority of Americans dissatisfied with this opportunity.
Poll data show that Americans associate political parties with the American Dream. Respondents were consistently more likely to say that the Democratic Party (in contrast to the Republican Party) will do a better job of helping more people achieve the American Dream, although the Republican Party has made some gains.
Like others (Steeh and Krysan 1996; Schuman et al. 1997), we find con- sistency over time in attitudes about Blacks and minorities. Our findings show
Table 17. Republican or Democratic Party Helping More to Achieve the Dream? CBS/NYT: Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican or the Democratic Party will do a better job of helping more peo- ple achieve the American Dream?
Republican Democratic Both Neither Don’t know/no answer (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) N
7/31–8/3/1988 28 54 3 3 12 1,353 8/2–4/1996 36 50 1 3 10 1,281 7/11–15/2004 38 50 2 2 8 955
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that twice as many Americans blame Blacks for their own condition, as op- posed to discrimination. The most recent data (from 2008) show a slight decrease in the trend showing agreement with this attitude. Although others (Steeh and Krysan 1996) have shown support for affirmative action to be con- sistently low, we find that a slight majority of Americans consistently support programs that make special efforts to help minorities get ahead in order to make up for past discrimination. There is considerable evidence that re- sponses to these sensitive issues vary greatly by question wording and sample (Steeh and Krysan 1996; Schuman et al. 1997).
The American Dream suggests that all can succeed. Johnson (2006) argues that continued support of an equitable “American Dream” in the context of structured inequality is immoral and irresponsible. Although trends in public opinion show continued support for the American Dream, there is an increas- ing number of Americans who are less optimistic about chances for most Americans to achieve this Dream.
Appendix
ABBREVIATIONS
CBS Columbia Broadcasting System CNN Cable News Network GSS General Social Survey NYT New York Times
Some of the survey results reported here were obtained from searches of the iPOLL Databank provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. Further information on these data can be obtained from the Roper Center and the specific survey organizations listed. Other sur- vey results reported here come from Zogby International polls on the American Dream. Questions about the Zogby data can be addressed to John Zogby at john@zogby.com. All survey results are based on representative samples of adults aged 18 years and older. All data (with the exception of GSS, which utilizes face-to-face interviews) come from RDD telephone surveys.
An attempt was made to get response rates for all surveys. Not all were available. Those that were not available are marked NA below. Response rates (and AAPOR calculation methods) for the surveys used here are:
Zogby (COOP4): Table 1:2001-12.3; 2004-18. Table 2: 1998-NA; 1999-25.4; 2001-12.3.
GSS (RR5): Table 3: 1985-78.7; 1987-75.4; 1989-77.6; 1990-73.9; 1993- 82.4; 1994-77.8; 1996-76.1; 1998- 75.6; 2000-70.0; 2002-70.1; 2004-70.4; 2006-71.2.
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Pew (RR3 or similar): Table 4: 1999-NA; 2000-NA; 2004-31; 2005-16.9; 2006-22.5; 2007-24. Table 6: 2003-31; 2004-31; 2006-23; 2007-23; 2008-19. Table 7: 1997-NA; 1999-NA; 2002-NA; 2003-31; 2007-23. Table 14: 1996-NA; 1997-36; 1999-NA; 2000-NA; 2003-25; 2004-31; 2007-24.
Gallup (RR3): Table 5: 2001-20; 2002-16; 2003-19; 2004-17; 2005-17; 2007-16; 2008-13. Table 11: 2000-20; 2007-14. Table 12: 1993-NA; 1999-21; 2000-28.
Time/CNN/Yankelovich: Table 8: NA. CBS/NYT: Table 9: NA.
Table 13: NA. Table 15: NA. Table 17: NA.
Money Magazine/Willard and Shullman: Table 10: NA. Princeton: Table 14: NA. Hart and Teeter: Table 16: NA.
Acknowledgements
Some of the survey results reported here were obtained from searches of the iPOLL databank and other resources provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinon Research, University of Connecticut.
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