Is the American dream a feasible aspiration anymore?
Housing prices and interest rates are up, making it almost impossible for young people to afford to buy a home. Fertility rates continue to reach historic lows. These signs point to the decay of the American dream. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is failing to address the challenges preventing U.S. citizens from achieving that American dream.
Everyday Americans are struggling to pay for gas, groceries, and rent. That’s Bidenomics.
As for homeownership, increased home prices and mortgage rates continue to discourage homebuyers. Since 2020, home prices increased 47.1%, with Forbes reporting the national median price of a home coming in around $400,000. Years of underbuilding and rising mortgage rates have only worsened the situation for Americans, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage currently at about 7.09%.
Those rates are increasing monthly payments past the point of comfort for many prospective homebuyers. Rocket Mortgage estimated the average monthly mortgage payment was about $2,051, higher than some monthly rent payments.
But let’s forget about the house with a white picket fence for a moment. There’s also a family aspect of the American dream.
Unfortunately, that isn’t looking very positive either.
Heritage Foundation research found the total fertility rate in the U.S. dropped to 1.62 this year, the lowest in history, well below the 2.1 U.S. population replacement rate. (Heritage founded The Daily Signal in 2014.)
The explanation for this comes from a variety of societal pressures, ranging from the Left’s anti-nuclear family agenda to an increased emphasis on one’s professional identity. Some even point to the opportunity cost of climbing the corporate ladder, explaining the value of that outweighs that of starting a family, especially in the current economy.
Those legitimate concerns cause one to worry about the future of our country.
Still, there is reason to be hopeful. While this generation struggles to accomplish its version of the American dream, public figures such as NFL Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker are standing up for some of the most fundamental aspects of that dream.
During a commencement speech at Benedictine College, Butker emphasized the importance of traditional values and marriage. He challenged women to think outside of societal pressures and embrace motherhood as well.
Many Americans are feeling the weight of bad public policies and poor leadership. However, Butker and others are standing up for the common sense and truth that formed the American dream, and that’s something to celebrate.
On today’s edition of the “Problematic Women” podcast, we discuss the future of the American dream. Also on today’s show, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the best states to live in, and the findings might surprise you. Plus, because it’s National Police Week, we discuss what the state of justice looks like under the Biden administration. And as always, we’ll be crowning our Problematic Woman of the Week.
Listen to the podcast below:
