Anthony Morgan is a senior at Furman University from Annapolis, Maryland, majoring in Communications Studies and Politics and International Affairs. He was selected as the winner for the 2025 Riley Institute student op-ed Contest for the following piece, in which he responded to the question of whether the American dream is achievable and how younger Americans can achieve it. This piece originally appeared in the Greenville Journal here.
A single-family home surrounded by a white picket fence. Two young children playing on a swing set. A golden retriever lying lazily in the grass. For many, this idyllic picture represents the American dream – no matter who you are, if you work hard enough, you can achieve a lifestyle of success, security, and prosperity.
Unfortunately, Gen Z are no strangers to the economic barriers to achieving this idealized version of the American dream. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average per capita income in Greenville County jumped from $29,229 in 2002 to $56,653 in 2022. That’s almost a 94% increase! However, during the same period, the average cost of a home in Greenville County jumped from roughly $135,000 to approximately $331,000 – over a 145% increase! That single-family home feels even more out of reach now.
What about the quality of education for those two young children? Surely an education is the key to achieving the American dream. In the same 20-year span, the average salary for a teacher in Greenville County schools rose only 60% according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Without competitive pay, how can we attract and retain quality teachers for our children?
And what about Fido – the lazy Golden Retriever? He’s gotten more expensive too! Some bags of dry dog food have so much as doubled in price in the last few years.
Looking at the numbers, the prospects for achieving the American dream can seem daunting, let alone creating the change needed to make it more accessible. So, what can younger Americans do?
I offer one final number – 10.5%. Only a dismal 10.5% of eligible Greenville County voters cast their ballots in the 2024 primaries.
We know that we are living in a highly polarized political environment. Most Americans want a middle-ground option. So why is it that, in every election, we seem to be faced with the choice of two extremes?
Put simply, the moderate candidates who focus on issues that matter most to us (like economic opportunities) often get beaten in their own primaries while nearly 90% of voters sit back and watch it happen.
Gen Z – and all Americans – need to actively participate in primaries. Vote for the candidate who will support teachers, raise wages, and work to lower the cost of consumer goods
instead of searching for sound bites. Maybe then the American dream won’t seem so distant.
