American Dream vs Expectations: Why Disappointment Is Driving Our Politics

Data shows most adults no longer believe in the American Dream: go to college, work hard, buy a home, and retire in comfort. Instead, a new WSJ-NORC poll shows pessimism at an all-time high.

Only 25% believe they have a good chance to improve their standard of living: the lowest level recorded in the survey’s history.

More than 75% doubt life for future generations will be better than today. And shockingly, only 31% say the classic American Dream, that hard work leads to success, still holds true.

When people feel the contract they were promised has been broken, politics becomes emotional. Citizens lose faith in institutions, media, Congress, large corporations, and retreat into identity, party, and tribal protection. Polarization isn’t random; it’s a symptom of unmet expectations.

We’ve seen this before. In the late 1800s, during what historian Jon Grinspan calls the “Age of Acrimony,” Americans seriously questioned the viability of the democratic experiment.

Back then, pessimism wasn’t focused on homeownership or retirement but on enfranchisement, suffrage, and popular government. Heated debates over these core democratic ideas led to one of the most raucous eras in U.S. history, marked by convulsive political campaigns, riots, and political violence.

In other words, when expectations for what America should deliver don’t line up with reality, unrest follows. That same tension shows up today, not just in politics, but even in how global surveys measure something as simple as happiness.

Take the UN’s World Happiness Report, where Finland has consistently ranked first. That ranking isn’t about joy or purpose. The survey uses a “life evaluation” question, asking people how close they feel to their own “best possible life.” In effect, it measures alignment with expectations.

Nordic countries excel at managing expectations, thanks to robust state-run welfare systems, social norms, and a strong sense of equality. In other words, the Finns have created their own “Finnish Dream” and built systems to meet it.

In contrast, the U.S. now ranks 24th, its worst performance ever. But America is different. We are a nation built not on ethnicity or religion but on an idea: striving, upward mobility, and the belief that tomorrow can be better. Losing faith in that dream is more dangerous here than elsewhere, because it threatens not only contentment, but our identity.

Smart brands already see this mismatch between expectations and reality—and are adapting. Restaurant chains like Chili’s are leaning into viral value deals (3 for $10.99) that recall a time when prices felt more affordable. Maxwell House even temporarily rebranded itself as “Maxwell Apartment”, a tongue-in-cheek nod to how many of its coffee drinkers rent rather than own. These are not just gimmicks; they are reflections of consumer frustration.

If businesses can adapt to this reality, then organizations in the public arena must do the same. For governments, campaigns, and advocacy groups, this moment requires honesty about failure and boldness about repair. Voters don’t want platitudes; they want an honest diagnosis and a credible plan forward.

This isn’t tone-deaf optimism, it’s strategy. You have to meet people where they are: frustrated, uncertain, skeptical. A campaign that says “trust us” without acknowledging that trust is broken will fall flat.

Here’s what public-facing organizations should do differently now:

• Normalize frustration. Say, “I know you’re angry. You have reason.” That builds authenticity.
• Reset expectations. Don’t promise utopia—show what’s achievable now.
• Deliver small wins. Provide visible, everyday changes people can feel (housing relief, tax breaks, job training).
• Share stories of shared struggle. Elevate peer-level voices over distant elites.
• Make commitments measurable. If you pledge something, track it and report progress publicly. That builds trust.

At a time when many feel the American Dream is slipping away, the organizations willing to do the hard work of restoring belief will win both trust and influence.

Meeting expectations isn’t spin, it's part of our identity as Americans.

To reclaim the American Dream, we can’t pretend everything is fine.

We have to prove it can be better.