The concept of American prosperity really needs a rethink. There’s a joke in the SF Bay Area about how quickly someone will mention they went to Stanford—it’s often within the first few sentences of meeting them. We all tend to share our achievements; it’s natural. However, it becomes problematic when we start focusing only on our struggles, often overlooking how fortunate we really are.
Take, for example, a public figure from Time magazine who tweeted about a popular politician, claiming that people in their 20s and 30s haven’t seen “American prosperity” in their lifetimes. This statement seemed odd given the economic opportunities available that previous generations capitalized on, reminiscent of Biff from “Back to the Future II” who made a fortune by knowing future sports outcomes.
I delved a bit into her background to understand her viewpoint better. It turns out she comes from a well-to-do family, with parents who are highly accomplished and educated at elite institutions. This made me wonder: if someone from such a privileged background feels they haven’t experienced prosperity, what does this say about our perception of prosperity?
I’m a parent too, and I worry about raising my child in a comfortable environment. I fear he won’t learn the value of hard work or the drive to achieve on his own because life has been too easy. That’s why my family even considered moving to a different state, hoping to find a balance between comfort and challenge.
Discussing my own misconceptions, I once wrote about how the middle class could become happier and wealthier as college importance diminishes, leading to less debt and more savings for things like homes and retirement. However, a reader pointed out that my view might be skewed by my relatively privileged background, despite my description of a “middle-class” upbringing.
From government definitions that don’t reflect local economic realities to personal struggles that make us feel less successful than we are, several factors distort our view of prosperity. Even the allure of always wanting more or comparing ourselves to others can diminish our appreciation of what we have.
We often don’t see our own prosperity because it’s all we’ve known. It’s crucial to step back and recognize how good we have it and strive to understand the broader world through travel or learning new cultures. Remember, while talent is universal, opportunities are not, and those of us with more should help others rise as well. This is essential not just for personal growth but for maintaining societal harmony and preventing the deepening of social divides.
