We’re very excited to welcome Maya Dukmasova as a guest blogger this weekend. Maya is an intern with Zogby International and a junior at the University of Rochester, working on a dual B.A. in Philosophy and Religion. Originally from Saint Petersburg, Russia, she currently lives in Syracuse, NY and will be spending the coming semester studying philosophy in Paris, France. She also writes an intependent blog with interviews and impressions of ‘Life in a New Russia’ www.newspblife.com . Thanks Maya!

One of the major themes that have come out as a result of research for The Way We’ll Be is an emergent demographic which considers the Planet Earth rather than America or their city or town to be their primary place of residence. It would seem intuitive that people who chose the first option to call home would be most dissimilar to those who chose the narrowest geographic and political boundaries within which to identify their place of residence. However, in numbers from a January 6, 2009 Interactive Survey, it appears that it’s actually the residents of America whose opinions are most contrasted to those of our new Global Citizens. One good example of the divergent opinions of these two groups can be found among responses to our beloved questions about the American Dream.

When it comes to the American Dream, most of those who see themselves as Americans first as well as the majority of Planet Earth citizens believe that the American Dream exists and that it is possible for them to achieve it (62% and 42%, respectively).

Both groups believe that the American Dream is predominantly about spiritual fulfillment, though more “Nationals” than “Globals” think that the middle class can still achieve the Dream (61.8% to 33.8%, respectively). Conversely, it is those who define themselves primarily as residents of their city/town who have the highest percentage of respondents equating the Dream to material success (42% as opposed to 38% among “Nationals” and 32.5% among “Globals”).

More behind the cut..

When it came time to classify the ways to think about the American dream either in A) Traditional Materialist terms (the A.D. exists and it achievable through material success), B) Secular Spiritualist terms (The A.D. exists but is achievable through spiritual fulfillment), C) Deferred Dreamers’ terms (The A.D. is about material success more likely to be achieved by my kids), or D) Dreamless Dead terms (The A.D. whether material or spiritual is inaccessible to me or the middle class), the highest percentage of those answering B were “Globals”, with “Nationals” close behind (39.6% to 34.8%). Meanwhile, the highest percentage of Materialists came from the city/town category (33.2%). The most Deferred Dreamers came from the “Nationals” pool, and most Dreamless Dead from the “Globals” (7.3% and 19.1%, respectively).

Finally, among “Nationals”, those who believe that the Dream exists and is achievable chalk it up to characteristics intrinsic to the country itself: America is a land of opportunity (59.7% stating that as the principal reason). Meanwhile, among “Globals”, the reason the dream is alive and achievable is because of qualities in themselves rather than in the country (63.9% said it was intelligence and hard work that makes them believe, and 36.7% more said it was their optimism.)

Despite some talk about the death of the American Dream, our data speaks to the contrary. What we can observe, rather, is the transformation of the way we think about it in two ways: First the predominant conception of the Dream has shifted from a Traditional Materialistic one to a Secular Spiritualist view, among people who see themselves as Americans first as well as those who prefer to be called Global citizens.

The second shift speaks to a transformation of the Dream by the “Globals”. Overall, it seems that citizens of America are not only confident in the existence of the American Dream, but also in its manifestation in the nature of America itself. They may be Secular Spiritualist, but this demographic was also more likely to respond favorably to McCain’s “Country First” motto during the 2008 presidential campaign. Meanwhile, those who see themselves as Global citizens have taken the values of the American Dream beyond the nature of the country to traits of their own character. Though there are some Dreamless Dead among the Globals, they have predominantly taken the American Dream outside of national context, and trust in their own hard work, initiative, and optimism to achieve material and spiritual success for themselves and their families.

One of the major themes that have come out as a result of research for The Way We’ll Be is an emergent demographic which considers the Planet Earth rather than America or their city or town to be their primary place of residence. It would seem intuitive that people who chose the first option to call home would be most dissimilar to those who chose the narrowest geographic and political boundaries within which to identify their place of residence. However, in numbers from a January 6, 2009 Interactive Survey, it appears that it’s actually the residents of America whose opinions are most contrasted to those of our new Global Citizens. One good example of the divergent opinions of these two groups can be found among responses to our beloved questions about the American Dream.
When it comes to the American Dream, most of those who see themselves as Americans first as well as the majority of Planet Earth citizens believe that the American Dream exists and that it is possible for them to achieve it (62% and 42%, respectively).

Both groups believe that the American Dream is predominantly about spiritual fulfillment, though more “Nationals” than “Globals” think that the middle class can still achieve the Dream (61.8% to 33.8%, respectively). Conversely, it is those who define themselves primarily as residents of their city/town who have the highest percentage of respondents equating the Dream to material success (42% as opposed to 38% among “Nationals” and 32.5% among “Globals”).

When it came time to classify the ways to think about the American dream either in A) Traditional Materialist terms (the A.D. exists and it achievable through material success), B) Secular Spiritualist terms (The A.D. exists but is achievable through spiritual fulfillment), C) Deferred Dreamers’ terms (The A.D. is about material success more likely to be achieved by my kids), or D) Dreamless Dead terms (The A.D. whether material or spiritual is inaccessible to me or the middle class), the highest percentage of those answering B were “Globals”, with “Nationals” close behind (39.6% to 34.8%). Meanwhile, the highest percentage of Materialists came from the city/town category (33.2%). The most Deferred Dreamers came from the “Nationals” pool, and most Dreamless Dead from the “Globals” (7.3% and 19.1%, respectively).

Finally, among “Nationals”, those who believe that the Dream exists and is achievable chalk it up to characteristics intrinsic to the country itself: America is a land of opportunity (59.7% stating that as the principal reason). Meanwhile, among “Globals”, the reason the dream is alive and achievable is because of qualities in themselves rather than in the country (63.9% said it was intelligence and hard work that makes them believe, and 36.7% more said it was their optimism.)

Despite some talk about the death of the American Dream, our data speaks to the contrary. What we can observe, rather, is the transformation of the way we think about it in two ways: First the predominant conception of the Dream has shifted from a Traditional Materialistic one to a Secular Spiritualist view, among people who see themselves as Americans first as well as those who prefer to be called Global citizens.

The second shift speaks to a transformation of the Dream by the “Globals”. Overall, it seems that citizens of America are not only confident in the existence of the American Dream, but also in its manifestation in the nature of America itself. They may be Secular Spiritualist, but this demographic was also more likely to respond favorably to McCain’s “Country First” motto during the 2008 presidential campaign. Meanwhile, those who see themselves as Global citizens have taken the values of the American Dream beyond the nature of the country to traits of their own character. Though there are some Dreamless Dead among the Globals, they have predominantly taken the American Dream outside of national context, and trust in their own hard work, initiative, and optimism to achieve material and spiritual success for themselves and their families.

Katy Uncategorized American dream, death, international, religion, The Way We'll Be, work, zogby