The American Dream Is a Lie — And It Always Was

We’ve all heard the story. Work hard, follow the rules, and you’ll make it in America. But what if the American Dream was never meant for everyone? In this episode of The Lies We Tell, we break down how the myth of the American Dream has been used to justify inequality, mask systemic failure, and keep working people chasing something that was never real in the first place.

We look at who profits from keeping the dream alive—from politicians who blame poverty on personal failure to corporations selling hustle culture while hoarding wealth. We examine how debt, discrimination, and stagnant wages have made upward mobility nearly impossible for millions. We talk about immigrants sold a lie before they ever arrive, and we dig into the media machine that turns this illusion into a national gospel.

It’s not about hard work. It’s about power. And it’s time we told the truth.

Sources cited and discussed in this episode:

• Pew Research Center: "Americans’ Challenges with Income Inequality and Economic Mobility" (2023)

• Economic Policy Institute: "The State of American Wages 2024"

• Federal Reserve Bank: "Survey of Consumer Finances — Racial Wealth Gap Analysis"

• Brookings Institution: "How the American Dream is Failing Middle-Class Families"

• National Consumer Law Center: "Medical Debt and Student Loan Crisis Reports"

Call to Action:
If you're tired of being gaslit by slogans and bootstraps, call your local reps and demand policies that reflect reality. Start with tools like 5calls.org, and let’s build something better than a dream. Let’s build something