Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 10, 1993 TAG: 9306090444
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
A poll by Gallup for the CNBC cable network found most Americans worried about obstacles to achieving their goals.
Obstacles ranked by those who said they were "extremely" or "very" worried, included rising taxes (72 percent), the cost of education (71 percent), catastrophic illness (67 percent), pension cuts (62 percent) and cuts in employee benefits (61 percent).
Fifty-eight percent were strongly worried about losing their job. Of less concern was personal debt (46 percent).
"The American dream" is a frequent poll topic. Surveys show people generally connect it with everyday concerns such as a job they like, owning a home and sending their children to a good college. Becoming a business owner or retiring early are much less common goals.
Only 17 percent said they had achieved the American dream, but 68 percent said they had some expectation of it. Only 43 percent, said they had a better chance than their parents had. Eighty percent said children today will have a harder time.
Other impediments people saw to achieving their dreams:
They don't make enough money. The median family income for those polled was $35,000, but when they were asked how much they would need to achieve the American dream, the midpoint of responses was $50,000.
Race. Half the nonwhites and 11 percent of the whites in the poll said their race will work against them.
Lack of planning for the future. Those who had taken financial steps such as saving, investing and retirement planning were more likely to have high hopes of achieving the dream.
by CNB