Part 2/7:
Historically, the American dream was predicated on the belief that each generation would be more prosperous than the last. However, recent decades have witnessed a troubling trend: many Americans today are economically worse off than their parents or grandparents. The wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a tiny elite—specifically, the top 1% or 2%—while ordinary citizens struggle with stagnant wages and rising living costs. This disparity has bred a widespread perception that the wealthy elite have accrued their fortunes through parasitical extraction from the working class, reminiscent of conditions preceding revolutions in other nations throughout history.