What makes the United States of America the Greatest Country in the World?
TL/DR
The article argues that America's strength lies in its people's freedom to pursue dreams, but this is increasingly difficult due to issues like reproductive rights and housing.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has led to negative impacts on women's healthcare, including increased maternal mortality rates and restricted access to necessary procedures.
The rising cost of housing, both for purchase and rent, is making homeownership unattainable for many Americans, particularly younger generations, thus hindering a key aspect of the American Dream.
Last year, I wrote about my high school speech, where I said America's greatness comes from its people having the freedom to chase their dreams. However, I also pointed out that climbing the ladder of success has gotten harder. I still believe America's strength lies in its people's ability to achieve their dreams, but that dream is becoming more difficult to reach. During the Vice Presidential debate on October 1, 2024, two major barriers for Americans striving to reach their dreams were talked about: reproductive rights and housing.
The Erosion of Reproductive Rights and Its Impact
In 2023, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, handing decisions about reproductive rights back to the states. I wrote a series of articles covering this, which you can find here:
Reproductive Rights Part 1: Birth of the United States to Roe v. Wade
Reproductive Rights Part 2: Roe v. Wade and The Fight Over Reproductive Rights
Reproductive Rights Part 3: The Dobbs Decision and Finding a Middle Path to the Future
What those articles didn’t cover were the impacts beyond abortion access, especially on women's healthcare overall.
Since the Dobbs decision, states with strict anti-abortion laws have seen a rise in maternal deaths. For example, Arkansas now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, with 43.5% of mothers dying since January 2024. Sadly, the rates are even worse for Black women. In Louisiana, 59% of Black mothers died from preventable complications compared to 9% of white mothers.
Anti-abortion laws are hurting women who face complications in pregnancy. In Texas, Blair Nelson had to travel hundreds of miles to get medical care for a pregnancy that wasn’t viable. During the journey, she suffered an emergency, and now her chances of carrying another baby are uncertain. In Georgia, Amber Thurman died while traveling to North Carolina for a procedure after abortion pills didn’t fully work. Under Georgia law, that procedure was considered an abortion, and it was illegal.
The Housing Crisis: A Dream Deferred
These stories highlight the broader issue: the overturning of Roe v. Wade has not only impacted reproductive rights but also the ability of American women to pursue their dreams. Women are being forced to carry unplanned pregnancies to term, and some who want children can't have them due to medical emergencies that are going untreated. Even fertility treatments like IVF are in danger due to these laws.
Starting a family is a dream for many Americans, just like owning a home. But owning a home is also becoming harder. Since 2020, the average price of a home has gone up by over $130,000. Some places, like Macon, GA, have seen prices jump by nearly 50%.
The good news is that home prices did drop by about $30,000 in 2023. But with the average home now costing almost half a million dollars, many young Americans can’t afford to buy one. In fact, Americans under 35 make up 20% of the American population but only 2.4% of total American homeowners, and 34% of the total American population rents instead. Rent prices have also skyrocketed, with the average rent at $1,300 per month. In some places, it’s as high as $4,000.
To buy a home today, people would need to save for years, even while paying high rent and basic living expenses. A person making the average yearly income of $37,585 would have to save for six years just to afford a down payment.
While 65% of Americans do own their homes, for the 34% who rent, homeownership seems out of reach. The rising cost of living, especially housing, is making it harder for many to achieve the American Dream.
The Path Forward
There are many more problems we face as a nation today. Congress is polarized and unable to act. The executive branch is taking on too much power, and the courts are making partisan decisions. The truth is, we’ve lost sight of what makes this country great: the ability for all Americans to pursue their dreams.
America is still the greatest nation in the world, but we’re growing weaker—not because of our military or economy but because fewer and fewer people can achieve their dreams. We need to recognize this, come together, and vote for real solutions.
Crayon Box Politics will keep working toward our goal of coloring outside the political lines and finding common sense, middle ground solutions to the problems we face as a nation, but we need your help.
