The Death of the Middle-Class Dream
November 23, 2024
There was a time when the dream of my schoolmates was simple: a comfortable middle-class life—house, family, and stability. Fast forward a few decades, and this ideal seems to have almost completely disappeared.
Young people today are far less focused on starting a family. For students, it’s practically impossible, but even after graduation, the challenges remain. Everything seems geared toward making money, not just to get rich but simply to survive. For many, even the idea of retirement feels out of reach. If pensions are no longer guaranteed for baby boomers, they are even less so for younger generations.
Affordable housing is another dream slipping away. On Curaçao, getting ahead without connections is an uphill battle, often leaving those without a “kruiwagen” (a helping hand or network) without opportunity.
What’s left is a society so preoccupied with survival that the pursuit of money has overshadowed everything else. It’s not just about ambition anymore—it’s about necessity.
But perhaps I’m wrong. What do you think? Have we truly reached a point where the middle-class dream is no longer achievable, or is there still hope for change?
Let’s discuss.
Miguel Goede
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