Podcast: Is Congress as dysfunctional as it seems?

Resist the urge to publish the American Dream’s obituary. It’s alive, though unwell. It’s no secret that the hallmarks of the dream have become unreachable for many Americans. Homeownership seems impossible in communities. Marriage rates have dropped. Families have shrunk. Even lifespans are on the decline. The dream’s vital signs are cause for immense concern. There are signs of life—Washington County, Wisconsin is testing two remedies that might just revive the dream there and across the country.

Just north of Milwaukee, Washington County is—in many ways—a surprising source of hope. It faces no shortage of challenges. As County officials will tell you, they’re struggling to hold on to their community members. Too few homes, too few jobs, and too few community connections led many residents to look for another place to call home. County Executive Josh Schoemann, however, refused to let the dream die in his community. He and others joined together to brainstorm novel cures for the disease eating away at prosperity.