Just after Americans finished celebrating their Independence and pride in their country, a new survey by Dr. Douglas E. Schoen finds that a majority of Americans say they are not living the American Dream.

According to the poll, while 81 percent agree that America is the land of opportunity, many feel that they can not realize that opportunity – it is simply an abstract concept.

Today, 61 percent of Americans say they are not living the American Dream and do not believe that they will ever reach the American Dream in their lifetime.

There are those, 75 percent, who say the American Dream is somewhat broken, with just one in four saying it is "alive and well" today.

Of those surveyed, nine in 10 agree that it is harder to achieve the American Dream than ever before although 49 percent agree that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can lead a solid middle class life.

And 90 percent of those polled believe that 25 years ago you could have a solid middle class life if you worked hard and played by the rules while only 49 percent believe the same is true today, suggesting our country's Social Compact is now fundamentally broken and in need of substantial repair.