We speak with journalist Alissa Quart, executive director of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, about her new book, _Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream_, which examines myths about individualism and self-reliance that underpin the U.S. economy and the inequality it fosters. She says a focus on succeeding through hard work obscures the degree to which many rich and powerful people have benefited from social support, resulting in a cycle of "shame and blame" for those who fall short.

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

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#democracynow Alissa Quart Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream Democracy Now! Economic Hardship Reporting Project Free Speech TV FSTV