The American dream is the idea that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success. It is believed to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.
However, if you take a look at social media, you will stumble upon posts where people claim the American Dream has turned into a nightmare. They criticize healthcare, nepotism, education and real estate prices, and, of course, inequality.
And they might have a point. While 90% of the children born in 1940 ended up in higher ranks of the income distribution than their parents, only 40% of those born in 1980 have done the same. Of course, it's tough to compare two very different periods and draw hard conclusions but you can't ignore such studies too.
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The American Dream
Jim Cullen, U.S. cultural historian and author of The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation, got interested in this subject due to his belief that it has been the great mythic glue of American society for much of U.S. history. "The notion that this nation is a place where the pursuit of happiness is a legitimate and plausible enterprise has been something a wide variety of people from all walks of life from around the world have endorsed and embraced, and that's because in many times and places this has not been the case," Cullen told Bored Panda.
"As I make clear in my book, the American Dream has in fact taken many forms. For most people, it's assumed to be economic mobility. But religious freedom, political equality, homeownership, and racial justice have long been a part of the story. It isn't solely about money."
The American Dream
I thought the Nobel Prize comes with a 1 million money award as well O.o
The Only "American Dream" Left!
Cullen thinks the American Dream is now in less repute than it has been in large measure because many Americans now consider outcomes more important than aspiration or opportunity. "The American Dream has never been about guarantees, but anything less is now often seen as fraudulence," he said. "Yet that was never really the basis of the myth, and using the postwar World War II world as a benchmark, when the nation had a unique imperial dominance and affluence, is a somewhat misleading benchmark from which to measure the success and validity of the Dream."
The American Dream...
The same time being against US fascism Became a radical and dangerous position
The American Dream
The American Dream
However, not everyone agrees with this line of thought. D.L. Mayfield, the author of The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power, grew up within white evangelicalism in the US. She was always told that both her country and her religion were good news for everyone. But as she grew older and met people outside of her community, she made up her mind that this simply was not true. "My city of Portland, OR, was actually a really hard place to live for a lot of people. When I started working for recently arrived refugees, I experienced this disconnect, and my eyes were opened to what an unequal and segregated city I lived in," she told Bored Panda.
"I sum the American Dream as the philosophy that anyone can make it in the US if only they work hard enough. This is a doubly damaging philosophy, however: for people of privilege, it reinforces the idea that they have made positive choices and deserve to be rewarded. Conversely, if people are unable to 'make it' in the US, privileged people can now blame them and say it's a result of poor individual choices instead of looking at systemic issues (racism, sexism, capitalism)."
The American Dream
There's No Such Thing As The "American Dream". They Just Want Us All To Believe It Could "Happen To Us" While Every System Is Designed To Keep Poor People Poor And Rich People Rich.
“He started in his parents garage” bruh who has parents with an empty garage? Also don’t forget; if you live with your parents, you’re a selfish burden. There is no winning.
Cross An Imaginary Line & Things Become Very Different
Is This The American Dream?
Not sure what this has to do with being a millennial. This coming from a millennial. Also, when someone is working it's not "likely" their livelihood, it IS their livelihood.
American linguist, philosopher, and social critic Noam Chomsky, for example, says that the American Dream has collapsed. In the past, if you were poor and you worked hard, you got rich. According to Chomsky, it was possible for a worker to get a decent job, buy a home, get a car, have his children go to school. But that is no longer the case.
In the movie Requiem for the American Dream, Chomsky explained how he thinks concentrated wealth creates concentrated power, which legislates further concentration of wealth, which then concentrates more power in a vicious cycle. He listed and elaborated on ten principles of the concentration of wealth and power in the film, principles that the wealthy of the United States have acted intensely on for 40 years or more, principles that, according to him, have killed the American dream.
The American Dream
I swear to god if I could take my entire family with me, I'd be gone yesterday.
The Death Of The American Dream (2008)
Chomsky argued that the problem with inequality at the scale it is developing in the United States is that it is corrosive to democracy and that the history of democracy in the United States from the time of the founding fathers, has been a cyclical battle between the elite, trying to protect its position in power, and sporadic uprisings of working people and the marginalized in protest.
"The hatred and anger [towards] virtually all institutions is just overwhelming," Chomsky said in a 2016 interview. "Support for Congress has pretty much been in single digits for many years. There is tremendous anger, disillusionment, fear ... if it does not take a constructive, organized form, as it did in the 1930s and to an extent in the 1960s, it could be a very threatening development."
The American Dream
Sounds a lot better than the US rat race that ends with a shot gun retirement.
The Millennial American Dream
It's possible to achieve those things, but it's tough. I'm fortunate as a millennial to have a house, a spouse, two kids, a yard, two cars... But I don't take it for granted and realize that a good part of why I am able to achieve these is dumb luck and being in the right place at the right time, and taking a bit of a risk when I was younger to have the job that affords these now.
The American Dream According To The 2nd Highest Paid Player In The Nfl
Requiem For The American Dream
But what do the people say? In 2018, the American Enterprise Institute and political scientist Samuel J. Abrams joined forces with the research center NORC at the University of Chicago and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,411 Americans about their attitudes toward community and society.
"What our survey found about the American dream came as a surprise to me," Abrams wrote. "When Americans were asked what makes the American dream a reality, they did not select as essential factors becoming wealthy, owning a home, or having a successful career. Instead, 85 percent indicated that 'to have freedom of choice in how to live' was essential to achieving the American dream. In addition, 83 percent indicated that 'a good family life' was essential."
The American Dream
The American Dream
Well somebody is paying for it. People dying with still huge debts aren't paying them, the rich aren't paying for them, in the end the masses are paying for them one way or the other. Whether it being higher taxes, less government investments in your neighbourhood, higher interests on whatever debt you have and even higher prices on everything you buy. And in the meantime a big percentage of that money trickles up.
The American Dream
What many consider 'traditional' factors were actually seen as less important. Only 16 percent said that to achieve the American dream, they believed it was essential to 'become wealthy.' Additionally, only 45 percent said it was essential 'to have a better quality of life than your parents,' and just 49 percent said that 'having a successful career' was key.
This pattern — seeing the American dream as more about community and individuality than material success and social mobility — appeared across demographic and political categories. So is the American Dream dead? No. Is it suffering? Probably.
The American Dream
The New American Dream
The American Dream
The American Dream
The Reason They Tell You If You Work Hard And Invest, You Can Have The American Dream, Is Because They Know You Have To Be Asleep To Believe It.
The American Dream
The American Dream
City puts a ban on assault rifles. NRA takes them to court because 2ND AMENDMENT. NRA wins. 4 days later there's a shooting with an assault rifle. 10 people dead. This is not a scene from some satire. It's USA, March 2021.
The American Dream
The American Dream
The American Dream Is Alive And Well
The American Dream
What percentage of those who received the money used it for food? Rent? Clearing credit card debt or saving it was not possible for many Americans..
This Is What We Call The ‘American Dream’, Right?
The American Dream
The American Dream
The American Dream
“Most Of The World Is Broke. The American Dream Is A Global Dream.”
Things were different 50 years ago for the whole world. Usually one parent was working while the other stayed at home caring for the children and still made enough money to buy a home. Not everyone, obviously, but many. However nowadays, both partners work and they can barely afford a goldfish, let alone kids or a house. Again, not everyone but many.
Caring for a goldfish properly is expensive. They need at least 75 gallons.
Load More Replies...I think the American dream was a myth from its very invention on; rags-to-riches has happened and still happens, but it is the exception. Usually, rich stays rich and poor stays poor. With all its flaws, the US is still a fascinating country, and I cannot wait to be able to travel there again. And looking at my home, the European Union, there are so many flaws, too. Thus, the wisest choice probably is not to live the dream (neither the american, not any other one) but rather to contribute to forging a more-liveable future by taking action in the here and now – a future that will offer more opportunities to everyone.
Yeah there is also a lot of ideolisation of EU. We have better conditions because of the decebt healthcare. But most countries still struggle with housing prices, lack of jobs, low wages, very high demands for entry jobs, racism, sexism, bad work practices etc.
Load More Replies...My father and others came here when they were young after WWII. He learned English in school, without ESL. Got a full scholarship, finished his PhD and was hired by a big company, who promoted from within, offered on-the-job training at all levels, all inclusive health insurance, stock options, and more. The first house he purchased was condemned, he did all the work himself, while we lived there. My first job was a paper route at age 12. We all worked for our spending money -- no allowance or handouts. With a frugal lifestyle for the first few decades, there was money to put 4 kids through college and eventually afford a comfortable lifestyle, even with a tax rate of 80%. He worked there for 45 years has a good pension. American Dream. Is it possible today?
You can also see this type of change in other countries. Some decades ago certain people in my country (Italy) could even retire with less that 15 years of work. And retired people have obtained more money than future retired will today.People finded jobs easily and with less skills. All the system has changed. The state gave too much and now we have to pay the consequences. We can't change some of this behaviour and return to the past, we have to adapt
Load More Replies...The fundamental problem in America is classism. The elites use their power and influence to squeeze everything they can from those beneath them. As a result, the wealth gap grows and society becomes a place of haves and have nots. Its similar in just about every country in the world. The difference in America is that the masses have the rights and knowledge to fight back, or so we would, if we weren't so damned polarized. United we stand, divided we fall
You can't call it freedom when so many are slave to the system preventing them from actually enjoying any freedom.
You have to be more specific than that. Sounds like you're just whining. I know I delivered the Washington post to 72 households before school when I was in the seventh grade. I've always had a job I've always worked. Put myself through college. Took me 10 years but I got a bachelors degree. I'm the youngest of five and the first one to get a college degree. After I got a degree I stumbled into a job in IT. Now I'm 63 years old and still work in IT. I've had to re-create/reinvent myself at least seven times to say relative in the vast changes in technology. I don't have time to sit around and whine. I worked 61 hours last week. I don't have any boats I don't have any luxury cars, Trying to get by. I don't have time to complain and it doesn't good do any good anyway. Just get up off your ass and get to work. Shut up about it. And make sure you're fun to work with so that when you need a favor someone will give you one.
Load More Replies...Anyone who LOVES the USA 🇺🇸 will care about these issues and try to vote for Americans to succeed and prosper. The conservatives who shout about America being the greatest country don’t actually believe that or they would pay attention when the country has a problem. Like with a kid. You love your kids. If they break a bone, you get it treated. America has a broken bone and the conservatives just ignore the broken bone and claim they love America. You cannot love something which you neglect. I am considered a foreigner to this country and I am way way way way way more American than any redneck could ever dream of, and I do whatever I can to build myself and this country. Including voicing every SINGLE problem we have. To deny our problems is to hate America. And those people should get the fück out.
The American dream is a Ponzi scheme. If you vote against your own personal interests and make the rich even richer you too will have your turn. Won't happen for the bottom 300,000,000
The post WW2 bounce has now ended. Getting the US to join WW2 and help with materiel/finance cost the UK and the rest of the world dearly. Empires were brought down and trade was stifled by agreements exacted by the US. As a consequence, whilst the rest of the world was nearly bankrupt after WW2 the USA was on a wave of prosperity from it. This only even STARTED to slow down with the oil shock. The world is still correcting/resetting. The US should not have the clout it does and much of this comes from the petrodollar, something that won't exist 50 years from now..
Articles like these make me wish disaffected American citizens could sell their citizenship to the people fighting to get in. the Disaffected would get money to start a new life elsewhere, and the immigrants who want to be in America can "buy in".
It's called 'American DREAM'-not 'American REALITY'..sometimes, I can fly in my dreams
My mexican third world country ass cannot believe that even in my country I can get sick, go to a hospital, get FULL treatment and don't get charged a penny for it. My dad had a cerebral stroke and the whole treatment and doctor's appointments and whatnot was a total of CERO. Nothing... he didn't pay a single penny. If that would've happened in the States, he wouldn't be here
I honestly believe that a countries wealth is correlated to the social security it offers. Imagine not having be afraid of losing your job because either way you have ample income. Not being afraid of getting sick because expenses are covered. Not being afraid means you' have more bandwidth to make long-term decisions, better plans and give you headspace to develop yourself. Not being afraid makes you more inclined to help others and less susceptible to being influenced by populists. Since you don't have to worry about yourself, you have headspace to care about others instead
Why are all these people SAYING they dream about leaving, but never leave? Communist China pretty much has open borders for people wanting to move in. I hear Belize is very nice... and they speak English. I bet most of them live in deep blue (statist) states, where a nice house in a decent neighborhood costs about $800,000 and is a 40 minute car trip from a job. There are plenty of states where the median home price is around $160,000, you can walk to work, and the unemployment rate is about a third of what it is in California or New York... but you might have neighbors who like the high-school football coach who prays after the game.
Growing up and in my entire life, I never heard notions like these of what the "American Dream" was... except in misrepresentations of it by those who were opposed to what America represented. Usually countries like the U.S.S.R. or mainland China. And it isn't socialist/communist countries, per se... but any nation that was inherently repressive. The real "American Dream" was always simply the opportunities present in living in a free country. Opportunities that are still present... but so taken for granted by generations born and raised here that they have deluded themselves into thinking they don't exist. But those who've come from elsewhere see them... and take advantage of them. I know because most of the "successful" people I personally know and have dealt with are typically foreign born. They see what others won't.
If you really hard, put in extra hours, and give everything to your job, you, too, can make sure that your bosses have great vacation homes to go to after they lay you off.
To me america was supposed to simply be this. A place where all who were oppressed could break the chains of said oppression and be free. Lady liberty. Mother to humanity. Safe arms for all of us. Rights and food and homes and healthcare for all. Not innocent people killed by law enforcement and idolization of empty vapid celebrities and mass shootings and war mongering.
"Hey, let's trash the USA again, that gets the clicks and comments. No, not daily, duh. Not yet, anyway."
No. The people who are trashing America are the ones who vote against our interests. The ones who point it out love this country and want it to be better. Only someone who hates something ignores and neglects its problems. You probably have experience with that.
Load More Replies...Things were different 50 years ago for the whole world. Usually one parent was working while the other stayed at home caring for the children and still made enough money to buy a home. Not everyone, obviously, but many. However nowadays, both partners work and they can barely afford a goldfish, let alone kids or a house. Again, not everyone but many.
Caring for a goldfish properly is expensive. They need at least 75 gallons.
Load More Replies...I think the American dream was a myth from its very invention on; rags-to-riches has happened and still happens, but it is the exception. Usually, rich stays rich and poor stays poor. With all its flaws, the US is still a fascinating country, and I cannot wait to be able to travel there again. And looking at my home, the European Union, there are so many flaws, too. Thus, the wisest choice probably is not to live the dream (neither the american, not any other one) but rather to contribute to forging a more-liveable future by taking action in the here and now – a future that will offer more opportunities to everyone.
Yeah there is also a lot of ideolisation of EU. We have better conditions because of the decebt healthcare. But most countries still struggle with housing prices, lack of jobs, low wages, very high demands for entry jobs, racism, sexism, bad work practices etc.
Load More Replies...My father and others came here when they were young after WWII. He learned English in school, without ESL. Got a full scholarship, finished his PhD and was hired by a big company, who promoted from within, offered on-the-job training at all levels, all inclusive health insurance, stock options, and more. The first house he purchased was condemned, he did all the work himself, while we lived there. My first job was a paper route at age 12. We all worked for our spending money -- no allowance or handouts. With a frugal lifestyle for the first few decades, there was money to put 4 kids through college and eventually afford a comfortable lifestyle, even with a tax rate of 80%. He worked there for 45 years has a good pension. American Dream. Is it possible today?
You can also see this type of change in other countries. Some decades ago certain people in my country (Italy) could even retire with less that 15 years of work. And retired people have obtained more money than future retired will today.People finded jobs easily and with less skills. All the system has changed. The state gave too much and now we have to pay the consequences. We can't change some of this behaviour and return to the past, we have to adapt
Load More Replies...The fundamental problem in America is classism. The elites use their power and influence to squeeze everything they can from those beneath them. As a result, the wealth gap grows and society becomes a place of haves and have nots. Its similar in just about every country in the world. The difference in America is that the masses have the rights and knowledge to fight back, or so we would, if we weren't so damned polarized. United we stand, divided we fall
You can't call it freedom when so many are slave to the system preventing them from actually enjoying any freedom.
You have to be more specific than that. Sounds like you're just whining. I know I delivered the Washington post to 72 households before school when I was in the seventh grade. I've always had a job I've always worked. Put myself through college. Took me 10 years but I got a bachelors degree. I'm the youngest of five and the first one to get a college degree. After I got a degree I stumbled into a job in IT. Now I'm 63 years old and still work in IT. I've had to re-create/reinvent myself at least seven times to say relative in the vast changes in technology. I don't have time to sit around and whine. I worked 61 hours last week. I don't have any boats I don't have any luxury cars, Trying to get by. I don't have time to complain and it doesn't good do any good anyway. Just get up off your ass and get to work. Shut up about it. And make sure you're fun to work with so that when you need a favor someone will give you one.
Load More Replies...Anyone who LOVES the USA 🇺🇸 will care about these issues and try to vote for Americans to succeed and prosper. The conservatives who shout about America being the greatest country don’t actually believe that or they would pay attention when the country has a problem. Like with a kid. You love your kids. If they break a bone, you get it treated. America has a broken bone and the conservatives just ignore the broken bone and claim they love America. You cannot love something which you neglect. I am considered a foreigner to this country and I am way way way way way more American than any redneck could ever dream of, and I do whatever I can to build myself and this country. Including voicing every SINGLE problem we have. To deny our problems is to hate America. And those people should get the fück out.
The American dream is a Ponzi scheme. If you vote against your own personal interests and make the rich even richer you too will have your turn. Won't happen for the bottom 300,000,000
The post WW2 bounce has now ended. Getting the US to join WW2 and help with materiel/finance cost the UK and the rest of the world dearly. Empires were brought down and trade was stifled by agreements exacted by the US. As a consequence, whilst the rest of the world was nearly bankrupt after WW2 the USA was on a wave of prosperity from it. This only even STARTED to slow down with the oil shock. The world is still correcting/resetting. The US should not have the clout it does and much of this comes from the petrodollar, something that won't exist 50 years from now..
Articles like these make me wish disaffected American citizens could sell their citizenship to the people fighting to get in. the Disaffected would get money to start a new life elsewhere, and the immigrants who want to be in America can "buy in".
It's called 'American DREAM'-not 'American REALITY'..sometimes, I can fly in my dreams
My mexican third world country ass cannot believe that even in my country I can get sick, go to a hospital, get FULL treatment and don't get charged a penny for it. My dad had a cerebral stroke and the whole treatment and doctor's appointments and whatnot was a total of CERO. Nothing... he didn't pay a single penny. If that would've happened in the States, he wouldn't be here
I honestly believe that a countries wealth is correlated to the social security it offers. Imagine not having be afraid of losing your job because either way you have ample income. Not being afraid of getting sick because expenses are covered. Not being afraid means you' have more bandwidth to make long-term decisions, better plans and give you headspace to develop yourself. Not being afraid makes you more inclined to help others and less susceptible to being influenced by populists. Since you don't have to worry about yourself, you have headspace to care about others instead
Why are all these people SAYING they dream about leaving, but never leave? Communist China pretty much has open borders for people wanting to move in. I hear Belize is very nice... and they speak English. I bet most of them live in deep blue (statist) states, where a nice house in a decent neighborhood costs about $800,000 and is a 40 minute car trip from a job. There are plenty of states where the median home price is around $160,000, you can walk to work, and the unemployment rate is about a third of what it is in California or New York... but you might have neighbors who like the high-school football coach who prays after the game.
Growing up and in my entire life, I never heard notions like these of what the "American Dream" was... except in misrepresentations of it by those who were opposed to what America represented. Usually countries like the U.S.S.R. or mainland China. And it isn't socialist/communist countries, per se... but any nation that was inherently repressive. The real "American Dream" was always simply the opportunities present in living in a free country. Opportunities that are still present... but so taken for granted by generations born and raised here that they have deluded themselves into thinking they don't exist. But those who've come from elsewhere see them... and take advantage of them. I know because most of the "successful" people I personally know and have dealt with are typically foreign born. They see what others won't.
If you really hard, put in extra hours, and give everything to your job, you, too, can make sure that your bosses have great vacation homes to go to after they lay you off.
To me america was supposed to simply be this. A place where all who were oppressed could break the chains of said oppression and be free. Lady liberty. Mother to humanity. Safe arms for all of us. Rights and food and homes and healthcare for all. Not innocent people killed by law enforcement and idolization of empty vapid celebrities and mass shootings and war mongering.
"Hey, let's trash the USA again, that gets the clicks and comments. No, not daily, duh. Not yet, anyway."
No. The people who are trashing America are the ones who vote against our interests. The ones who point it out love this country and want it to be better. Only someone who hates something ignores and neglects its problems. You probably have experience with that.
Load More Replies...