While some people love the grind, others feel crushed by it. These people simply don’t want to work multiple jobs in poor workplaces just so they can barely afford basic necessities and don’t have any time for themselves. And when you’re stuck in this kind of hamster wheel, it’s very easy to lose all your hope. Today’s story is about exactly that – a woman losing all hope and refusing to believe in the American Dream.
More info: Reddit
Sometimes everything becomes just too much and you lose all your hope
Image credits: ANTONI SHKRABA production (not the actual photo)
A woman who lost all her hope in today’s world came to Reddit to vent about her and society’s situation
Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Eren Li (not the actual photo)
Image credits: u/bunnystar55
In her rant she stated that she no longer believes in the American Dream, as it is a scam
Recently, Reddit user u/bunnystar55 came to Reddit to vent about how she believes “America is a scam.” To be more specific, she means the American dream.
The American Dream is the belief that the United States is a land of opportunity, which allows the possibility of freedom, equality, and social mobility upward for all people who are willing to work hard.
And, well, the post’s OP doesn’t believe this idea anymore. According to her, a lot of people have multiple jobs and the majority of them are treated poorly in their jobs by their coworkers, management, and HR. And then the minimum wage from that job isn’t enough to cover basic necessities. It also doesn’t leave any time off for people to have a social life and hobbies.
And it doesn’t end there. Healthcare is not sufficient at all. Poor people, who don’t have proper insurance or enough money, can’t get the help they need. Or if they pour everything they have into healthcare, they might end up homeless. And no one can do anything about it.
The most infuriating thing about the situation for the woman is that she has always been a top student and spent thousands of dollars on her degree, which is worthless now. She also worked hard at every job, and it didn’t matter. She still ended up in this place. So, that’s why she has given up. She doesn’t have any hope anymore.
Image credits: Dyana Wing So (not the actual photo)
The term for the American Dream was popularized by James Truslow Adams in 1931, while the idea is claimed to originate from the United States Declaration of Independence. And while in theory, it does sound nice, throughout its history, there have been quite a few critics, just like the OP.
They point out that the idea fails to mention the lack of worker solidarity, materialism, consumerism, and hardships of workers. Some even noted that it didn’t acknowledge various types of discrimination, from slavery to genocide, that Americans have faced.
Also, in 2020, it was found that only 54% of adults in the US believed the American Dream was achievable to them. 28% thought it wasn’t achievable for them personally. And as many as 9% plainly rejected this idea. I guess we could put the OP in the latter category.
The majority of commenters under the post could also go into the last percentage. They shared that they, just like the OP, have had their soul crushed by the system and don’t believe in such lies as the American Dream. A few shared their horror stories of what made them like this, while others shared their “new American Dreams”, which are something along the lines of not becoming homeless. Quite a sad picture, right?
So, as we can see, the woman from the Reddit post isn’t the only one who understands how unattainable this idea can be. In fact, we think that an update for the American Dream is due. Let’s make it more 21st-century-ish and less tedious for people all around the US.
People online shared the same sentiment as the post’s author by voicing how their soul has also crushed by the same things as hers
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Looking around the globe, some folks might think the U.S. has got some big issues. The points that person made? Pretty spot on. The system seems stuck in its ways and changing it? That’s a tall order. Especially with a two-party, ‘winner-takes-all’ setup. Doesn’t quite hit the mark of what I’d call democracy.
Corporatism*. Plain capitalism isn't bad. Personally its the best but corporatism is the worst kind of capitalism.
Load More Replies...
... that's what you get when EVERY mentioning of wealth distribution makes you a communist, thereby an enemy, the antichrist, evil, lazy, useless and generally "unamerican". When minimum wage was introduced in the 30's, the goal was to ensure that working a fulltime job would get you and your family fed, housed, clothed, healthed. Today, in many states that only have the federal minimum wage, it's a supporting income at best, that you can only consider enough if enough is already earned elsewhere, by your partner, roommate, child, parent. If we don't adress, and usccessfully so, the problems that a very unequal income distribution creates, one that is TOO unequal - nobody said wiping a floor shall earn the same as engineering or anything even close - the entire West will lose everything it is ahead in. Including democracy, freedoms of various kinds. Might still exist on paper, but you can't really use them anymore, even without going to hospital for something somebody else caused you.
Looking around the globe, some folks might think the U.S. has got some big issues. The points that person made? Pretty spot on. The system seems stuck in its ways and changing it? That’s a tall order. Especially with a two-party, ‘winner-takes-all’ setup. Doesn’t quite hit the mark of what I’d call democracy.
Corporatism*. Plain capitalism isn't bad. Personally its the best but corporatism is the worst kind of capitalism.
Load More Replies... ... that's what you get when EVERY mentioning of wealth distribution makes you a communist, thereby an enemy, the antichrist, evil, lazy, useless and generally "unamerican". When minimum wage was introduced in the 30's, the goal was to ensure that working a fulltime job would get you and your family fed, housed, clothed, healthed. Today, in many states that only have the federal minimum wage, it's a supporting income at best, that you can only consider enough if enough is already earned elsewhere, by your partner, roommate, child, parent. If we don't adress, and usccessfully so, the problems that a very unequal income distribution creates, one that is TOO unequal - nobody said wiping a floor shall earn the same as engineering or anything even close - the entire West will lose everything it is ahead in. Including democracy, freedoms of various kinds. Might still exist on paper, but you can't really use them anymore, even without going to hospital for something somebody else caused you.
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