What "American Dream" exactly is? Is it still alive?

Good Question.

There are two answers:
1. What is stated
2. What is lived. .

They seem to rarely be the same

Rocket River

 

I thought the American Dream was supposed to be a car in every garage and a chicken in every oven.

 

No. It is two cars a house and 2.3 kids.

 

I think the American Dream itself has changed. When the "American Dream" was created, it was about having a job, a house, a working car and a few lesser luxuries like a TV, etc. I would argue that this dream is highly attainable to almost anyone that wants to work hard for it.

However, the "American Dream" has now become having a 5,000 sq ft house with granite counter tops and stainless appliances, a LV purse, a BMW and a Lexus, sending kids to private school, etc. This is harder to attain.

My wife and I often watch the various real estate shows on the HG channel and other channels. I'm shocked how many first time buyers with little/no money DEMAND that they have hardwood floors, a giant master bathroom, granite countertops, etc.

So in conclusion, I think the American Dream has become a sliding scale. It is very possible in America to start with very little and get educated or learn a trade and get a job and be able to own and have a home, car, yard. When the scale slides ever further, its not enough to own your own home, or drive a dependable car.

My father employs many people, and I have seen over the years many of these people start out with nothing. Now they have supported their families, had a home for them, own a car, and their kids are in college. That's living the American Dream in my opinion.

 

I watch those shows and laugh. So many of the couples that are buying houses have no clue, they just know that bamboo floors and quartz counters are popular in the magazines, so they "need" them. I cringe when a young couple, with a child and $15k to put down on a house, set their budget at $350k for a house.

For some people, the "American Dream" is just "keeping up with the Jone's".

 

Corrected for Accuracy.

Most people can live a very good life if they just chose to spend wisely. Give up the iphones, premium cable channels, oversized HDTV sets and expensive cars, stop eating out all the time, etc..
When you hear stories about the bus driver that retired a millionaire, etc...thats how they lived. Simpler lives with less "stuff". Maturity is learning to be complacent. As a society, we've completely lossed that complacency.

 

I think all of you are off course. The "American Dream" is the dream that unlike in other countries, in America, you can achieve anything if you work hard enough and have the talent. It is "and the pursuit of happiness" that we are promised.


It does not mean everyone owns a house or has a certain level of wealth. It deals directly with freedom, choice and opportunity.

 

corrected

 

It'd be great if this was true.

 

From Adam's book, "[The] dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position"

Basically it deals with meritocracy. NOT the materialistic definition given by others above.

 

I think the discussion is around what is lived, and not what is stated (as Rocket River said).

 

I would love to say that the american dream is still alive, but it's hard to when you have local governments around the country treating immigrants like they were criminals.

 

No. It is 2.3 chicks at the same time.

 

That's a great find. Essentially what Obama's policies are trying to do is to restore the American dream.

 

im not sure legal immigrants are widely treated as criminals

illegal immigrants are because it is well..... illegal, and they are treated as they should be

 

No, the American dream kind of died over the years as nations were becoming more Democratic. I don't think people think of America as that booming country anymore after Bush Jr. took over and went into the Middle East.

 

That's not true at all. My dad came here in the 70s with no money, went to school here, got a full ride for a masters, ended up teaching computers instead, worked his way up and now owns a business and writes books. And even the stories my mother had to do to become a doctor.

No other country in the world has the level of social mobility that this country has. It's not about people wanting larger houses or democracy abroad, its simply social mobility. Now you can argue that social mobility has taken a step backwards over the last decade or so (and I'd agree with that) but even so, no country can come close to rivaling what this country will give to a person who's smart and works hard. My parents embody that vary idea with what they had to do to get where they are and that tale is shared by countless others.

 

It is true in that the country has it in writing that it is a high priority goal. How many other countries can say that?