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

There's no such thing as a singular, unified "American Dream". People come to this country for a large variety of reasons (and always have). Some were even forced to come here. Where are their dreams in this discussion?

The "American Dream" myth doesn't motivate people to acheive success; they're already motivated on their own terms. All it does is margainalize the real dreams of those who don't choose--or don't have the opportunity--to acheive success on others' terms.

 

Let’s think about what would be required to allow “each man and each woman to be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable”.

Food would be one. Clearly a person can’t achieve their full potential if they are starving and scrambling to find their next meal.

Shelter would be another. Again, if you’re homeless and having to worry about where you’re going to spend the night every night you’re not going to be able to live up to your full potential.

Education would be another. If a person has the ability but can’t afford to go to school then obviously they’re being held back from reaching their full potential.

Law and order would be another. Basic health care would be one too, etc.

I think you could flesh out a list of basic rights that are needed to make the American dream accessible to everyone. Apart from the law and order issues, there is a concept called a “social safety net”. In theory this is a group of programs designed to keep people from falling too far and becoming too marginalized, and that give everyone a path to be able to achieve their highest potential. Canada uses this term but there have been lots of holes in Canada’s net in recent years, but that’s a different topic.

W.r.t. the US, then, what policies would be needed to restore the American dream? What polices would create a good social safety net which would allow “each man and each woman to be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable”?

This is the direction I see Obama going in, and universal health care is a good start.

 

Legal or Illegal? Because if they are here Illegally, they are criminals.

 

Charles Barkley once said

"Poor people have been voting democrat for 50 years, and they are still poor."

Just b/c Obama won, does not mean poor people are not going to be continue being poor.

He is just going to try and give more opportunity.

I didn't vote for Obama, but I really hope he can motivate the less fortunate.

 

The American Dream is equal opportunity for all, not an equal result. In that way, I fail to see how the last 50 years have not shown a significant improvement with regards to that, unless you are solely basing your entire viewpoint on the events of the last few months. Lest we forget Jim Crow laws and all that.

 

Now days,

"Everyman controls the own destiny, regardless of what their Father did."


my dad grew up poor, parents were in the dust bowl. Now he is well off, from hard work.

Its possible for anyone.

 

This is not entirely true.

People are still limited by their surroundings. Potential IQ studies have shown a wealth of information about how rich and poor environments affect cognitive intelligence. It does still matter whether you are born to a working-class family or a rich, Hollywood family or a family on welfare. The few exceptional stories we hear of drastic upward social mobilization are only exceptional because they are well, exceptions to the rule.

That said, it is a hell of a lot more true about the 21st century then the 20th century. While discrimination still exists, we've eliminated most of the obvious forms. I'd say that barring the events of the last few months, the American dream is still alive...and doing well.

Of course, that's in the conventional sense of relative opportunity for all. The deluded version of the American Dream, rockstars and Hollywood actors waiting to happen for all and 80% of the population believing they are above average...that has always done well for itself, but I think ultimately, that version of the American Dream does more harm then good.

 

there is always going to be a few people who get the shaft. You can't help everyone.

I'd love to see Obama make public school laws more strict. Make the kids go!