The American Dream

[genchan]

Is it still possible?

[Snoopy2645]

yES I believe it is because I think anyones dreams can come true if they work hard.

[CRFSaver]

Absoultely. Despite what the statistics say my income has gone up every year since I graduated from college. In fact over the last 10 years it has tripled.

[Fern]

Means something different for anyone you ask.

How do you define the "American Dream?"

[akaivyleaf]

I think dreams can become reality. Some require more hard work than others, but I think whatever your "american dream" is, you can make it come true.

[marglo]

I agree that it depends on what you mean by that, but if you mean a decent house and a car..enough money to live a decent life and retire...yes I think you can if you work hard, and are frugal, thinking ahead etc.

[jmjj215]

I'm going to make it happen for me and my family. That means we can't live for today - at excessive interest rates - but we'll be better off in 10 years for it.

[cercis]

That anyone can grow up to be president? I never believed that.

That one person can make a difference? Difficult to believe.

That the best person gets the job? Nope, that is so not true.

That people in the US are generous? No.

I think that if you are fortunate enough to belong to a family that value education and does what they can to help you succeed in school, you can have a comfortable life. If you come from poverty and parents who work too hard and long to do more than coexist with you, then you have to have the right personality.

I think a good number of people will never reach the american dream. No matter how hard they try to work. They simply don't have the skills to get there. Malnutrition early in life, excessive absenteeism from school and lack of good education is crippling to far too many people. They don't know how to succeed. The best we can do is reach their kids - through free lunch and breakfast programs to alleviate the malnutrition. Through mentor programs in school. Through free medical care so that they don't miss too many days because of an illness. But, too many people call that welfare and are against it and instead prefer to tell small kids that if they just tried harder they wouldn't be hungry or sick anymore.

[Bluezy]

Originally Posted by cercis

That people in the US are generous? No.

I must respectfully disagree with you on this point.

I have found the people in the US as the some of the last generous souls on earth. Why? Because even with inflation and war, there are still those who give endlessly to the ones who are in need. Who are these people? Pregnancy centers, food banks, special groups sending supplies to US troops in Iraq. Those who donate time to AIDS clinics and visitation to elderly homes...all of which contain people who are cast away and forgotten.

Even those who do not have access to expensive education in the US have an outlet in educators who donate time to community and learning centers around the country. The education is there for the taking - it might not be Harvard but it's an education.

Try living in a third world country with no real financial security...no FDIC in banking and Building Funds, means for jobs, etc. Once you see that you would recognize the generosity of the American people.

[jmjj215]

That anyone can grow up to be president? I never believed that.

That's a tough one, because once they become president they really aren't 'anyone' anymore

[jmjj215]

That one person can make a difference? Difficult to believe.

(in no particular order, just off the top of my head):

Jesus Christ
Julius Caesar
Hitler
Stalin
Harry Truman
Thomas Edison
Gutenberg
Martin Luther
Martin Luther King Jr.

How do you define 'difference'?

[PRICEPLUS]

THe American Dream varies form person to person. A good education for my children is important. A roof over my head and food on the table are part of that dream. Decent serviceable clothes are part of that dream.

Let's face it, American's have a very decent life style. Decent at least in material terms. Look at what you have as compared to people around the world and count your blessings.

The freedom I enjoy is also a very great part of the American Dream. Look at how many people want to get in here! Hmmmmm? Maybe they know something a great many here forgot!

[cercis]

Jesse, when is the last time you heard someone propose a woman run for prez and didn't hear negative comments based solely on her gender?

If they feel perfectly comfortable making statements like "we can't have her in the office, she'll push the button when she's PMSing" then there is no way any woman will be president in the near future.

As to the list of people you say made a difference. Well, that was a long time ago, it doesn't happen now. And frankly, as much as I would like Christ to have made a difference, I think his message is so perverted now that he must not have made enough of a difference for the majority of his followers.

Bluezy - the generosity of less than 5% of americans doesn't make up for the stinginess and meanness of the other 95+%. People tell me that parents have to take care of their kids and they have no need to help provide food or medical care to said children. We're talking CHILDREN. They say "I worked hard to provide for my family, it isn't my fault their parents aren't". Whatever, we're still talking about innocent children.

The vast majority of folks claiming charitable deductions on their income taxes are claiming church tithe. That's all well and good, but the majority of churches do little charity work these days. They have operating expenses that are insane so most tithe goes to pay those expenses. This includes the pastors' salary packages which, in many cases, are worth 6 figures. Gone is the day of the "poor preacher man" for many, many cities. Too many churches are also building "mega churches" rather than focusing on ministering to their congregation (I've watched them on TV, I'm not just speaking out of turn here).

I think America used to have many good points. I think we're seeing way too many of them fall by the wayside as it becomes more about ME, ME, ME. I don't hate america, it's my home. I have no desire or plans to move, but I do plan to exercise my american DUTY to dissent. I plan to exercise my DUTY to say "this is not the way we should be heading".

I'm not here to debate, but my online personality has been developed on debate boards. I will abandon this thread now because I can tell that no matter what I say, it will not be well received.

[2moretrees]

I think that Americans are generous. Could they be more generous. Of course. But I don't think that takes away from the things they do do. it helps when they have a cause to rally around. Look at the tsunami - it was the individuals in the US that dontated millions of dollars in good and money...if I remember correctly, even more than the US government did.

[moneyrant]

Harder than it used to be, possible if you want it. Your choice.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by cercis

Jesse, when is the last time you heard someone propose a woman run for prez and didn't hear negative comments based solely on her gender?

Last week when DH told me Hilary was considering it, niether of us have a problem with her gender. (not that we are neccessarily gonna vote for or against her)


And the dream, that of anyone getting anywhere with hard work, YES it can happen. But the key is HARD work, and most of America doesn't like to work, much less work hard.

[VJW]

I agree that a lot of the American PEOPLE are generous, but not this self-acclaimed “Compassionate Conservative” administration:

TSUNAMI RELIEF AID AS PERCENTAGE OF GDP

1. Kuwait - $2.08 million per $1 billion
2. Australia - $1.34 million per $1 billion
3. Qatar - $1.28 million per $1 billion
4. Norway - $957923.49 per $1 billion
5. New Zealand - $793427.73 per $1 billion
6. Netherlands - $624610.26 per $1 billion
7. Finland - $431878.30 per $1 billion
8. Denmark - $424311.92 per $1 billion
9. Canada - $337204.30 per $1 billion
10. UAE - $314119.67 per $1 billion
11. Sweden - $282693.81 per $1 billion
12. Germany - $276460.62 per $1 billion
13. Austria - $255412.27 per $1 billion
14. Luxembourg - $249358.26 per $1 billion
15. Ireland - $206645.56 per $1 billion
16. Bahrain - $153727.90 per $1 billion
17. Japan - $133511.34 per $1 billion
18. Saudi Arabia - $96711.79 per $1 billion
19. Switzerland - $90512.10 per $1 billion
20. Taiwan - $87209.30 per $1 billion
21. Spain - $77997.01 per $1 billion
22. Italy - $56805.46 per $1 billion
23. Portugal - $55378.90 per $1 billion
24. Libya - $53361.79 per $1 billion
25. United Kingdom - $52497.19 per $1 billion
26. Czech Republic - $52264.80 per $1 billion
27. Belgium - $49557.24 per $1 billion
28. France - $31571.67 per $1 billion
29. United States - $29787.23 per $1 billion
30. Hong Kong - $27334.75 per $1 billion

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[Fern]

Americans are more generous than any other nation in terms of charitable dollars given. Many people on this website regularly tithe to their churches, and we're not all wealthy either.

Individuals make a difference every day, even now. To make a difference you don't have to find a cure for cancer, but maybe just give your seat up for a disabled person or senior citizen.

[weiwentg]

Originally Posted by Fern

Americans are more generous than any other nation in terms of charitable dollars given. Many people on this website regularly tithe to their churches, and we're not all wealthy either.

Individuals make a difference every day, even now. To make a difference you don't have to find a cure for cancer, but maybe just give your seat up for a disabled person or senior citizen.

correct, in terms of personal generosity, Americans are right up near the top.

in terms of setting social policies that are generous, or at least provide a basic safety net ... they aren't.

[sweeps]

I always thought of the American Dream as the ability to live a better life than your parents did. I think the consensus of most economists is that the Baby Boomers will be the last generation to enjoy that dream for a while.