ABC News: Is The American Dream Dead?

ABC News:

As the recession grinds on, and we take stock of our country's lost jobs, foreclosed homes and decimated 401(k)s, many Americans are lamenting the loss of something that can't be captured in statistics and data points: the American Dream.

Read the whole story: ABC News

Comments

[unite4change]

If Americans could see the lifestyles between the USA and Western Europe, they wouldn't believe it. Most Americans can't handle the truth because we are arrogant and ignorant. We’ve been taught we're the best at everything which couldn't be further from the truth.

We are inundated with daily tabloid news and pundits' opinions and most Americans treat these opinions as truths. We have grown into an unthinking society and allowed our politicians to scare us into submission. When we finally elect a president who cares about the American people, he is vilified by politicians, pundits, the media and bigots.

The same people responsible for America's current crisis in our financial markets, healthcare, credit, housing, jobs, etc. now complain the most. We’re being bombarded by people who have benefitted the most during the last 30 years. We hear cries of big government from our politicians, budget deficit, socialism, fascism, etc. Yet, most Americans don't have the sense to say, aren't you part of our government and if it's failing, it because of you.

Our politicians have been in concert with corporations to suppress technology used around the world but not in the USA to keep us consuming. While most developed countries have public option healthcare, light rail trains, advance cell phone, gasless cars, shorter work weeks, better health, etc.

Until we rid our country of old, self serving, career politicians, we’ll continue to be fools because of our willingness to get information via sound bites instead of doing the research ourselves.

[DakotaMinnesota]

The American Dream is the Las Vegas Dream - it requires advertizing the success of enough winners to create a whole lot of losers. Not to say that hard work and prosperity are nonexistent or undesirable. But "The American Dream" is just an ad campaign to enduce overambition and overspending in order to create enough beholden losers to finance the excesses of the few at the top.

[mismicma]

I like your analogy. The fact that the average credit card debt is so high in this country is a reflection of people trying so desperately to live the "American Dream" as depicted on television shows and to keep up with their neighbors. Most mainstream television series do a horrible job of representing the average American. Advertising is even worse.

The fact is the lifestyle depicted to us constantly is unattainable by most.

[Sundialsvc4]

What folks like ABC News can't for some reason conceive of is ...

"Excellence in Governance­."

What if, instead of being content to wring their hands and moan, the American people instead did something that is very typically American: they recognized the thieves, the "enemy within," and banded against them as one and, within the system of government they created two hundred-plus years ago, forced change.

What if in fact they are NOT what the political pundits would have them to be: "a house divided against itself."

What if We the People demand, and what if we WILL actually get, "excellence in governance" one way or the other, so that we may all enjoy the fruits thereof. We do see clearly. We don't stand in corners, "red shirts over here, blue shirts over there, and everybody say together, 'woe is me!' "

Enough already. There's work to be done.

[munki]

NO NO NO... NEVER...

We just need to accept DIVERSITY and DIVERSIFY.­..

Yes... look at Canada... I recall Canadian economy pre-1997
Now... I was told... Vancouver Economy from a Canadian friend in Montreal..­.

What we need is... GOOD INVESTORS, job creators..­.
Sorry... NOT eating up our tax dollars...

[loki]

Not unless your already wealthy or good friends with someone wealthy. For the rest of us will just have to keep working to make the rich richer.

[Kache]

Depends on which American dream you're talking about.

Millions dream of the day when "them jobs will be coming back". Well, they will. In a few years the Chinese will need someone to make their tennis shoes and it will probably be us.

Millions dream of a simpler life, free of the rat race obsession to keep up with the Jones. Millions got that recently.

Personally I dream of a firing squad taking aim at a guy named Dick. I probably wont get my dream, but nevertheless, it's still a good dream.

[kstuff]

Without real health care, we're all dead.

[kstuff]

Moving's great. If you can sell your house.

[sandiegoconservative]

And yet all the naysayers on this site still choose to live here as opposed to moving. I wonder why . . .

[DakotaMinnesota]

Because we know that wherever we go, you soulsuckers will be right behind. You Christian-­Capitalist­s are a devouring vortex bent on expansion and perpetuating a sick, materialist hegemony. That's why people stand their ground and refuse to move another inch, no matter how much you slander them to leave. Geronimo and Sitting Bull and others understood that decent people could just move a little further out west, but eventually the bankers and their pet federal troops would appear over the horizon.

[mismicma]

I for one, would not leave my parents---we are a close family.

[jordan3189]

It is with obama in charge, no doubt about it. You can't punish prosperity and reward failure.

[Maschine]

unfortunately, that is Obama's style. He'd rather negotiate then smack someone down.

[DakotaMinnesota]

I would like to know your definitions of "prosperity" and "failure."

[SantaFeStars]

IMO, today's "American Dream" for many people is SURVIVAL!

[IndelibleVoice]

That's the problem, it's always been a dream but never a reality!

[sueinmn]

Wrong. Mn has probably more homeowners than renters. Your home has always been your BEST investment and many sell them to cash in for retirement.

[Maschine]

The American Dream is not dead. It needs to mature and update itself. But alas, it seems we never learn.

[sandiegoconservative]

To what?

In the last year, my family has progressed significantly because we have all worked hard and stayed together as a family. We had an increase in salary, better employment, a move to a better home, a new car, decreased debt, and a better life overall. Not everyone has been as lucky, but is that reason to give up on what is a good dream?

[Maschine]

All very good Sandy. Individually you might be doing better and thats a step, that everyone should be encouraged to undertake, but as a country, as a whole, the US experiment is failing.

You may not have debt, but your country does. You may be well fed, but your country has those that are starving. You may have access to health care, but your country has millions with none. You may have an education, but your country has millions who don't have any.

I understand all about pulling up your bootstraps, i am the son of an immigrant . i know with every fibert in my being what it takes to take care of yourself.

My point is at some time in the growth of a nation, there must be some growth in social justice and an enlightenment. here we are in the year 2009 and we still have this insanity. I mean , didn't Arthur Anderson and Enrons failures mean anything. What , we now have have major industry failing, no jobs to speak of, major financial institutions , the heart and soul of the US Free market ideology, sucking up every cent the fed can print which you and your children will ultimately have to pay back.

So , you and your family may be doing great but i can tell you, the notion that the US is the land of the free, business friendly, a land of profit 9 at who's expense ) , is kinda over.

[CologneCitizen]

I have been visiting the USA since 1974 from my home country Germany.

I never understood why the average American did not benefit more from the vast growth of productivity in this time span. For more than 30 years we have 5 to 6 weeks mandatory vacation, proper health care, pensions for the old, etc. And our companies made huge profits as well. While you are still told socialism ( which we don't have ín Germany ) is the enemy, the average German is much more relaxed and doing better than its American counterpart. We don't share your dream, but normal daily life has a much higher quality over here than in the US.

Seems the American dream is a clever marketing tool to work your butt off, be proud at the same time to be an American, have the illusion to be "number 1´" (whatever that means) and fill the pockets of your masters who are laughing their way to the bank.

[Maschine]

I have to agree, for a "mature " country, The US has done a piss poor job of making life better for its citizens. Its still based on a dog eat dog , or I can piss harder then you can of attitude.

It sucks. It has occurred to me that the lies that were told to my parents are now being repeated. You have to sacrifice for the well being of your children future.

Seems to me, plenty of people have sacrificed and the only futures that seem to be bright and protected are the politicians and the wealthy who can only dream of yet another way to screw the masses.

[Lorianne]

What are you talking about?

We have houses full to the rafters of Salad Shooters (TM) and other assorted 'consumer items' made in China.

We have 3 car garages filled with said 'consumer items' (see above) so we park our 3 large cars outside in our big wide driveway in front of our huge McMansions.

We have STUFF!

[vegasobserver]

And we are falling behind much of the rest of the world.

When the economic worm turns completely, and it will, we will be what China was 30 years ago, with an impoverished populace happy to work for $1.50 an hour.

America is well on its way to becoming the New Third World.

[sueinmn]

Because we have been under the conservative rule far too long and people tend to continue to believe the lies they tell. What fools we Americans have been and continue to be to allow the conservatives such a powerful voice against reform and the Corporatism they have saddled us with!

[vegasobserver]

You are absolutely right. The comparison in lifestyles between the USA and Western Europe would be shocking for most Americans if they could see it. Europeans live a relatively low-stress life, compared with America where people live paycheck-t­o-paycheck with virtually no security whatsoever in any facet of their lives.

And if anyone dares to question the "system" here in America, they are mocked and denigrated as "socialists" who want a "welfare state". Corporate America not only controls the agenda, they control the dialogue and even the attitudes and moods of the people. Americans are kept ignorant, manipulated into complacency, and bamboozled repeatedly into voting for politicians who sell them out. Obama is an exception, but only time will tell whether the Obama phenomenon is just a temporary blip from the norm.

I was born in Europe and visit there often, and I really wish my family had never come to this godforsaken paradise of greed we call America.

[unite4change]

Vegasobserver, if most Americans could see the lifestyles between the USA and Western Europe, they wouldn't believe it. Most Americans can't handle the truth. We are arrogant and ignorant.

We have been taught we're the best at everything which couldn't be further from the truth. We are inundated with tabloid news and pundits' opinions on a daily basis and most Americans treat these opinions like they are gospel.

We have grown into an unthinking society and allow our politicians to scare us into submission. So when we finally elect a president who cares about the American people, he is vilified by politicians, talk radio, FOX News, and bigots.

The same people responsible for America's current crisis in our financial markets, healthcare, credit, housing, jobs and everything else wrong with America are now complaining the most.

We are being bombarded by people who have benefited the most during the last 30 years with cries of big government from our politicians, budget deficit, socialism, fascism, communism, etc. Yet, most Americans don't have the common sense to say, wait a minute, aren't you part of big government and if it's failing, isn't it because of you.

Until we rid our country of old, self serving, career politicians, we will continue to be fools because we are to willing to get information via sound bites instead of researching the things that matter the most for ourselves.

[uneeda]

as a door nail......­...vanishe­d like a rat down the drain