Who Killed The American Dream?

Recently, CNN's Jack Cafferty wrote an article about the death (and dying) of the American Dream. I found myself surprised at the shock and insult that I felt when I read it. First, lets be clear, I am a Canadian-born US resident, a spiritual author/teacher and a pretty forgiving guy - so why the strong reaction?? The entire article was about financial collapse and set back. Sighting statistics about home foreclosures, job loss and income drops, Cafferty pointed accurately to a difficult time in USA's history, and there was nothing "wrong" with what he stated, but there was something awful about what was implied in two deep and glaring errors of logic.

He confuses "quality of life" with "standard of living." While millions of people will have their standard of living threatened or impacted these days (my family included) the "quality" of our lives is not necessarily worse. I am certain that some of my lowest financial phases - cutting grass, hauling trash and painting people's homes - were some of the most joy filled and satisfying days of my life. I have also experienced economic security as a senior executive in a large healthcare firm and endured some of the greatest stress and imbalance I have yet experienced. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but my quality of life is really not attached to how much I make or what I have. In fact, I see quality of life as primarily my own responsibility and largely within my own control. It is about what I do with what I have and how I treat others and myself; its not about my "stuff." Quality of life has everything to do with attitude, purpose, kindness, connection and making a difference. If you think its about money, you'll never have enough.

This leads to the second stabbing pain I felt reading the article. If I recall, part of what makes America so extraordinary is its very foundation, rooted in the embrace of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." That to me is the American dream: the courageous embrace of choice, freedom, equality, and a life of meaning. America was founded from a mission to create a place of justice for all. Since when was the American dream simplified to "get rich or die trying"? It was 50 cent the rapper who said that - not the American forefathers and mothers. The implication is that if people aren't making more money or able to acquire more things, the American Dream will die.

I grew up being cynical about the American Dream and as I have traveled around the world I have always noted the obvious innuendo so common in other countries was always that "Americans are a shallow society, consumed with the desire for wealth." I never wanted to believe that such a stereotype is true. I am proud to live in the USA, proud of my American wife and son -- who is part American -- and have fallen in love with the incredible creativity and passion that sustains this nation. USA is a nation of talent and innovation, and I think, from a spiritual perspective, that the ultimate human journey is to find our unique purpose and talent and share it with the world. This is the heart of what makes this country a special place in the world.

To me the American dream is not dead, its not dying, it is alive and well and exactly what will pull us out of this recession. The American Dream is the soul of this country and it's not about what we have, its about what we do with it. It's about the very ability to dream and aspire. Maybe more Americans need to aspire to a new kind of greatness - not of wealth - but of spirit. Then there will be no doubt in the world that the American Dream can change us all for the better...

Comments

[AZBunny]

the American dream, That your children will do better than you, that you can retire SOMEDAY and not worry about HOW to pay your medical or heating bills, is certainly dead.
We are all helping to support our children, grand children and parents.
We're working longer and longer hours and YEARS and can't get ahead.
Most of us haven't seen a raise in years IF we've managed to hang onto our jobs.
We're driving around cars that are 14 years old 'cause we can't afford a new one.
We haven't taken a vacation in years because we can't afford to go anywhere AND we can't afford to miss the chance that we might get some overtime.
I've been married 20 years and still don't have a dining room table cause I can't afford one.
I have one child who I never could afford to send to college and the only jobs he can get are in a call center.
Dead indeed.

[historymatters]

There isn't even a single definition of the American dream. For some it's the Bill of Rights, for others the ability to own a home and a car and have material needs met through full-time employment, for others the intangible American spirit that is often on display during crisis.

I think when people speak of the American dream dying, they sense that opportunities for upward mobility are vanishing. That our society isn't a meritocracy where hard work gets you ahead and instead, it's all about who you know. They mean the dream is dying when a married couple, each with full-time jobs, still can't afford to pay the rent, put food on the table, and pay medical bills. Or when young people are saddled with $50K of debt upon graduating college. Or when skilled professionals are forced to train the offshore workers who will be taking their jobs. They mean there's less of a sense of security, and more fear among most middle-class workers that they're only one major illness away from bankruptcy, or that their company will be the next to close.

People fear the "other" as well, be they immigrants or neopagans or liberals or conservatives, anyone who they feel will upend the status quo even more. The culture wars are, in part, about fear of the death of the American dream - fear that outsiders will transform us to a point that we don't recognize ourselves anymore.

[usayinpa]

I for one can tell you the American Dream if not dead is on live support. My 25 and 28 year old kids can't afford to go to college. As a result one works at a movie theatre and the other for a big box store piling China made crap on the shelves for the rest of us poor devils. The dream used to be about making things here in quantities for consumption locally and globally. The dreams that have awakened are those in India and China where generally for some at least standards of living have been on the rise. Could we strive to make $24 dollars per month as a transformer manufacturer in China's employees did once. Sure, Would we want to do this? Not at all.

Leave your high minded drivel in your head and get out and meet some of the real people who have seen the dream vanish such as a 89 year old mother who lost 280k of a300k nest egg during the previous market collapse. Meet people who are losing their ONE and ONLY home due to userous bank finance policies. When you have done this and maybe lost your own job a few times and picked yourself up and dusted yourself off, then come back and write your article.

The American spirit of continuing to strive is live and well. The American dream, I am not so sure anymore.

[fltndboat]

Mr. Ellerby Sir. I just trashed out on Deepack Chopra. I hope this is not the same moderator. Your call for more Americans to come from their spirit is the key. Our European ancestors were disease riddled pathetic losers who were banished for cause. After the massive die off of native human beings rendered everything natural up fore sale, the spirit started to take a chance on showing up in some Caucasian bodes. Low and behold we find our selves about to trigger a 3 billion or so Dollar facility designed to bring the power of the sun into the grid. Also something about keeping our existing hydrogen bomb stockpile fresh. A lot of brilliant brains can benefit from taking a clue from our First Lady. Plant a garden.

[rjmiller]

I really hope this response is the result of some sort of AI speech algorithm, because it made absolutely no sense.

[fltndboat]

Mr. Ellerby. Sir. I am one of zillions of Americans that grew up with no concept of the American Dream. I am confident that the Dream busting can be a wake up call that will make us to be a better Nation. After all, how many houses do we need?