"THE FAITH THAT ANYONE COULD MOVE FROM RAGS TO RICHES-WITH ENOUGH GUTS AND GUMPTION, HARD WORK AND NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE- WAS ONCE AT THE CORE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM - Robert Reich, economist and former U.S. Secretary of labor.
THE HARD TRUTH
59% of Americans feel that it's harder to get a well paying job now than it was for their parents
75% of Americans say that it is easier to be successful with a college degree.
With upward mobility at the core of the American Dream, these numbers suggests that the true meaning of "equal access" to the American Dream is declining. Many jobs require college education that is unattaible for many and it is hard to find work that will pay to keep up with the standards of living in the U.S.
WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM?
We have been taught early on in our educational careers that the American Dream is something along the lines of getting a good job and living a good life. It is the image you see on television of the husband and wife with the white picket fence, great jobs and straight A kids who are on the cheer and football team...at least that's what I thought.
However, there is much more to unpack with this belief. From expreience and the purpose of this I am going to define it as "The chance of achieving success and making more than your parents or predecessors". Thus, the dream becomes more attainable when individuals have equal access to things such as equal opportunity at jobs.
DISCUSSIONS
Do you believe that the American Dream is attainable?
Is it easier to reach the American Dream with a college education?
" When looking back in history, the American Dream was a "rags to riches" story. But not everyone is starting it off in rags. It's this pressurized race but some people have no shoes, some people have shoes with holes in them, others have the best, newest running shoes out there. By basic concept, the American Dream is attainable, but wealth and privilege give people a leg up".
Interview with Emily Z. on her views with the American Dream
"I belive the American Dream can be attainable, but it is significantly more difficult. Without connections it is difficult to achieve to what people could do on their own 20-30 years ago".
Interview with Aaron C. on his views with the American Dream
In the beginning, the American Dream was a reasonable ideal that could be more easily achieved. There were more equal distributions of wealth and the middle class was clearly existant. Now however, not many people take into consideration that some have a very different headstart. Because of this, many inequalities in things like education, wealth, and jobs are created.
We are supposed to live in what the United States deems a government for the people by the people...but when does that become true when not everyone as an equal chance?