The expression 'the American dream' is very common, but what exactly does it mean?
What are the contents of the American dream? How do you live if your American dream has been fulfilled? What things do you own? What sort of job do you have? Or is a spiritual thing - like a sense of freedom? And in this case freedom to do what?
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The American Dream?
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The American Dream?
by nocar » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 15:32:43
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Re: The American Dream?
by Pops » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 17:02:23
I think it is the idea of a classless society where a person may cross socioeconomic lines and rise to whatever level they are able, anyone can become a Bill Gates or President Obama or Walter Cronkite.
In practice it means buying any and everything you want.
In practice it means buying any and everything you want.
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves -- in their separate, and individual capacities.
-- Abraham Lincoln, Fragment on Government (July 1, 1854)
-- Abraham Lincoln, Fragment on Government (July 1, 1854)
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Re: The American Dream?
by Novus » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 19:54:23
The American Dream is just propaganda used to justify selfish materialism. It is ultimately an empty existence when all people do define themselves by their: job, car, and phone and then have to take anti depressant drugs to function. That is why those who have been awakened call it the American Nightmare.
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Re: The American Dream?
by Lore » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 20:11:35
The American Dream has always been about the New Frontier and in keeping with my Donald Fagen NightFly theme today (a troubled future)….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBruAooXPNU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBruAooXPNU
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
... Theodore Roosevelt
... Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: The American Dream?
by AgentR11 » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 20:32:39
American Dream, or do you mean the American Scam.
To me, the American dream was perfectly illustrated in, of all things, "Leave it to Beaver", modest home, comfortable family life, where the maturing of the kids was the central focus of the parents lifestyle. As such, it remains eminently achievable.
The image becomes more a nightmare, the more one tries to acquire the trappings of the extremely wealthy; as if the fact that someone happened to have more than you was somehow an affront to your dignity.
Its always better to be wealthy, and live modestly, than to be of modest means and live extravagantly.
To me, the American dream was perfectly illustrated in, of all things, "Leave it to Beaver", modest home, comfortable family life, where the maturing of the kids was the central focus of the parents lifestyle. As such, it remains eminently achievable.
The image becomes more a nightmare, the more one tries to acquire the trappings of the extremely wealthy; as if the fact that someone happened to have more than you was somehow an affront to your dignity.
Its always better to be wealthy, and live modestly, than to be of modest means and live extravagantly.
Yes we are, as we are,
And so shall we remain,
Until the end.
And so shall we remain,
Until the end.
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Re: The American Dream?
by Lore » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 20:36:22
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', 'A')merican Dream, or do you mean the American Scam.
To me, the American dream was perfectly illustrated in, of all things, "Leave it to Beaver", modest home, comfortable family life, where the maturing of the kids was the central focus of the parents lifestyle. As such, it remains eminently achievable.
To me, the American dream was perfectly illustrated in, of all things, "Leave it to Beaver", modest home, comfortable family life, where the maturing of the kids was the central focus of the parents lifestyle. As such, it remains eminently achievable.
We will get back there, but more like the Waltons. Good night Jim Bob.
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
... Theodore Roosevelt
... Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: The American Dream?
by AgentR11 » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 21:05:49
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'T')he latter is is social striving, the hope that someone with more wealth and power will take notice, believe you, and let you into their club. It succeeds occasionally, but most folks have radar to detect phonies.
I disagree. More a question of how one approaches the value of money, and what it is to be used for. Phonies never make it. They always need that bigger house eventually, or can't resist that new Mercedes, even if it is a standard sedan...
*** I read your reply wrong. Was distracted at the time.
edit: strikeout, and note
Last edited by AgentR11 on Tue 19 Apr 2011, 23:51:46, edited 1 time in total.
Yes we are, as we are,
And so shall we remain,
Until the end.
And so shall we remain,
Until the end.
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Re: The American Dream?
by Keith_McClary » Tue 19 Apr 2011, 23:45:18
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', 'c')an't resist that new Mercedes, even if it is a standard sedan...
Chrysler made a K-car limo for those folks.
Today's PhysOrg.com has relevant articles:
What makes Americans and Europeans happy?
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')uropeans are happier when they have a day off and work less, while their American counterparts would rather be working those extra hours.
...
Europeans tend to be more concerned with enjoying and living life to the fullest, while Americans are busy following the “American Dream” and traveling a road toward financial success.
Previous research shows that happiness can come from wealth and as a person’s income and employment status increase, so does their satisfaction with life. Americans believe that their hard work is what will move them up the ladder, so they appear happier while working more hours. They believe that by working these hours, they are achieving more and reaching more.
How American consumers view debt: a case study
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ased on interviews conducted before the 2008 financial crisis, researchers found that even though consumers espouse that they should limit their debt, they take on significant debt because doing so has become normal. As one participant put it, taking on debt is "the American way."
Barnhart and Peñaloza's research yielded a few key findings, including:
Americans suffer from a lack of financial literacy. Every participant said they had learned about credit card use and debt primarily through personal experience. Very few had received any training in school or at home, and most participants said they didn't discuss family finances with their children.
Half of the participants had debt they were unable to pay and one-third of them were dealing with collection agencies.
Participants often talked about credit as a measure of worth, noting that if they were approved for a certain loan they were "good enough for that car." Statements often indicated that approval for big-ticket items such as cars and homes were directly related to a value of the person.
Those who had credit cards and paid them off each month tended to be older, and had higher incomes.
Several of the younger participants in the study noted that they did not want to use credit, but felt they had to in order to finance cars and homes in the future. Most of the younger participants also were encouraged by their parents to have credit cards, and started using credit at a much younger age than those older than 50.
Facebook knows you're a dog.
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