Is the American Dream over?

[MAVA]

Is the American dream (or should I say American delusion?) over? I know Americans are hoping to return to the ways things were in the 1990's before the stagnation of the 2000's and the crash of 2008. I don't see how things got go back to the way they were for workers as unlike before I think Americans workers are going have to consume less as a result of the crisis in the rate of profit.

 

[The Duke of Earl]

i dont know , after this single i havent heard much from him

 

[radiostationrep]

definately not. working harder scares some, not all. the dream is still very attainable.

 

[mocheezkc]

Hind sight is always 20/20. The American Dream is still alive, in people that still dream. I personally thought the 80's was a great time in America. Most of my closest friends were killed or imprisoned throughout the entire 90's. The internet opened up a new avenue for the "American Dream" in new millenium. The "Dream" is still alive, it just changes with the times.......

 

[Dhadnot]

the dream will always be alive, but the dream is only available because the majority of people -across the world not just America- have to live the American nightmare.

 

[Mr. Nice Guy]

the dream will always be alive, but the dream is only available because the majority of people -across the world not just America- have to live the American nightmare.

This is very true.


I have read estimates that it would take anywhere from 5-10 earths to supply the natural resources required for the entire planets population to live like the average American.

We are definitely raised to expect an unsustainable lifestyle.

 

[NovaFire]

the american dream was never real. an ideology designed to keep us in a permenant state of flux. a mind on a tread mill. the massive debt we now have is to an extent the result of americans wanting that dream. selfishly pouring in massive amounts of energy on superficial shit we never needed. exploiting resources and peoples from across the globe. and for what? nothing, at the end of the day, all the material shit we have never really mattered.

 

[Sixxness]

It's time the american people wake up out of their false dream world which never existed.

 

[Neshani]

the american dream was never real. an ideology designed to keep us in a permenant state of flux. a mind on a tread mill. the massive debt we now have is to an extent the result of americans wanting that dream....

Damn, that's what I was going to say. The current American dream is to consume your way to happiness. People spend hours each day watching a TV that tells them they have problems then provides solutions that can be purchased at WalMart.

When I was in Venezuela, my friend told me this: "Venezuela and America is different. In Venezuela people work to live, in America people live to work."

Being an American living in a different country, I've got a slightly different perspective on this. The idea that workers only get two weeks off from work each year would be an outrage in almost every other westernized country. The fact that most people either spend their 2 weeks at home, or work through them to pay off debts seems fucking silly to me.

The American dream is to buy toys that you don't need and to live a life of indentured servitude. Family doesn't mean shit, travel doesn't mean shit, and life experience doesn't mean shit. It's all about work and consumption. When you feel like shit from over working and lack of contact with your community, you just go make another purchase to dull the pain. That's what the American dream is today.

 

[RobVan]

What if the community is Oakland? Do Not want
j/k

 

[iaoish]

Yeah man, it's fucked up you only get two weeks of work per year. That is not right.

 

[Madison Kaine]

We can start clean as a country if we realize what needs to be changed.

 

[MaddDogg]

Personally I believe the "American Dream" is used as a measuring stick for people who want to live well, not a mindstate or ideology or anything else people play it up as. Its a measurement that can only be reached through hard work and sweat. Sure some people have a better chance to live that dream than others because of the situation they are born into, but even those people need to work hard to live their dream and take it to the next step. My short answer is that every kid I know who stayed clean, took high school seriously, and takes their trade/job/career seriously is doing very well for themselves and positioning themselves to live a good life. Its important to remember living the dream isnt just waiting on something to happen for you, its about setting goals for yourself and accomplishing those goals through your own determination.

Crisis after crisis people have said the American dream is over with and time and time again the American people have responded with resiliency and rebounded well from problems we have faced. If you would like to sit behind your computer and be upset about whats going on and think America is going down the drain feel free to. Others will grab the reigns and keep hustling.

 

[MaddDogg]

The American dream is to buy toys that you don't need and to live a life of indentured servitude. Family doesn't mean shit, travel doesn't mean shit, and life experience doesn't mean shit. It's all about work and consumption. When you feel like shit from over working and lack of contact with your community, you just go make another purchase to dull the pain. That's what the American dream is today.

This is an interesting perspective on the American dream. I'll have to take these notes down. I don't know anyone who doesn't appreciate their family, their free time and travelling, and "life experience," nor do I know anyone who is all about "work and consumption." I don't know many people who "feel like shit" or have "lack of contact with your community" and get their fix from "making another purchase," whatever that may be.

Maybe it is because I have lived around a mixed background of Americans my whole life, but I find this statement to be highly suspect. Even the most whitest people I know would scoff at this statement and think it was something written by someone who watches too much 90210 and Real Life Housewives than someone who has lived in city neighborhoods, attended family barbeques, seen muralists, artists, musicians hard at work making America a great place to live.

But the beautiful thing about America is you can have your own opinion about anything, and if that's the way you see America, good for you, I guess we just chill with different people then.

 

[HERESY]

Pills, Creams & Dreams. People don't buy products but they do buy states.

 

[Neshani]

I was talking more about the American Dream that the TV is trying to sell you, and that too many people are buying into. The huge amount of debt that the average citizen has is an indicator that people are buying into it. Commercials are why I don't own a TV, and didn't own one when I lived on my own in the States.

As for the travel and working through vacations, I would be very very surprised if 1 in 10 of my friends back in the States even has a passport. And yes many of them do cash in their vacation time to try and reduce their debt.

As for watching 90210 and Real Housewives or any other show (with a few downloaded, commercial-free exceptions), not so much.

-edit-
Props for calling me out on my little anti-consumerism rant and making me attempt to clarify my statement. Not sure how successful that attempt is.

 

[MaddDogg]

I was talking more about the American Dream that the TV is trying to sell you, and that too many people are buying into. The huge amount of debt that the average citizen has is an indicator that people are buying into it. Commercials are why I don't own a TV, and didn't own one when I lived on my own in the States.

Debt is a true sin and I would not be surprised if the American economy is changed for sometime from "wants" to "needs."

As for the travel and working through vacations, I would be very very surprised if 1 in 10 of my friends back in the States even has a passport. And yes many of them do cash in their vacation time to try and reduce their debt.

This may be true because I do not know who you hang out with. My point is simply that its very easy to stereotype Americans from talk shows, television dramas and reality tv. Obviously there are Americans who fit the stereotype you spoke of but I think there are many Americans who do not fit the stereotype as well. I think if you hung out with my people you'd be pleasantly surprised. Please do PM me if you visit San Francisco.

As for watching 90210 and Real Housewives or any other show (with a few downloaded, commercial-free exceptions), not so much.

I agree television is the second son of Satan and I only own television for sporting events, adult cartoons and the occasional History Channel or CSPAN event that attracts my attention while I am flipping through.

I dont think you are ranting, just expressing your opinion. Its an opinion many hold, and it is okay for people to hold their own opinion on things. Personally I agree that the stereotype you speak of should be crushed like a bug and killed.

 

[Neshani]

This may be true because I do not know who you hang out with. My point is simply that its very easy to stereotype Americans from talk shows, television dramas and reality tv. Obviously there are Americans who fit the stereotype you spoke of but I think there are many Americans who do not fit the stereotype as well. I think if you hung out with my people you'd be pleasantly surprised. Please do PM me if you visit San Francisco.

Yeah SF is probably my second favorite city next to San Diego. I lived in Hayward for 2 years, then Alameda for 2 years. I used to work at an internet startup on Haight and Pierce in the lower Haight, back when VC's were throwing money at startups like it was going out of style. Plenty of good times out there.

Even though I'm American, it is too easy to move away and start generalizing based on the shit in the news or whatever.

Anyways, good shit on focusing on the positive, and reminding me do so as well.

 

[james blunt]

with out an industrial base the us looks pretty fucked,they cant just keep propping up bubbles.a contry has to produce real physical things of some sort if it wants to remain decent living standard for it's population,if not you are living in a 3rd world contry.the american dream is dead if anybody havent notice eventually all money winds up at wall street and they dont plan to do anything good with it.