Is there such a thing as the American Dream anymore?

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I think so. But I have two comments:

One - It depends greatly on how you define the "American Dream". I don't think the 'American Dream' is a 'Perfect Dream' in all aspects. It is being able to earn & attain a key element/goal which will contribute to your sustained happiness for most of your life. But it doesn't mean you've reached ALL your goals. Many people get their DREAM career, DREAM wife, DREAM relationship, DREAM house, DREAM car, etc. But very few have them all at once and for sustained amount of time in their lives. And for many that we perceive in the public eye to have all these things, usually have a lot more trouble in their lives behind the scenes.

So as I said, I think many people can reach their 'American Dream' and be very happy without it being 'perfect'.

Two - I think there are two missing pieces of the puzzle to obtain that dream, which a lot of people forget about - sacrifice and time. it's not only hard work and determination that are needed to get you your dream, but you must truly be able to sacrifice other elements of your life over years and decades.

For example, if you want that dream job with the dream perks, you will have give up some of the time you need to build healthy relationships with family and friends. Or you have to give up hard partying to be sure your the sharpest knife in the drawer every day that go to work.

Very seldom is an 'overnight success' overnight, and unfortunately most people can't sustain this element of sacrifice for the time it may take, and they give up and 'settle' for status quo life....Show more

I think with out some thing to strive for a person may be inclined to just give up , I don't know how you define the American dream of today's world back in the day it meant 2.2 kids a small house full of love,a white picket fence and a desire to enjoy the simple pleasures of life friends family and a two week vacation every year if people set their sites to high there's bound to be some heart break...Show more

It's still there but no one really wants it anymore. I heard a story once about the early Americans. In Europe they had no chance of owning property. But here they could own their own land. And that meant being free because you could live independently if you had land to farm.

These early settlers looked at the vast wilderness and said thank you God. Because they knew with hard work they could provide for themselves, and need not depend on anyone else.

But now Americans don't see things that way. They want government retirement insurance (social security). Government health care medicare, food stamps, Wic programs, free government education. And they want someone else to pay for it. They don't want to be free or independent, just well cared for.

They don't want the American dream....Show more

Of course! The American Dream has gotten hijacked along, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
What is your dream? You can still do anything! It may not be easy, but nothing worth attaining is.
Rich or Poor matters not, it matters what you do with what you got!

Good Luck & Blessings...Show more

I just dream of owning a home and being able to go on vacation every once and a while, and retiring without having to eat dog food. If I find a significant other in the process, swell.

I think for many, the term "dream" is just that.

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/class/index.html
I think you might like this series....
"Class matter" from the New York Times - take a look at the graphs...Show more