What is the American Dream and is it still alive today - Essay Example

THE AMERICAN DREAM Tutor: Date: The American Dream The American dream is founded on the principle of equality, where everyone has equal chances for success, justice and achievement of personal and national goals. In his book, “The epic of America,” published in 1930, Adams explains that the central aim of the American dream is a land in which life is better for all people, whether they are rich or poor. The dream is about having a land full of opportunities for everyone in accordance to their capabilities and accomplishments. He continues to say that the American dream is not about lavish cars, houses or other forms of material wealth, but rather it’s a dream of social order where everyone has the potential to attain his full stature and be recognized by others irrespective of fortuitous conditions of his birth or position in the society. What is the foundation of this dream? Some American scholars have continued to embrace that there are certain truths which are self-evident. There are those who say that currently, the American dream has diverted and become the search for material wealth. In their claim, they say that Americans spent many hours working just to get bigger cars, fancy homes, holidays for their families and so on. Yet when they get them, they have no time to enjoy; this is a totally opposite drive of the American dream. The poor people have remained to pursue two jobs or more in a bid to try and insure their families for survival. While some put financial gains as their priority, there are those who want just a simple fulfilling life, this is all in the spirit of the dream. This paper examines the American dream with a focus on whether people have abandoned the dream to pursue their personal self-interests. If the dream is still present, does it still hold for all Americans? This is the question that ardent followers of the American philosophy want conclusive answers. Currently, the question that lingers in the minds of most American citizens is whether they are still able to achieve this dream. The truth of the matter is that America is a country that prides in economic mobility where chances for equal opportunities for success are possible, but, whether every single individual can succeed remains an unsolved puzzle. The hurting reality is that inasmuch as statistics show that 84% of people out-earn their parents and that the poorest Americans are better off than they used to, it’s still not easy to move from one social class to another. The rich people do all they can to consolidate their riches while the poor remains in their class. Class mobility is not very much easy in America compared to its neighbor Canada and another country like Britain. It is projected that an increase in one’s income may not necessarily prompt a shift in class since the gap between the rich and the poor is too wide (Geliman, 2012). Even though movement across one class seems hard, there is one solution that has been seen to enable people move up their social class. This is one sole reason that is being seen as key towards attainment of the American dream. Having college education has enabled many people increase their income and move up their social classes. College education gives you the necessary knowledge and skills relevant in the labour market. People with college education are able to make better earnings that enable them acquire what makes them enjoy their lives, and not live struggling to make ends meet. However, there is one issue with college education, although, it looks like a better equalizing instrument, the road to a better education is still a dream for many. Wealthy parents are in a better position to educate their kids and enable them go for higher education, poor Americans on the other hand can only afford basic education which does not equip one with the necessary skills and expertise to get high income jobs. This is something that continues to widen the gap of achievement between children from rich families and those from poor families (Geliman, 2012). Pagan (2013) points out that in the latest nationwide survey that was conducted by Learnvest, the number of Americans who still believe that the dream is attainable stands at 43%. This group explained that the dream is within their grasp and that compared to their parents, they are in a much better position to actualize it. The current American president has pointed out severally that the American dream is much attainable today that it used to be, he has explained that vices like corruption and greed have been dealt with accordingly just to make it possible for an American citizen to live and attain this dream. About whether the current economic upheavals challenge poses a challenge, the president acknowledged that indeed they are actual challenges. Nevertheless, the dream can be achieved if only citizens will take it their personal responsibility to give support towards the community and extend the same to the neighbors. What people need to shun is selfish individualism and worthless greed that portrays every man for himself. The key towards attaining the dream lies in working together to ensure access to education, medical care and job opportunities is within reach for every American (Barack 2014). People should build mutual relationship and team up their efforts towards common goals; this is the only way the dream can be realized fast and easy for all the citizens. All in all, the American dream continues to be a communal liability that demands efforts of all citizens. People do not need to think that achieving the dream is the responsibility of the government. The government is only an instrument that lays down a level ground upon which everyone can join and play the game. With collaborative efforts, people are able to complement each other’s efforts and achieve common goals for reaching the dream. In an encouragement to the Americans, the president points out that achieving the dream is possible though not very easy and that people need to do things a bit different from the norm. Everyone has to work a lot more than normal, children do extra reading, young people to attend extra training and think beyond their imaginations. That Americans will need to wake up from their slumber and pull their sleeves to work for their dream. Endowed with brain power and human resources, Americans have nothing to stop them from achieving their dream. Looking ahead, it is possible that a few Americans feel that the dream may elude them. Nonetheless majority of them believe that at one point in time, they will achieve their dream. This is because of a few factors; first, families are changing the perception that every year is becoming more and more challenging, they are hence planting hope in their children that something worthwhile is achievable no matter comes along. In addition, there is an improving outlook as far as employment is concerned. Everyone is now eager to hear that their children will get jobs and that earnings from the jobs will be enough to pay their bills and student loans as well as save for future. It is true that the hope of achieving the American dream has left many Americans feeling in control of their lives and destiny. It is their hope that as soon as the economy grows and stabilizes, everything will fall into place and that life will be better. The number of poor families will slowly fade, paving for middle and upper classes. This is the time when moving across social classes will be easy and everybody will be equal and worthy in the eyes of each other. Students graduating from college will get jobs with much ease and basic necessities of life will be within reach for all people irrespective of their circumstances and conditions of life. This is the actual sense and spirit engraved in the unending American dream. References Barack, B. (2014). The American Dream Is Possible in Todays Economy. Retrieved from, Geliman, A., (2012). How Attainable Is the American Dream, Really? Retrieved from, Pagan, C, N., (2013). Do Americans still believe in the American Dream?. Retrieved from, Read More