Is The American Dream Dying Analysis

The American Dream has held a special place in the hearts of patriots since the very founding of America in 1776. It has been a subject of many authors who grapple with its attainability, and is a beacon of hope gazed upon by victims of circumstance. The Dream has been interpreted by great minds in various ways, and has been deemed both an evil deception and a great promise of a better life. However, the American Dream has morphed from this promise of opportunities and second chances--in fact, it has become viewed as a cause for societal competition and the reason for decreasing happiness among the American people. As Americans attempt to “achieve their goals,” and “keep up with the Joneses,” they subject themselves to the materialistic cycle of greed. Success, and the goal of the American Dream, has been redefined. To be put simply, the American Dream is now to be richer than one’s neighbor, despite the fact that happiness--and thus, the Dream--cannot be achieved solely through wealth and material goods.

What is the American Dream? Is it home ownership, gaining fame or wealth, having a great family or is it gaining a peace of mind? Many people have different versions of what the American Dream is, some people believe the dream is lost, and some people are right in the middle and still believe the American Dream is still alive. “The American Dream” by Brandon King debates about what the true state is left in the American Dream now. Throughout the essay, King asks if the American Dream is dead, alive, on hold or just changing due to economic hardship. King believes that the American Dream is still alive even though there are people who believe it's not, and is defined today as the ability to work hard, plan for the forthcoming and have a

Over time, The American Dream has changed in an innumerable amount of ways. Past civilizations have laid the foundation for what we view it to be today. In the 1970s, people looked at a variety of aspects such as culture, political affairs (government), one’s appearance, and entertainment to fit their definition of “The American Dream”. The 1970’s helped shape and influence what people regard as the current American Dream.

Brandon King, a law student who majored in political science, writes on topics of inequality and political structures in the United States. One of his published works, The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?, debates his interpretation of the notion of the American Dream and whether the concept is dead, alive, or on hold. The speaker emphasizes his belief that the common phrase is still alive within America and that one must work hard in order to achieve it. When it comes to the topic of the American Dream, King will eagerly agree that the idea is still alive and thriving in the minds of Americans; however, I deem that the idea is on hold within American society due to lack of upward social position and economic mobility.

For years there has been debate over the state of the American Dream. There are many differing opinions over not only its health, but how it is defined. In his essay, The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?, Brandon King adds to the ongoing argument by stating that the American dream is alive, but has changed from what it was originally. He states that the American Dream used to be the ability to become wealthy. However it has now become the ability to earn and honest living and to save for the future. He continues to explain to American’s what this information means in the context of the recession of 2009. He also strives to prove that the American Dream has not been destroyed by the economic hardship. King creates an effective argument

Since the beginning, we have been engaged in change.The american dream is like a belief that every citizen is supposed to follow. WRONG! I believe that the american dream is dead because majority of the middle class will not have enough money for a good retirement, due to declining wages,and from rising expenses will have families struggle.

“When I asked my dad why he brought us here,he always answered, “For a better opportunity of course!”(Miglani 1). This quote about the American Dream gives the most accurate definition for the American Dream. Throughout the readings, there many ideas that were trying to come around, but the one thing that stood out is love for America. The authors of these articles teaches the reader that many people come to America because it a way for those to fit in, which in that case causes the love for America.

Humans often make goals to reach an exhilarated state. When a goal becomes too hard to obtain and when too many people fail to reach this goal, society digresses. The American Dream is the national ethos of the United States that was created in 1931. It is a set of principles in which prosperity and success can be achieved through hard work and the right ethics. However, over the years, the “car has stopped.” This so-called “dream” is running low and slowly turning into a fantasy. With the exploitation of an over-powering government and the reforms of education heading in the wrong direction, the American Dream is running low and is on its way to extinction.

“What is the true state of the so-called “American Dream” today? Is it still around, waiting to be achieved by those who work hard enough, or is it effectively dead, killed off by the Great Recession and the economic hardships that many Americans have come to face?” (Brandon King) King’s article focuses on the thought of if the American Dream is dead or alive. The American Dream is described as the potential to work for a secure lifestyle. King believes that the American Dream is still alive, however, Krugman believes that the American Dream is practically dead for most. It is also a belief that despite, the rules of the American dream not being taught, they can still have the possibility of working.

As time has went on the meaning of the American Dream has altered. When Adams trademarked the term the American Dream, the idea of it was for people to become “better and richer and fuller,” (Adams 412), but now as 20th century inventions have been introduced to society the dream has changed. People want what others have and what is portrayed as glamorous and prestigious. A prime example is Gary Soto’s recollection of his childhood obsession with wanting to be like the families he saw on the television saying, “I very much wanted to imitate [the families from Leave It to Beaver and Father

Many years ago today, the United States of America was the prime example of prosperity and opportunity. It established America with the idea that its citizens would be guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, it is true that people have liberties and are free to pursue happiness. However, in recent years, in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment, growing economy inequality, and medical care have skyrocketed. Despite the odds, the American Dream is still a goal that many people strive for and hope to reach. In fact, an essay written by Brandon King, The American Dream: Dead, Alive or on Hold? He says, “the American dream is a dream in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with the opportunity for each according to his/her ability and achievement…” (King 610-611). Therefore, the problem with the American Dream lies not within the dream itself, but within the means people pursue to attain this dream.

Depending on who you speak to, or what pockets of society are examined, the concept of the American Dream is a relative concept. The mantra is depicted as if one works hard and saves money, then one can own a house, a car or two, and have a family with two children. This 1950s invention has proven to be highly reductionist. It paints a picture of the Leave it to Beaver sitcom, where a husband who works from 9 to 5, returns home after a day’s work to be received by a beaming wife, a hot meal and doting children. America is far different than the distortions of television. In fact, differences have always existed between race and class. In this context, the question to be posed is, whose American Dream has been packaged and sold to society?

The American economy is not the best in the world like it used to be. Small cracks in the American economy such as, the decline in consumer spending,slowing of manufacturing, and the stock market benchmark being lower than average, all contribute as to why the American economy is not the best in the world anymore. Not only does this hurt the view of America, but it also hurts the hope for a better life or rather it changes the view of the American Dream as being dead or dying.The reasons that contribute to the view that the American Dream is dying are essentially: the American economy trying to recover after a recession, Americans not being able to afford basic necessities, debt riddling the economy, and unemployment

What do Americans think about when they hear the words the American Dream? they could think of freedom, prosperity, family, or an abundance of other words and feelings. The definition of the American Dream is an American social ideal that stresses material prosperity (Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.) Is the American Dream still "alive" today? This essay will cover general thoughts about the American Dream, the thoughts of Americans concerning the American Dream, and if the American dream is still "alive" today.

The American Dream is a very comprehensive thought, embedded with a various set of ideas. It emphasizes on equal opportunity, liberty, the rule of law and a system that facilitates financial progress. With the time, the concept has slightly evolved and became more political and less religious. The concept of prosperity and success are of extreme importance, and they resonate well with Millennials. These two terms are interconnected political and economic environments strongly influence them. It implies that when political and economic conditions are exceptional (positively), it creates more opportunities for individuals, which allow meeting their objectives, of various sorts and natures that include owning a house (Amadeo, 2017).