The American Dream

Does being American mean that you’re an American citizen, or does it mean that you have the same rights and decisions as someone who is a successful American citizen? These decisions include choices you make in order to better yourself in life, whether it has to do with your choice in career, or what you want to do in life. Making decisions, and having choices comes with freedom, as a person, and that reflects on being an American everywhere in the world, even though you’ve never been in America. To be an American means that you have the freedom, and rights to do what you want, be who you are, and be/ become who you want. This right of having the freedom to do what you want, can be elaborated by someone’s life chances.

It seems that over the decades, the “American Dream” has changed along with the generations who follow it. After the “Great Recession”, the housing crisis which triggered a financial crisis, and millennials have changed their point of view about homeownership. This change created another definition for the “American Dream”, because more opt out to rent versus buy, and some don’t bother with houses at all and prefer to live in apartments. This is all due to rising student debt, risks associated with owning a home, and the fact that homes are often suited for families and it’s been proven that millennials are pushing back the age for conceiving children.

75% of my respondents that despite their desire to travel, even if they wanted to, they wouldn’t be able to afford to buy a home before they reached 30. After the second World War, Australia was overwhelmed by policies that encouraged home ownership and “families as individual units” (Sharman 1984). Since such a time when housing was booming, home ownership, particularly in Sydney, has become gradually unattainable (McNamara & Connell 2007). Since the 1980’s the percentage of young people aged 20 - 24 in Australia living in shared arrangements doubled (Burke, Pinkey & Ewing 2002), making apparent that other forms of household were inaccessible. This, I believe, reflects escalated housing prices, interest rates and land value. Furthermore, in 1980 26% of young people aged 20 - 24 in Australia lived alone, and by 2000, only 9.3% were living alone (Burke, Pinkey & Ewing 2002). Thus, despite Australia’s economic geography, shared living has since become an attractive and viable option for not only economically constrained students but also young single professionals with the promise of friendship and mutual support (economic or otherwise) (Clark & Tuffin 2015). Half of the participants had moved into a shared household with a person or people they had met before, though 60% of the group hoped that they would make new

The topic of The American Dream has been brought up on many occasions. The arising issue that still ascends is whether or not The American Dream is alive or dead in the United States. The American Dream has come to the generalization of the personal perspective of any individual. The history of The American Dream has always gone back to the common man thinking of their future generations to come and how he will implant a positive outcome throughout it. Many now believe that the ideal plan of The American Dream cannot even be met anymore. Values and beliefs are now being questioned towards the aspect of upward mobility, the cost of education, jobs, and even affordable housing. Referring to an executive editor and vice president of Time Reporting, he states, “combined with a formidable American work ethic, made the pursuit of happiness more than a full-time proposition” (Meacham, Keeping The Dream Alive). This statement is targeted towards the actual definition of what The American Dream actually meant in various societies in the past. Happiness and a full-time of gratitude were critical aspects towards being met because it was the initial reason for this ideal. Some of the key causes and components that affect the way The American Dream is supposed upon today is the basic principles of economics, education, and a downward spiral. These reasons lead to The American Dream being considered in a diverse way with much complexity. The American Dream was different from the past and

The "American Dream" is an idea that has always been different throughouttime. It changes in diverse forms and in the end involves success. The "American Dream" was a phrase used by the American people and peoplewanting to become American. It was always the idea that you can become a success. This is true in a partial way, but the true "American Dream" is that with somework and determination anyone can build themselves up in the economic classsystem.

Many veterans returned to young families anticipating the opportunity to buy a home. The lack of home production during the Great Depression and war created a severe

The "American Dream" is marked as unattainable in John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men. This is mostly shown in the case of George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife. These characters all have admitted to thinking about the "American dream" concept, and the freedom to pursue happiness and their dreams.

In an effort to save money and lower debt, more and more millennials are turning living in their parent's basement from the punchline of a bad joke or sitcom fodder into an accepted, and even

However, the author of this article seemed to want to focus on the negative aspects facing the millennial generation. This generation is not the only one facing tremendous debt. Having a degree opens a lot of doors and grants access to higher pay. The immediate rewards are difficult to see right out of college, but in the long run, I think the millennial generation will overcome these challenges. "The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development considers home prices affordable for families who spend up to 30 percent on housing, with the remaining 70 percent spent on food, clothing and other needs (pg.1)." The latest census done in Colorado Springs states that the median household income is $54, 228 (pg.1). Taking this information and calculating 30 percent for monthly housing allowance, this household can afford around $1,380 for housing each month. With utilities and other monthly bills associated with homeownership, I don't think 30 percent is realistic in the current housing market in Colorado Springs. One thing this article did not mention was there are government assistance programs that can help millennial afford housing. El Paso county currently has a "Turnkey Mortgage Program" (adm.elpaso.com). This program offers down payment assistance. With financial planning and savings, millennial's looking to buy houses can find a way to make things work, either by being aggressive in looking for affordable housing or budgeting to take on more

Changes in market conditions make buying a house difficult. The percentage and reasons why young adults are living with parents show

In this article Nona Aronowitz believes that the Millennial generation is risk aversive because statistically a large percentage of them are doing simply that – avoiding risk. Whether it is saving more of their paychecks, paying down debt instead of incurring new debt, or living at home, avoiding financial risks seems to be popular with this particular generation. Aronowitz describes the Millennials she interviews as “happy they’re not drowning financially and able to pursue fulfilling projects” (Aronowitz). Now only if I could learn a trick or two from them I would be better off.

In 1937, James Truslow Adams coined the term “American Dream” in his book The Epic of America. Adams stated the “American Dream” was a land of opportunity for everyone. In this utopia, every man and woman is able to reach their highest potential in employment, housing, and family regardless of birth or position, because they worked hard and earned it (“What is The American Dream?”). Ever since 1937, Americans have had this idea in their head of finally achieving the “American Dream” with their spouse, house, white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and movement up the socioeconomic ladder. It is what people whisper at night as they leave their war-torn streets for a better life. Yet in the past few years, that dream has begun to crumble. I believe Millennials are waking up to see that this dream utopia is flawed.

Especially here in Alaska. Things are so expensive and unless you have a really good job you can’t pay everyday bills and save the amount needed. If millennials are saving it will be at a rate that will make them available to purchase when they’re about 30. According to a study I found 68 % of millennials said they have saved less than $1000.00 for a down payment (80 % of millennials say they want to buy a home, By: Ester Bloom). There are a lot of programs out there that can help people get familiar with the homebuying process and programs available for down payment assistance and other housing scholarships. I feel like not too many of millennials know about these, When I started to look for a home buying opportunity I had to find all this on my own.

The information has already been provided that sense the the housing market crashed people in general have been apprehensive to purchase homes. But even more so to the new generation of millennials. And even current events are shaping the future of home ownership, like the new revision on taxes. So does most certainly understandable to why people would be so wary of the dangers, and struggles of buying a home. And how it might be all together easier not to buy one.

They are making enough money for there family, where there family never has to worry about there needs being met. However, a home can tell what type of job you may also possess. Individuals may not make over $50,000, but they may have savings or investments that are a lot more than there income. Middle-class individuals are a mixture of the working class and the individuals who work as semi-professionals. These individuals are very likely to be accepted for a mortgage loan in order to buy a home. Middle-class individuals are more likely to own a home than those of the lower