Is The American Dream Dead?

[Doug]

Like JJ said. If you really want the American dream it is no longer finding an hourly wage job and raising a family. You have to do something that makes you quick cash and the gov't can't get their hands on it. Such a shame what this country has turned into. I was walking to the train today and I looked around and noticed all the people walking on the streets. Majority all look stressed out, unhappy, lost, and confused. We are all rats stuck in a rat race and it upsets me. THIS IS NOT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

Yeh, that's the answer....everybody working under the table to evade taxes ( not that I wouldn't do it). Let's have the worker class also not have any children.....then the only youngsters will be all of the type you don't see at night unless they smile.

Thank God ( ain't one) I've lived most of my life already because the USA has turned to SHIT !

[SaviorTebow]

I agree that any young couple starting a family in this day in age without sufficient income is in for a rude awakening. For that, I'm thankful that I'm still single and have no debt and/or baggage. You have to be lean to survive during these times.

[andywend]

Making cash under the table will be the key to prosperity in the future. Having a job where the government extracts 50% of your pay only makes you a slave for life.

Now I'm confused.

Emily, are you for or against higher income tax rates as the above posting is in total conflict with all your other posts?

Unfortunately, Obama has taken the Bush deficit ball and really run with it. Due to all the TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS Obama has foolishly wasted, higher tax rates are now a certainty. The problem is raising tax rates won't necessarily result in an increase in tax revenue as the rich who pay the vast majority of taxes in this country aren't going to sit back and allow themselves to be robbed by this administration.

On a side note, I have followed the Reid/Angle race quite closely and I find it really interesting how both of these politicians discuss social security. Angle has gone on record saying that major changes will have to be implemented regarding social security because the program is fiscally unsustainable in its current form while the only thing Harry Reid says is that Angle wants to take social security away from seniors.

One politician (Angle) realizes our country has a huge problem on its hands and is trying to come up with ideas to fix it while the other politician (Reid) is sitting back and is more than willing to do nothing about it in hopes he will gain politically. To make matters worse, he is slamming Angle for her courage to publicly go out on a limb and address the huge problems that exist within the Social Security program.

It would be one thing if he was criticizing Angle's ideas and coming up with better ideas on his own for everyone to consider. However, he is NOT doing that.

If we keep electing politicians like Harry Reid, NOTHING will ever get done and our country's problems are only going to get worse and worse. He is a horrible politician and a horrible human being.

[Dark Horse]

The American Dream will never be dead. It is to sit on your ass, watch a football game, drink a beer, and have your cash on the right team.

We have arrived guys. What the f*ck more do you want?

[Slainte]

Get ready for the Chinese Dream, dear citizens of the world

[shari91]

Back when I was in high school and university, my biggest nightmare was the thought of eventually having a job that gave you the Sunday morning heebie jeebies at the thought of walking in somewhere you hate in 24 hours time just to collect a paycheck in order to survive. Having to take out a cash advance from a credit card just to make sure your mortgage was paid. Spending 3 minutes debating whether you should buy the no-name brand ketchup since it's 40 cents less than Heinz although you think it tastes like cat piss and then crossing your fingers in the checkout line that you have enough cash to pay the bill. Feeling sick at the thought of your mother's/partner's/child's birthday coming up because you don't have the cash for a present.

And now the reality is that for every person like those in this thread who acknowledge that the American Dream no longer exists, there are 5 who still believe that owning a home, having 2 cars and 2.5 children is their 'right' so they get themselves up shit creek in order to pursue it although the quality of their day to day life has suffered drastically for it.

I'm still of the belief that if I had to choose, I'd rather be happy while lacking in the 'stuff' society says we need in order to be thought of as a success than to have the accoutrements and wake up each day with a crushing weight on my chest, merely going through the motions until I can retire and/or die.

[Jimmy Proffett]

"Myths and legends die hard in America. We love them for the extra dimension they provide, the illusion of near-infinite possibility to erase the narrow confines of most men's reality. Weird heroes and mould-breaking champions exist as living proof to those who need it that the tyranny of 'the rat race' is not yet final."

— Hunter S. Thompson

[jcubs55]

No it's not dead, Sportsbook.com offers 50-1 on the Bengals winning the Superbowl.

[SBR_John]

Schools do not focus on how to become financially successful. Well, most don't.

The next generation will be ok as a whole but the American Dream will be reserved for those with forethought to pursue degrees and careers in such areas as renewable energy, internet law, programing and the like.

[keyboarding]

Back when I was in high school and university, my biggest nightmare was the thought of eventually having a job that gave you the Sunday morning heebie jeebies at the thought of walking in somewhere you hate in 24 hours time just to collect a paycheck in order to survive. Having to take out a cash advance from a credit card just to make sure your mortgage was paid. Spending 3 minutes debating whether you should buy the no-name brand ketchup since it's 40 cents less than Heinz although you think it tastes like cat piss and then crossing your fingers in the checkout line that you have enough cash to pay the bill. Feeling sick at the thought of your mother's/partner's/child's birthday coming up because you don't have the cash for a present.

And now the reality is that for every person like those in this thread who acknowledge that the American Dream no longer exists, there are 5 who still believe that owning a home, having 2 cars and 2.5 children is their 'right' so they get themselves up shit creek in order to pursue it although the quality of their day to day life has suffered drastically for it.

I'm still of the belief that if I had to choose, I'd rather be happy while lacking in the 'stuff' society says we need in order to be thought of as a success than to have the accoutrements and wake up each day with a crushing weight on my chest, merely going through the motions until I can retire and/or die.

While I agree, we are only able to say it because we came from a position of privilege in the first place.

I have friends from Romania who were only allowed hot water on Thursdays back home. They believe in working hard and living the "right" life of a house and all that. When you come from nothing, having nothing doesn't seem as attractive I guess.

[36mafia]

Yes it is gone unless you get into something illegal and make cash

Anyone thinking of having a family is out of there minds in todays world, you will be fukkin buried.

i like it