The American Dream???

Living in America all my life, I have realized a few things pertaining to the American dream. The common stereotype that every man and woman have an equal opportunity for prosperity and success in Americas is true. But the amount of hard work and dedication required to prosper here, may cost much more than some extra time. Another common American perception, is that all man are created equal and that all are created with inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These philosophies were noted in the American Declaration of Independence, which was written in 1776, a time when humans of different color were beaten, unappreciated, and forced into labor. So does this mean that America has been plagued with deception since its foundation? Yes, it may, but that doesn’t prove everyone below the upper class is due to a hopeless eternity of falsity. 

Out of the 313 million people living in America, 7.3% are in the lower class, 45.7% in the working, 43.4% in the middle, and around 3.6% in the upper class. If around 90% of people never leave their class from birth to death, it means about 0.036% (11,268,000) of Americans will move to the upper class in their lifetime. So does this mean that only the best are subject to the prosperous life of the American dream? No, because the dream does not only apply to the upperclass. I believe it applies to all whom live in America and find the opportunity they searched for, while reaching their goals, and succeeding in society, while putting in much effort in the process. According to a poll conducted by a YouGov poll during August of 2013, finding 41% of Americans said it is impossible for most to achieve the American Dream and 38% said it is still possible.

But this effort cannot be attainable by the common person in America. As the economy worsens and the job window gets smaller and smaller, the thought that America is the land of opportunity is quickly fading away. Constantly unable to reach agreement throughout the two sectors of our government brings many problems and issues. Which also brings up the idea that many other countries strive to take the title of “land of opportunity”. 

For decades, the core principles of the American dream has fascinated the likes of citizens from countries all over the world. After World War II, in the wake of an economic downfall, in Pommern, Germany, “The most intense motive was the longing for a better life, more or less identical with the American dream, which also became a German dream.” In Italy, the woman of a patriarchal society, saw America as runaway from their second class lives, from the Hollywood films produced and mediated all over the world. They saw America as the utopian society they dreamed of, but were really only given the depictions of America from what was propagated during the war and seen through films. In Britain during the 1980s, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher worked to simulate a similar dream by selling public housing units to tenants. Her slogan “Homes of Our Own”, which gave most a sense of ownership, actually reflected the individualistic ideas of the American dream.

Whether or not America is still the dreamland of the world, I believe the American Dream is an achievable motive for anyone whom cares to live in this country. Even though this opportunity is not as vast and prosperous as it once was, the populace of humankind should still strive for the goal, because life with something to look forward to, is one that everybody in the world should epitomize. Who knows if this idea is still fascinating to the outside spectator but maybe it is time another country should take title, if someplace hasn't already.