Define "The American Dream" And Are You Living It Or Will You Ever Live It?

Dragonfly said:

You should know better than to try to engage him in intelligent conversation. You'd be better off pissing into a strong wind.

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But what if he was standing behind me and i could piss into a strong wind? Tempting...

American said:

Being free to try and achieve your dreams is the American Dream.

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I think their is merit to the above post as some homeless people are very happy to be homeless and have no interest in changing their lives. Myself I have always been somewhat of a loner and lost interest in being a social creature. I find much satisfaction in solitude where other folks would go nuts.

Well, it appears money-wealth have a big place in the American dream and so be it. Poverty and hunger are an abomination at this stage in the world. Trillions spent on killing machines by all countries tells a sad story. No matter how comfortable I am financially I am haunted by the children at St Jude's dying of cancer related illnesses. 100% of my monies will go to them after my death and I contribute monthly. So my "dream" cannot escape those that will never have what I have but I know it is not a perfect world and probably never will be.

rhinefire said:

Well, it appears money-wealth have a big place in the American dream and so be it. Poverty and hunger are an abomination at this stage in the world. Trillions spent on killing machines by all countries tells a sad story. No matter how comfortable I am financially I am haunted by the children at St Jude's dying of cancer related illnesses. 100% of my monies will go to them after my death and I contribute monthly. So my "dream" cannot escape those that will never have what I have but I know it is not a perfect world and probably never will be.

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The dream to end all dreams, the almighty dollar.

The Dream is the carrot hanging from the stick, a couple of feet in front of me. I keep getting closer!

I view The American Dream as the most popular desire of Americans of a certain generation. It seems to me that it has recently shifted with the disappearance of the middle of class. Whereas it was once the American Dream to live in the suburbs in a house with a white picket fence, two kids, and a dog; it seems the dream now is to have an extravagant amount of money and run your own business (family doesn't even seem to matter in the new version).

It's not a desire I share with Americans. No I am not living it, nor would I want to.

Captain Adverse said:

Sounds like you have lived the American Dream.

You've "retired now and (are) financially secure with no bills and no ties."

Most people in the world will never see anything close to that occur; mostly living in levels of poverty...diseased, oppressed, dying young or in extreme distress. Living in hovels or slums, or on the streets much like the millions of homeless in our nation. Even in the wealthy European nations many live hand to mouth or on the dole.

So what if you've never become "rich and famous," that was never the American dream.

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WTF are you talking about? Many people around the world can afford that. In fact, many afford more than what their American counterparts do.

Gaztopian said:

WTF are you talking about? Many people around the world can afford that. In fact, many afford more than what their American counterparts do.

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Are you serious?

71% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day - Jul. 8, 2015

71% of the world's population remain low-income or poor, living off $10 or less a day,

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Poverty Facts and Stats ? Global Issues

Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.

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Dragonfly said:

Are you serious?

71% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day - Jul. 8, 2015



Poverty Facts and Stats ? Global Issues

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I think what Gaztopian was trying to say is, many Luxembourgian people make more per capita. As a point of reference, the US is not even in the top 10 per capita (PPP).

In fact, Luxembourg is quite nice with 100% literacy, a population growth rate >1%, and only about a quarter of their population is obese. Of course, Americans can only dream of these things (or we can do them).

Dragonfly said:

Are you serious?

71% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day - Jul. 8, 2015



Poverty Facts and Stats ? Global Issues

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None of that is relevant to the U.S and the quality of life it offers its citizens. As the richest country in the world, the U.S can't compare itself to the lower strata of countries in terms of prosperity; it must compare itself with its peers of rich countries. Not a single American city made it to Mercer's list of top 27 cities with the best quality of life. In the link Celebrity provided, the U.S comes 15 in terms of GDP per capita. Countries in Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the Gulf States all afford a better quality of life for the average citizen; better academic opportunities, healthcare, social security, and public services at a lower net-taxation. So yes, this idea that the American citizen affords an enviable quality of life that is unheard of falls flat.