Thread: Just what is the "American Dream" anymore?

I hear about this often, and wonder what it actually means to people. I know it was once thought that it was about having the house the car the kids, the vacations, only two out of the four have we achieved in our family (the kids even came before the car, that was our second).

What does it translate to all Americans now? Is it now just about making ends meet? Is it about trying to simply keep the jobs we have?

To me, it is a sad day that we all now are even wondering what it means when we all struggle to simply pay the bills, and hope we have enough to feed ourselves with, all the while, it appears, Americans can no longer share in the "American Dream", while non-Americans are actually attaining it.

I do believe our own fortunes are in our own hands, I do believe the American Dream is not about big government taking our taxes and redistributing it to others, and I believe that being self-sufficient is what most of it all is about.

That to me is getting harder to do, and it seems that so many I talk to say the American Dream is slipping away, and the following generations may have little to no chance for it.

I really think that this dim future is possible if Americans do not wake up and start fighting back against illegal immigration and outsourcing. To me these are the two enemies of the American Dream.

Though I am glad that I can step out into what appears to be a limitless landscape, look into the distance, and wonder how far I can go that day, and what might I be able to see, some countries, this is not possible in. This is just not about seeing our land, but about what limitless possibilities that landscape can provide. Unfortunately, the one thing holding most of us back from that is constant governmental limitations and interference.

I think right now, the American Dream should mean to us, that we have the right, still, to fight for what we want changed. If we do not start fighting for those changes, we will also lose that part of the American Dream, our freedom to speak up and fight for our rights, we could lose those too.

Great essay, I enjoyed it.

It seems that a sense of fairness from our government, to it's people, is too much to ask for.

My American dream happened already and is no longer possible as I think we will not survive the BUSH presidency, for real.

I grew up on islands off the coast of Maine and was a lobsterman (woman) summers when school was out. Dad also was a lobsterman with a huge boat that had a tuna stand we sat on.

We had pet seals (3), pet raccoons (2), and a pet monkey. This was along with 4 cats, a dog and a house rabbit. We started spending weekends camping on an island. Then we spent summers on another island. Finally we owned a one acre island called Pound of Tea. That was the purchase price that Admiral Perry's daughter, the Snow Baby, paid for it. It had a nice camp that dad helped build with the previous owners.

I did all four high school years from the island to South Freeport harbor and I dated from the island too. Since school was at 8am and my parents had to go to work at 7am, we had accounts at a restaurant and a pizza place. That way we weren't running the streets. We were having hamburgers, French fries and chocolate milk!

My grandparents fished with LL Bean. My brother and I fished for mackerel daily for the bait for our traps. We had no electricity and had water from a rain barrel. Fresh water was carried out there every day. We used the generator every Sunday for mom to iron and we watched a movie on TV.

Both my parents worked back when most women didn't.

We had one of the first TV's in our town and everyone wanted to baby-sit us.

I've been driving since I was 8 and got my motorcycle license at 16. My brother and I drove a Willy's jeep and an Indian motorcycle. I have fond memories of taking rides in the car during storms,. For some reason I thought that was nomal?

It wasn't until I was 25 till I realized life could suck. I'm thankful my beginnings were such an adventure so I can flash back to better times.

I sure do miss that life.

Sorry for rambling.

Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican

Great essay, I enjoyed it.

It seems that a sense of fairness from our government, to it's people, is too much to ask for.

My American dream happened already and is no longer possible as I think we will not survive the BUSH presidency, for real.

I grew up on islands off the coast of Maine and was a lobsterman (woman) summers when school was out. Dad also was a lobsterman with a huge boat that had a tuna stand we sat on.

We had pet seals (3), pet raccoons (2), and a pet monkey. This was along with 4 cats, a dog and a house rabbit. We started spending weekends camping on an island. Then we spent summers on another island. Finally we owned a one acre island called Pound of Tea. That was the purchase price that Admiral Perry's daughter, the Snow Baby, paid for it. It had a nice camp that dad helped build with the previous owners.

I did all four high school years from the island to South Freeport harbor and I dated from the island too. Since school was at 8am and my parents had to go to work at 7am, we had accounts at a restaurant and a pizza place. That way we weren't running the streets. We were having hamburgers, French fries and chocolate milk!

My grandparents fished with LL Bean. My brother and I fished for mackerel daily for the bait for our traps. We had no electricity and had water from a rain barrel. Fresh water was carried out there every day. We used the generator every Sunday for mom to iron and we watched a movie on TV.

Both my parents worked back when most women didn't.

We had one of the first TV's in our town and everyone wanted to baby-sit us.

I've been driving since I was 8 and got my motorcycle license at 16. My brother and I drove a Willy's jeep and an Indian motorcycle. I have fond memories of taking rides in the car during storms,. For some reason I thought that was nomal?

It wasn't until I was 25 till I realized life could suck. I'm thankful my beginnings were such an adventure so I can flash back to better times.

I sure do miss that life.

Sorry for rambling.

Believe me, that was no ramble...it was like a mini vacation just reading it. Very interesting, thank you.
AE, very good essay. You get an A+ with a star.

I'm afraid for me I have no idea what the American Dream is anymore.

It used to be that no matter what lot in life you were delt.....with honest hard work and being a fair and decent person....you had the chance to make a better life for yourself. For my dad it was learning to read...for others it was being the first to graduate from highschool or go to college. A better life....not necessarily rich. I thought it was a hope of owning land or a house. A place where you could build your home, plant your garden and raise your children. Something supposidly no-one could take away from you and that you could pass it down to your children. Guess too much of my dad rubbed off on me. lol They worked and got this house I now have. It's wasn't a "starter home" in their mind....they looked at it like a 1 time life long purchase. It wasn't even an investment to them in a financial sense....it was something they OWNED. Something that couldn't be taken from them and someplace where they could do as they pleased. It wasn't just a house....it was also being active in the community and being a part of that town etc. My dad called it "putting your roots down". You had your children, we just hoped for A car...a garden where mom could plant what she wanted, a clothesline and where we could have a swingset and our pets. Yours.....something you could share if you wanted and didn't HAVE to if you didn't. Wasn't all that much when you think about it. Atleast it was that way with him. He didn't look at paying taxes as bad because that was what you added to the pot to make your community better, your school better etc. and fully believed you had a voice in the matter. We lived fully believing in that till about 20 years ago. It was niped away at for years before then....and even when he didn't agree with it....he realized he was just 1 voice and there were times he'd get his way....and times he wouldn't.....but you still supported the general well-being of everyone and would abide by whatever law was made. It's hard to describe the way it used to be and the mentality back then compared to now. And the process of where each and everything was bit by bit taken away.

I remember the fact you always had a CHANCE. You could work and afford to meet your basic needs....my dad knew he had to work harder in some ways because he didn't have the "book smarts" to earn more. He didn't blame his parents or anything because he knew he started out better than what they had to deal with. Never did he think being white and male entitled him to anything more than anyone else....but it did get to him when he was refused things because he was. Even he saw at the end of his life that it wasn't the same world he grew up in. He would appologise all the time at the end that he wasn't smart enough to see the signs and stop these changes when he was younger.

He had what the American Dream was when he died and even he felt less free and in control of his own life than he ever did before. He owned his own home, successfully raised 2 children without one dime of a handout from anyone. Had not 1 penny of debt, served his country, his community and stayed true to his spiritual beliefs. Had more than his share of problems and truely hard times....yet never even had a parking ticket. In some ways I lived a very lucky life being his daughter.....but we weren't rich, famous or problem free. He could have threw his arms up and caved in ions ago demanding the free and easy life.....he knew life wasn't fair or easy....but the American way gave him a better chance than anywhere else in the world. Right now that doesn't seem the case anymore. All I know is everything my dad taught me as to how to get ahead and what it ment to be free.....doesn't work now. So I don't know what the American Dream is anymore.

I just know my dad was telling me it was the end times before he died.....they will tell you whats wrong is right and what's right is wrong.......and to never forget what truely is right or wrong or I'd be sucked down with the rest of them. His biggest fear was that I would. Guess coz I never settled down and "planted my roots" anywhere. I was always running off to another part of country or somewhere else looking for the Dream.....instead of realizing you create it where you are. Or fighting for it where you are.

In 1997, my best friend, my brother, and myself worked for a construction company building land-fields. We finished a job in Virginia after several week of work there and moved on to the next land-field job in Newbern, North Carolina.

After 5 weeks there our Supervisor (supposingly best friend) asked us since there was a lot of rains that winter if we would train 6 Mexicans and 2 Guatemalens <<(not spelled correctly I think) on off-road heavy equipment after they had been on labor work at the job in order to catch up which we were hundreds of hours behind so there would not be any fines at the end of each month which was required in the contract.

We agreed (not knowing the outcome) and it took us 5 working days in training them although only one Mexican barely could speak any English.

Well, within 2 to 3 weeks, we were shocked as we were told that we would be going home with a lay-off slip.

We Legal Tennesseans/Americans who was born here, raised here, have lived here all of our lives, and are still here in one of the poorest sections of Tennessee were making $17.00 per hour and the 6 Mexicans and 2 Guatemalens were being paid $8.00 per hour.

At the end of the dry weather season that year after being sent home, a best friend who had been working for this same company for several years came home and advised us that these 8 immigrants were ILLEGALS who had crossed the southern border illegally and the company had planned on what had happened to us in order to get employees for lower paying wages and not having to pay for insurance. The company also had to hire a spanish speaking employee just to be able to communicate with them. We also lost our insurance coverage after the 30th day of being sent home. This best friend also told us that the 8 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/ALIENS worked all the way into the wet season with them.

Since 1997 I have not been able to find this type of work that I was trained in the military (TNARNG) to do for 17 years (1976 to 1993). I am now 51 years old and have gave up on finding this type of work after many years of searching for since 1997.

Your government (not mine anymore) has let my family down. I can not even find minimum wage work here anymore due to the ILLEGALS, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc...

Since 1998 you have been paying for my families' food with a food stamp card off and on. Since 1998 you have been paying for my families' rent with government subsidies. Since 1998 you have been paying for my families electric bill, but for only one month each year during each winter. Since 1998 you have been paying for my families' medical bills through TennCare, a federal program. But, now the so-called Governor of this so-called Great State of Tennessee has kicked off poor sick adult individuals from TennCare and now have no insurance at all. Thousands of these people are deadly sick and can not afford medicines that they depend on to keep them alive. Myself, being one of them. And the damned ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS receive free hospital and doctor visits. They receive free medications, without having to show a Social Security Number. Oh, but not us American borned citizens!!! I even had to file for bankruptcy due to this.

I also had just found the love of my life and re-married after so many years of being single and alone. The love of my life showed up finally. I truly feel as if I have let my family down. What an embarrassment this has been to me because I did not realize or receive the American Dream for my family and my wife.

No one now (not even the GOOD LORD) will ever be able to convince me or my family that our government cares for its' peoples. No one now will ever be able to convince me or my family that ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS do not take skilled jobs from Americans. No one now will ever be able to convince me or my family that we can still realize the AMERICAN DREAM. WHAT AMERICAN DREAM???

I use to be a PROUD WHITE MAN, but not anymore. I feel so damned violated!!! So violated that I have actually contemplated moving to another country that can and will use my military training to teach their soldiers.

YES PEOPLE, I HAVE BEEN RAPED, RAPED BY MY OWN STUPID GOVERNMENT!!! NO WONDER SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HATES OUR GOVERNMENT...

The American dream as WE knew it is coming to an END!

SouthofNashville, my husband is a bit older than you and feels similar. He was in the Air Force for 11 years, was a cryptographer, and now works in a warehouse for $13.00 hourly, which in some places is a good wage, but here and for his level of ability as a receiving clerk, is fairly low, and in our economy, barely covers the basics, we do not own a home, never have and not so sure if we ever will.

It does feel like there is no such thing as the American Dream, but I have to wonder that if we fight hard enough, we will see it again, soon. All things good are worth fighting for. America IS and always has been good. Just take the politicians out of it all and realize that America IS who we are, not them, so don't give up on us.

I have to say, that I want to see people respond with stories like all of you have. This is what helps us all remember what we have always had, and want to keep. We also are reminded of what we may have lost, but can gain again if we really want to fight for it, I plan to.

WorriedAmerican, I like your retelling, it is nice. I grew up in the opposite side of the country, child of the 60's (born 67) and grew up in the 70's/80's. I was raised in Oregon near the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Hood to be exact. We lived in a small town, always had woods nearby. This part of Oregon is covered in pine, cedar and fir trees. The forest floors are covered in moss, ferns and salal, as well as vine maples and huckleberry bushes.

I spent my childhood, outside of school, running the woods, mainly barefoot even in the rain (which it does a lot here), building lean-to forts out of fallen branches and pulled ferns, and digging clay out of the creeks to make our own "pottery" and catch salamanders. My funniest memory was finding a Skunk Cabbage bloom (looks like a giant calla lily) at the age of five (on a lone foray into the woods) and thinking it was prettiest big yellow flower I had ever seen, and brought it home to my mother, who had a fit, as of course the smell is beyond compare.

Riding bareback doubled on a friends horse, falling into the muddy pathway when the horse was spooked by something (might have been my friend at the left here!!LOL). Sleeping in the field behind our house, waking up to slugs on you (oohh, we have lots of slugs here).My favorite place to sleep out of the house was in the friends barns loft, no slugs.

my American Dream is seeing every single illegal alien being deported out of the US and seeing the gate in the 2000 Mile Border Double Wall shut irrevocably behind them.

and you're right, I fear I will never realize my American Dream in my lifetime.

I can only pray and hope that we will see some heavy progress. Only God knows this future, truthfully, but I can work towards that and pray for it, and hope that future generations will see the fruit of my efforts.

SouthOfNashville

NO WONDER SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HATES OUR GOVERNMENT...

I think we had many more enemies till 7 1/2 years ago when Bush ruined America as we knew it. The people don't hate us, just him. I was lurking in a group called "Europeans For Ron Paul," they feel sorry for us Americans. They love America and wanted Ron Paul for President. Ron's group weren't just here in America. They were all over the world in most countries except the ones we illegally invaded.

Look at this! Pick any to watch or read, it made me not feel so hopeless.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Ron+Paul+groups+Europe

http://www.ronpauleurope.net/indexE.htm