Yuxiang Zhao
1/9/2024 07:46:12 pm
The American dream is dead. There's a lot more obstacles now to becoming rich and successful for regular middle class. With the rising cost of living, education, and technology replacing many job opportunities, getting a descent position has become much more challenging compared to before. Racism and unfairness in America to certain groups also make it harder for immigrants and other groups to success. New thriving economies in Asia with more opportunities also proves success can be achieved outside of the US. With all these factors, the idea of chasing for the "American Dream" for success has slipped away.
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Tyler Huynh
1/10/2024 05:42:32 am
The “American Dream” is a concept where anyone, disregarding any distinction like race or class, is able to move up the social ladder in this land of opportunity we call our home. This ideology of attaining wealth with equal opportunity being presented to all individuals is dead, as many limiting factors restricting the lower rungs of the social hierarchy from amassing wealth. For instance, with the ever growing field of technology, tasks that’s were previously handled by humans are now dished out to machines, decreasing the job opportunities available for the working class. Furthermore, the wealth disparity in the United States is relatively high, attributing to the struggles of the working class to acquire wealth. Being as so most of which are limited by means of education, these working class individuals are considered incapable of fulfilling the higher-end jobs that require an extensive amount of knowledge. Moreover, according to Kaleigh White from the “Campus”, while inflation has rose in the past years, the national minimum wage has not, accounting for the struggle to make ends meat in order to survive. Finally, with the ongoing racism that runs rampant in America, it is difficult for those of certain backgrounds to find a well-paying job, as they are often times viewed as forms of cheap labor. Despite this, I think wealth in America is still somewhat attainable by anyone, it’s just a matter of mindset that drives one to success.
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Emma Xi
1/10/2024 06:56:37 pm
The American Dream is an ideology that equal wealth and opportunity are available for everyone, allowing everyone's "dreams" to be attained. However, this ideology is nonexistent anymore because of the increasing income disparity. According to census.gov, the disparity lessened for the first time in 2022 since 2007, and unpromising growth trend. Despite 72% of Americans believing that the American Dream is alive, it is not a reality for many immigrants. Nearly 50% of immigrants earn less than 200% of the minimum wage, not enough to comfortably support a family and live without financial concerns, according to the Urban Institute. The average salary for immigrants is expected to decrease, with increased automation replacing human jobs and reducing the need for labor.
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1/11/2024 11:10:34 am
Although the disparity in economic "success" and income is increasing throughout the years, the American Dream is still alive. It is noted that "[a]lthough we Americans strive to provide equality of economic opportunity, we do not guarantee equality of economic outcomes." This applies to immigrants, who are presented with equal opportunity for economic mobility when they arrive to America, but are not as successful due to the competitive nature of America's economy, where others are simply more skilled and specialized in labor. Moreover, "without the possibility of unequal outcomes tied to differences in effort and skill, the economic incentive for productive behavior would be eliminated, and our market-based economy... would function far less effectively." This further proves the necessity of the so-called income disparity because America is dependent on its free-market economy; if everyone had equal income, motivation for financial reward would be lost, and America's economy would suffer. This financial motivation will also positively affect immigrants due to their desire to work and succeed financially in America. Therefore, due to these reasons, the American Dream is indeed still alive.
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Hannah Rhodes
1/12/2024 04:40:39 pm
The American Dream, often described as the belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination, has been a defining concept in American society for years. Although many will argue that the American Dream is alive and well, but many statistics say otherwise. For example, a study conducted by Pew Charitable Trusts found that the middle class has shrunk drastically over the past few decades, while income inequality has continued to rise. Saying that "9 in 10 Americans favor financial stability over upward mobility." This proves that the American Dream is not as achievable as it once was, as economic opportunities are becoming increasingly unequal, and that "Even the best-off households find their finances strained when they experience a financial shock." Further showing that The American dream is slowing starting to die off.
Sophia Hernandez
1/14/2024 12:29:07 pm
The American Dream is both alive and dead. If the “American Dream” to some people is the ability to earn wealth, perhaps the American Dream is dead, with immigrants earning 12% lower than the hourly wages of American-born workers. However, while the idea of the "American Dream" may be thought of as wealth, only 16% of Americans truly believe that the American Dream means to become wealthy. On the other side, 85% of Americans believe that the "American Dream" is “the freedom of choice in how to live one’s life.” So, with this in mind, the American Dream is very much still alive. The "American Dream" is a mindset that you have the freedom to live how you want to live without being held back, with the exceptions of crime and harming others. For the American Dream to truly be dead, Americans would have to lose their freedom to live their lives in the way that they choose. Although the "American Dream" is not used as a term in day-to-day life, the idea and the action of living the American Dream is still alive. Perhaps it is thought to be dead because of the 16% of Americans that believe the American Dream has to do with wealth, or the families in America that have been in America for decades and have not had to suffer not having freedom as immigrants have in other countries, but whether realized or not, the American Dream is still alive, even if less so than before.
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Yau Wei Ng
1/16/2024 07:57:19 pm
The American Dream is the idea every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Contrary to popular belief, the American Dream is dead. According to research from The Hamilton Project finds that a child born into a family in the bottom 20 percent of the income distribution has only a 4 percent chance of rising into the top 20 percent of the distribution as an adult. Along with that the increasing expenses associated with living, education, and the emergence of technology that displaces traditional job opportunities have heightened the difficulty in securing a decent position, surpassing the challenges of the past. Concurrently, racial discrimination and inequities in America pose additional hurdles, particularly for immigrants and marginalized groups, impeding their path to success. Furthermore, the flourishing economies in Asia offer viable alternatives, showcasing that success is attainable beyond the confines of the United States. All these factors show that the "American Dream" is dead.
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2/8/2024 06:44:13 am
The American Dream is the belief that anyone, "regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into", can be successful, and it is possible for everyone. In reality though, the American Dream may be considered to be dead. For instance, previously in history, America was known as the best country in the world, and people from all over the world would try to be a citizen to participate in the American Dream and make a better life for themselves and their families. However, Americans in today's society are currently facing various economic challenges, including the "cost of living outpacing wages, rising housing costs, high inflation, income inequality and the burden of student loans and record-high credit card debt". This rather causes people to rather hate on the American Dream because they are in the midst of struggles proving the point how the American Dream is, pretty much, dead.
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2/9/2024 10:43:42 am
The American dream is the idea "of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement", this idea has been dying quickly due to the complications emerging making it difficult for people to enjoy a happy life. As talked about in the article, the Dream is dying due to complications like inflation which caused the typical American budget to barely budge. Additionally, the unbalance in Income and wealth inequality have both soared causing many places to become poor and lower many thing such as life expectancy, education, and health care. Thus, the American dream is dying and in order to stop it from dying and revive this ideal we must first reform these complications to benefit society and the lifestyles of people.
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Jessica Pradhan
2/11/2024 04:01:22 pm
The dispute over whether the American Dream is alive or dead is complex, with differing viewpoints based on definitions, expectations, and personal experiences. The American Dream, usually defined as the pursuit of wealth and upward mobility via hard work and dedication, is interpreted differently in various assessments and reports; yet, based on available sources, the American Dream is not dead. Paula Davis J.D's report on the issue Psychology Today takes a thoughtful look at the changing nature of the American Dream, arguing that its core may have evolved from financial ambitions to more personal and subjective desires, such as building a better life for oneself and one's family. According to this viewpoint, the Dream's flexibility and many definitions of achievement demonstrate its long-term importance.
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