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How Does The American Dream Affect Society

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The American Dream is an individualistic idea that avows that anyone can become successful, and achieve a happy, comfortable life no matter where they came from, so long as they work hard. Many people argue whether the American Dream is alive and prospering or dead and gone in this day and age. I believe that the American Dream lives, but that it has not positively impacted our society. The American Dream has existed in this country since it was first founded, but as it has aged it has become heavily rooted in consumerism and greed. The dream has slowly, and sometimes not so slowly, developed into an idea that promotes an unhealthy materialistic lifestyle. The lifestyle it promotes isn’t plausible for the average American, it damages the environment, and feeds an economic system that convinces the consumer that things will make them happy. This is why the dream needs to fade out of our mainstream society and create a new idea, or dream, that has changed completely from the acquisitive, money-oriented ways of the original dream. …show more content…

What many people don’t realize is how much it actually costs to live that way and that to keep it up it “requires unlimited supplies of cheap and free resources to keep going” (Atlee, 1990). Families in other countries and even here in America struggle and fail to keep up with the financial price that the dream entails. Especially recently, the cost of living in America has steadily increased, while average household income has not changed, which means families have less and less extra money for the “luxuries” that accompany the American Dream. Furthermore, “the prices of certain key goods […] have gone up faster than income” (Meacham, 2012). The original dream promoted such a high level of material acquisition, that it is nearly impossible to fully live up to the expectations cast upon our

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“The original term ‘American Dream’ was coined during the Great Depression by James Truslow Adams, who wrote that the American dream ‘is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth’ ” (573). He then addresses the views of liberal economists and activists, who think the American dream is dead, using facts from a survey done in 2009 by the New York Times. Essentially, the “survey found that 72 percent of Americans still believed it was possible to start poor, work hard, and become rich in America” (573).

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The American Dream has a different meaning from what it once was, but according to Brandon King it is still alive. His beginning question, “What is the true state of the so-called ‘American Dream’ today” (Page #610, Para. #1) appeals to his audience’s own thoughts of his or her own personal beliefs for their futures. Most people have an idea of what they want in life, and their dream may not be the rags to riches dream of yesteryear, but is uniquely theirs.

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The picture perfect life that the American Dream promotes is unrealistic and superficial because money is unable to fill the void of happiness or love. Contrary to earlier days, we now life in a time when even a strong work-ethic does not guarantee money, success or opportunities. While many are so ensorcelled by the illusions of the American Dream, we often fail to realize its falsity and constraints. Whether financially or socially, the society coaxes in the unsuspecting American dreamer, only to then spit them out in a wave of despair, failure and hopelessness. As demonstrated by numerous non-conformist individuals, the Dream lies not in the realm of materialism but rather in that of the intangible; often requiring an extreme leap of faith

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