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Why Income Inequality Doesn T Threaten Opportunity

1667 Words7 Pages

The American Dream People frequently debate on whether or not the American Dream is still possible. Some say its not, some say it is, and some say it depends on how you define the American Dream. After analyzing multiple documents it became clear that the American Dream is still attainable depending on how you define it. One of the first and largest purchases made by people who are looking to achieve their American Dream is buying a home. According to Alphonso Jackson home ownership is an important part of the American Dream stating “Homeownership offers children a stable living environment that influences their development in many positive ways. The children of homeowners score an average of 9 percent higher in math and 7 percent higher in …show more content…

This income inequality is explained best in a document written by David Azerrad and Rea S. Hederman Jr., titled “Defending the Dream: Why Income Inequality Doesn't Threaten Opportunity”, when they state “enforced income parity is neither desirable nor just. Because people have different native talents, upbringings, and interests, an economy in which they are free to buy, sell, trade, manufacture, produce, and invest in what they please will inevitably lead to great inequalities of wealth and income”(Azerrad and Hederman 2012). From Azerrad and Hederman we can deduce that while it isn’t wrong to have material possessions be a part of the American Dream, there is a limit to how much a person can achieve with a given set of skills, and not everyone will be able to reach that limit. Even though not everyone can achieve their Dream of vast material wealth that does not mean that they can’t achieve their American dream. Matthew Warshauer supports this point very well by saying “The American dream has always included achieving financial success … Early versions of the American dream honored thrift and hard work as the preferred way to become successful”(Warshauer …show more content…

"The Dream of Home Ownership Is Still Possible." Is the American Dream a Myth?, edited by Kate Burns, Greenhaven Press, 2006. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://proxy.lib.wy.us/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010415208/OVIC?u=wylrc_wyomin.... Accessed 19 Mar. 2018. Originally published as "Homeownership: Myth vs. Reality," www.hud.gov, 17 June 2004. Atkinson, Robert D. "Today's Economy Is Killing the American Dream." Is the American Dream a Myth?, edited by Kate Burns, Greenhaven Press, 2006. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010415204/OVIC?u=wylrc_wyomingst&sid=OVIC&xid=d75911e7. Accessed 29 Mar. 2018. Originally published as "Vanishing Dreams," Blueprint Magazine, no. 2, 7 May 2004. Azerrad, David, and Rea S. Hederman. "The Misguided Focus on Income Inequality." Income Inequality, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010979226/OVIC?u=wylrc_wyomingst&sid=OVIC&xid=930df57a. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018. Originally published as "Defending the Dream: Why Income Inequality Doesn't Threaten Opportunity,", 13 Sept.

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