American Dream is it sustainable? Can America invent new dream ?will be followed

1. 40

   pramodgokhaleposted 11 years ago

   American Dream is it sustainable? Can America invent new dream ?will be followed globally?
   
   I am an Indian,still chasing American dream.Critic says it is outdated, but I say why, still it can be utilized. After WW--II America's booming economy and of course many miracles which attracted many youth across the globe especially Asia and Africa, and massive migration started in the 60s 70s 80s
   which helped to strengthen American economy.New middle class in making in India rising and aspiring. Dream is creative and productive, Indians wants to change their traditional set up and mindset too.Present global economic crisis is showing weakness of dream. So why worry?
   American invent new wait

   replyreport
2. 0

   CJ Sledgehammerposted 11 years ago

   No...I am afraid the American dream has become a nightmare. Only a fraction of the people were ever able to live the dream, while the rest kept hoping and dreaming. Greed, selfishness, and corruption bring every dream to a halt.
   
   Good luck in India...I wish you well.

   replyreport
3. 79

   cebutouristspotposted 11 years ago

   It will and will always be a dream.  Just like any dream goal only a handful of people got to be lucky enough to live it.

   replyreport
4. 70

   ienjoythisposted 11 years ago

   The American Dream is all but an illusion anymore. The fact is, young people in the United States are pushed into going straight to college after high school and the majority of them have only a clouded idea of what path they should follow and the career they should go after. So four years later they have about $60k in college debt with a degree that will pay $25k a year starting out or no degree/job at all! So while debt interest is piling up and the degree that you forked over $60k of borrowed money for isn't giving you as much return as you were led to believe, you cannot buy a nice home and car because you're broke. If you have kids, there goes even more money out of your pocket - it costs about a quarter of a million dollars to raise one child to the age of 18.
   
   The American Dream is a slim and diminishing prospect. As we all fight our way to attain this "dream", the bigger the hole in our pockets becomes.

   replyreport
   1. 66

      lupineposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree...here in California, there is so much educational debt, not enough jobs to even use your degree or ever payoff your loan. Personally I know  a few people in that situation...another dream that turns to a nightmare.

      replyreport
5. 94

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   I have to disagree with all the other answers here. Coming from foster care, aging out of the foster care system with nothing but a backpack of personal belongings, and now being in my late 20's with a family, a house, a car, and many goals to follow I believe it is possible and still a possibility for everyone.
   Sadly though many people believe the American dream should be handed to them. That it should not be worked for anymore. People simply want everything handed to them. OR they think that the American dream has to be that they become super rich. The American dream is simply to have sucess through hard work. Of course if people don't choose to work hard then they will never achieve anything.

   replyreport
6. 86

   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   In my view, the American dream was never healthy, and is now not sustainable either economically or ecologically.
   
   Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be an American, and there are many great things about the American dream. But you might say that I am an American following Indian dreams. I dream of a sustainable economy for all, following the model proposed by Mahatma Gandhi. I dream of a world of inner and outer peace, a dream encouraged by the Buddha.
   
   I write about the long-term economic prospects of the US in Welcome to the Fifth World: No Economic Recovery Coming, and about the ecological issues in 8 hubs called Go Green.
   
   I think it is time for a world dream, and work to make it real. A world in which each person is free, but also responsible. A world where each person, family, and community lives in balance on Mother Earth and in peace with one another. American drive and ingenuity are a part of that. Eastern insight and European common sense and African determination and Native diligence and respect all play parts, as well.
   
   Let us become completely human and live in harmony - perhaps starting this year?

   replyreport
   1. 40

      pramodgokhaleposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sir,
      you are always romantic on India. In India the problem is that Indian democracy is not able to change under performing governments,they win election again and again.You always reply my question matter of pride for me.
      thank you, happy new year.

      replyreport
7. 65

   cfinposted 11 years ago

   Just like the Celtic tiger in Ireland, all dreams come to an end when people wake up. For Ireland, it was the collapse of the property industry, resulting in massive foreclosures. When the banks seized the properties, they were worth nothing, leaving an $80 billion hole. The government bought these private banks leaving the people to foot the bill.
   
   My American dream is my American wife. We currently live in the US. We are happy and money can never change that. But we all need a basic standard of living and money to survive The current increase in taxes, my inability to ever claim benefits I pay for, and the massive increase in our health insurance and retirement contributions, spells the end for our time in the US. Our basic lifestyle is unsustainable and the $4,000 property tax we would have to pay, to provide a decent education to our little girl is just not do-able. 2013 will see an end to our time in the US. An Ireland on its knees is calling. At least we can get an education for our children there. But things will pick up. I hope they get better for the US too, but I guess only time will tell.

   replyreport
8. 74

   AlexDrinkH2Oposted 11 years ago

   The dream still exists but realizing it has become much harder.  Massive government spending, suffocating bureaucracy, unchecked illegal immigration, the "progressive" undermining of our fundamental moral values, and the virtual elimination of God from our daily lives have all contributed to this situation.  Unfortunately the last election did nothing to stop the moral and economic decline. I never give up hope thought, it's just my nature.

   replyreport
9. 71

   CR Rookwoodposted 11 years ago

   I think some of us have a new dream and it isn't a bad one: to learn to be a nation among nations, part of a world community, not the master of it.
   
   Included in that dream (for me anyway) are goals of 1) sustainable, inexpensive living (that would include energy self-sufficiency to the degree it is possible), 2) meaningful work that is not damaging to others (much of this will be done at home I think, independently--kind of like what people here at HP do), and 3) stronger local communities.
   
   I've never felt drawn to the dream of working my life away at a job I hate so I can own an SUV and a house in the suburbs that comes with a three car garage and a foyer that looks like it came out of a castle. That is kind of my definition of hell. I don't think I'm alone either, but it is to the advantage of a number of huge corporate concerns to promote that dream.
   
   I think that the conventional 'middle class' dream is dead but I won't miss it.
   
   We'll have a rough transitional generation here I think, but many of the young people I've met make me think it is all going to be OK.
   
   Great question, thanks!

   replyreport
   1. 70

      ienjoythisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      CR, I really have to agree with you. The traditional "dream" is transforming into something more meaningful as we find out that money and materials does not mean genuine happiness. The quest for more and more "things" is unending. Great response.

      replyreport
   2. 71

      CR Rookwoodposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks lenjoythis!

      replyreport
   3. 66

      lupineposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree too, we have been led to believe there is an "American Dream" so we kept looking for it...we weren't told it was only temporary...it was just a dream.

      replyreport
10. 40

    pramodgokhaleposted 11 years ago

    happy new year to everybody--2013
    i really wonder Americans spare time to comment to my question. This interaction
    among people to people and views , i found that i am learning and enriching my knowledge.
    third world people always attracted towards happy and leprous life so they migrate
    where havens  are offered.
    thank you once again to answer my question.
    pramod gokhale

    replyreport
11. 0

    Sri Tposted 11 years ago

    Yes, the American dream is still possible. It depends on your personal dream. America is always open to new and better products and services. Every year new products have enormous success with the public. First you have to throw off the massive negative propaganda about hard times. Each business has their own experiences. Some businesses continue to make millions and billions every year. For example, look at entertainment products. People are signing multimillion dollar deals every month. A lot of people are starting with just a good product or an idea. Your success depends on ambition, determination, creativity, business knowledge, customer knowledge, right information, good products, sales ability and highly skilled associates, experts. You have to keep reading motivational books to keep your thoughts positive because many people have accepted the negative outlooks from the media and from appearances. The appearances and failures are effects from wrong decisions. You have to write your own story. That's what those who are winning do. Your success depends on your right choices, not the failures of others.

    replyreport