The American Dream Re-Mastered

Ryder Lund 1

Ryder Lund Rlund28@bruinmail.slcc.edu

Dear Reader What I have for you is an essay that covers the modern day American Dream and with this coverage I will be asking two questions Is the American dream gone? and Has it changed throughout the years?. But before I ask those questions I will go over our countrys workforce, education system, and the economy and show you their flaws and how they all work together to sustain an obtainable American dream for all. I wrote this essay not only for my class but because the American dream is what I believe to be an important topic because arent we all trying to achieve some form of our own American dream?

Thank You

Ryder Lund

The American Dream Re-Mastered

Ryder Lund 2

The American Dream Re-Mastered Ryder Lund Salt Lake Community College

The American Dream Re-Mastered Ryder Lund Mr. Bohannon English 1010 12/10/13

Ryder Lund 3

The American Dream Re-Mastered What does the American dream mean to you? Is it a lifelong goal of yours or is it just a few words that mean nothing more and nothing less? Well I can assure you that the American dream is a lot more than just a few words. The American Dream is a way of life that requires a balance of education and employment to sustain that way of life and it not only act as a guide for your life but the life of your children and for future generations. The American dream today has been twisted and abused for years due to war, trillion dollar debts, recessions, and the countrys declining economy. But there is still good that can come to those who are willing to take up its mantle. I will show you the forces that have taken the American dream out of balance and what we can do to re-master it. My goal for this paper is to show you the national issues with our Countys Employment rate and workforce, the Education system and its flaws, the financial issues in the economy, and how the previous terms connect to each other to help explain the goal of the American dream, which is to achieve the Good Life, and ask, then answer, the question Is the American dream gone?. To achieve this goal I will format my paper into sections regarding each term such as: jobs, education, economy, and the connection between the three. In the book They say, I say (Graff, Birkenstein, Durst,) a section titled Whats Up with the American Dream (p. 561) has articles covering the American dream and how it has changed and diminished over time. This section has an article by Bob Herbert, an op-ed columnist, titled Hiding from Reality which

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talked about the weakened American dream, on how nothing is going on to save it and about a theory of a resurrection of the American dream (Herbert, 2010). Herbert covers both the unemployment rate of our country and the education system, but for now well focus on his take on the employment rate and what he believes needs to be done. His thoughts are that the United States needs to create a new form of our employment system that revolves around developing a full employment economy, one that would supply jobs for all who want to work at paying that which enables the workers to provide for their families and live in a decent standard living. in June 2009, foreign-born workers in the U.S. gained 656,000 jobs while native-born workers lost 1.2 million (Herbert, 2010). This is where Herbert believes the American dream began to crack. He continues by saying that we shouldnt hate foreign-born workers but to instead find a way to insert them into either the current employment system or into the new one he is suggesting we try to create. A good example of how the workforce of America is operating in todays world is an article about Wal-Mart, an American Dream of entrepreneur Sam Walton. A recent event that has taken place is people rising up against Wal-Mart and how they run their business and take care of their employees. Everybody knows Wal-Mart but not everybody loves Wal-Mart. An article titled Progressive Wal-Mart. Really. by Sebastian Mallaby located in the Whats Up with the American Dream section in the book They say, I say covers just that, Wal-Mart. Mallaby, a columnist for the Washington Post and the former Washington bureau chief for the Economist, points out what most people are protesting about and then defends Wal-Mart from these protests. Mallaby will not only talk about Wal-Marts employees but also how they are involved with the financial part of the American dream that we will cover later in this paper. People have been attacking Wal-Mart over their $4.7 million dollars loss in wages. Wal-Mart has

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responded to this loss as a sacrifice needed to keep up with their Everyday low prices. They left their wages in poorer countries that already dont pay their workers enough, like China, alone and only cut wages in wealthier countries, like the US, to sustain their economy. This not only shows that Wal-Mart is trying to not hinder the economy but also our workforce as well. Even though they lowered their wages for their employees they still defend that decision and have only rewarded their employees with better benefits. This is such an important issue that it
has even reached our government and politics but as Herbert explained that politicians proclaim how

they are all about job creation even though the employment situation in the real world remains beyond pathetic. The employment rate is very important to the American dream because that is the rate that shows you what chance you got at obtaining a decent job or career that you can use to provide for your family and later retire, but to get a career you will need some after high school help to obtain that chance. And this is where our Education system steps in. Once again I will bring up Herbert and his research on the education system and what he thinks is the major issues with it and how it has affected the American dream tremendously. Job loss isnt the only thing that is causing the American dream to disappear, but education as well. There was a time when the United States understood the importance of educating its young people (Herbert, 2010). Even though no one will admit it, America has gone into a different direction. With budget cuts and incompetent teachers the public schools have begun to suffer greatly, along with the students who attend these schools. From what Ive seen in the news and attending school I can agree that budget cuts and firing teachers have become quite popular within the Education system. The issue with our countrys education is its system. The educational system is one with large spending and many budget cuts. Now dont get me wrong, America is at the top when it comes to investing in education. An article by J. Alhanati states that

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America is the clear leader in educational spending, spending over $800 billion a year, five times more than the second-highest spender, Japan (Alhanati, 2012). Even though we spend more than any other country, that spending isnt reflecting our scores. Statistics provided by the article show that Canada spends about $65.4 billion on education each year and thats not even 10% of how much America spends on its education and they have tested to be a whole years worth of math, science, and reading ahead of American students from high school all the way up to college graduates. The U.S. has also seen fewer college graduates relative to other leading nations, slipping from second place in 1995 to 13th in 2008 (Alhanati, 2012). Another bad thing with Americas educational system is the lack of support for its teachers. The majority of teachers in the U.S. had to go into debt in order start their careers, and on average only earn 60% of the average income of college graduates employed in other fields (Alhanati, 2012). With all the spending on education it seems that very little of that money spent goes into the teachers who have dedicated their lives and education to bettering the younger generations education. Alhanatis article explains how many teachers who begin their career teaching end up leaving within 5 years of working. Much evidence is showing that America is more willing to lower standards than raise salaries. This must change if America is ever going to reclaim its spot as the top education in the world. How can we spread education through our generations if we dont invest in those who spread it? Teachers are the key to education and they must have reasons and motivations to not only become teachers but to stay as teachers especially when all they have to look forwards to is lowered pay and a possible lay off when they are trying to help educate younger generations. OECD, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, said in a June 2012 report that the U.S. education system is less effective than those of other countries in helping children realize their potential. The report goes on to say that the U.S.,

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which is only 1 of 3 OECD countries, on average spends less on students with disadvantaged backgrounds than other students. But none of this even matters if most of the American people cant even afford to go to college and those that do end up in debt that they will be paying off for most of their live. That is why we need to discuss the financial side of the American dream. Like I said earlier that we will talk about Mallabys article on Wal-Mart and the part that covered the economy side of things starts now. And now once again people are attacking WalMart for its $4.7 million loss of wages and how it is bad for poor people. Wal-Marts discounting on food alone boosts the welfare of American shoppers by at least $50 billion a year (Mallaby, 2005). He later explains that the savings are possible 5 times that much if you include all of Wal-Marts products. These savings are very important to poor and moderate income families because poor families spend a higher proportion of income on food and other basics. The average Wal-Mart customers earns $35,000 a year, compared with $50,000 at Target and $75,000 at Costco (Mallaby, 2005). Even with these savings for the poor, people still attack Wal-Mart for their $4.7 million loss of wages. Wal-Marts critics allege that the retailer is bad for poor people (Mallaby, 2005). This claim, as Mallaby puts it, is backwards. It is businesses like Wal-Mart that have been taking care of those who are falling on hard times and are just in some need for help and Wal-Mart is there to help. They might not make the best decisions here and there but they make up for their mistakes and I think they realize what keeps them in business and they plan to protect it. That is a good way to describe how the American dream is alive today. Lisa Kirchenbauer, president of Omega Wealth Management, says she believes that the American dream of improving ones lot in life still exists, but its just become more difficult to accomplish in todays world. Kirchenbauer goes on to say that to achieve wealth today you need to plan ahead with your money. It may take sacrifice in the short term,

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disciplined savings, a conscious approach to spending and a smart investment management (Kirchenbauer, 2012). You need to really focus on how you spend and save your money if you ever want to come out ahead in this world. An article by Bob Dunham, founder of the institute for Generative Leadership and the Coaching Excellence in Organizations Program, explains and addresses what he believes as the change in the American dream and what caused those changes of this article begins to cover both money and estate issues in the country. The game changed, and saving made you a loserif you saved, you probably didnt get on the escalator of rising home prices (Dunham, 2011). He goes on to say that people today spend less time on making their own money and focus more on borrowing money from others through loans. Later, hard work would no longer seem to be the way to financial success. The rules had changed, and slowly many people began to understand the new rules (Dunham, 2011). Real estate became the best investment a family could make, but then the rules would change again and later you didnt even need to save or have money to buy a house. The new game was to get loans and make loans, use other peoples money. This is where it can connect to education because students are more likely to get a student loan to go to school and are later spending their lives repaying that money and ending up in debt for a long time. Dunham describes our world as entering the consequences of a discourse called More. Growth is The Answer. Somehow our addiction to More makes it the solution to the very problem it has created (Dunham, 2011). More does not make happiness. Dunham reveals a study that shows an increased income does not produce greater happiness. In fact, happiness measured in developed countries has continued to decline as GNP (Gross National Product) has grown. More is not better; it is just more and, apparently, more burden. Now that we understand some of the major issues with the country and how it has slowed down the American dream greatly we will be able to connect these problems and see a

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way to help solve these national issues then, and only then, we will be able to move with the American dream and create for ourselves and future generations a good life. To start the connecting process we need to know what exactly the American dream is and what it is trying to do for the American people. There is an article titled Is the American Dream Over? by Cal Thomas in the section called Whats Up with the American Dream? of the book called They say, I say. Cal Thomas is a panelist on Fox News Watch, a media criticism program on Fox News. He has written eleven books all concerning the American Dream and where its heading. For generations, parents have told their children about the American dream. Basically it has meant building a life based on the foundational principles that created and have sustained America for more than 200 years (Thomas, 2010). . He continues to say that it was to help the next generation achieve a better life than their parents and grandparents. But what defines better? (Thomas, 2010). Thomas then begins to describe why that version of the American dream is gone. This has produced a country of government addicts with an entitlement mentality (Thomas, 2010). That quote is his response to the eclipse of liberalisms American dream which has been largely caused by expanding, encroaching, overtaxing, over-spending, and over-regulating government. This is where that more starts to connect to the decline in the American dream. He explains how the governments school system keeps the poor from achieving their dreams and how they are being locked in failing government schools that produce graduates, if in fact they do graduate, who lag behind other nations in subjects that are important. See the connection with the education system? Students that do graduate through our current school standards are behind other countries in the subjects that matter most like Math, Reading, and Science. The Liberals among them and their policies are leading us down a path to economic and cultural insolvency (Thomas, 2010). An article by

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David Francis is all about the current state of the United States and what the Great Recession has done to this country. The Great Recession had a much larger impact on the working class than it did on the upper and middle classes (Francis, 2012). Francis explains that due to the recession many people lost their jobs and most people who did lose their jobs had a high school education or less. According to a recent report that Francis added to his article, by Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce, found that employment has been flat among those who didnt attend college since the recovery began. This is where education and jobs start to connect as well. If you dont have the education needed for the job then you cant get the jobs available and the only way to get the schooling for most people is to get a loan and get into debt. Francis describes this as meaning people who lost their jobs cant find new ones. All these problems with the unemployment rate, education system, and inequalities between upper and middle classes are contributing to the gap between the wealthy and the rest of the nation. Brandon King, a student at the University of Cincinnati, wrote an article titled The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? in the book they say, I say. King begins his article with the Great Recession and how it is impacting the American dream today. He explains the hardships Americans have faced because of it and even quotes James Truslow Adams who coined the original term of the American dream in 1931. 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 (Adams, 1931). King goes on to say that I would redefine the American dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future. He even states that the way to climbing out of the Great Recession is the American Dream. I will bring up Dunham

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once again to talk about his concerns for our future generations. He proclaims that we never think about what our choices will do to our childrens and grandchildrens generations. We must take responsibility for the future consequences of our choices (Dunham, 2011). If we were more concerned about better ourselves in the future than trying to better ourselves now, we might be in a better spot with the economy and have a higher education than we do currently. If we are always seeking a better life, we will never have a good life (Dunham, 2011). Meaning that if we spend our lives trying to get a better life then we wont be living a good life. Now many have asked the question that I said in the beginning of this discussion that Is the American dream gone? and now I will show you what the people you have read about in this paper think about and believe if it is truly gone and show my response and my own opinion to each one. The media inundate us with countless images and stories of struggling workers and the growing ranks of the poor while suggesting that the American dream is simply beyond the grasp of the vast majority of Americans (King, 2011). He will later describe how the American dream will survive by saying that instead of trying to get in the way of enterprises that create jobs and growth, we should rely on the values of the American dream and remember that anybody can climb out of hardships and obtain success. Only then will the American dream remain alive for future generations (King, 2011). This I can agree with that you can climb out of hardships but only if you work hard at it. Herbert ended his article by talking about a solution to revive the country and its dream. America will never get its act together until we recognize how trouble were really in, and how much effort and shared sacrifices is needed to stop the decline. (Herbert, 2010). I would have to agree with Bob Herbert on his article and I fully understand where he is trying to get at. People today are ignoring the problems of the country and only focus on bettering themselves and making more money. Thomas now starts to end his article with a

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true definition of the American dream. Studying and staying in school; achieving at least and under-graduate degree; avoiding drugs that harm your mind and body; getting married before you have children and working hard to stay married as an example to those children and to benefit society; saving and investing for retirement so as not to burden taxpayers and relatives; living within ones means; demonstrating personal honesty and professional integrity, which comes from character developed in ones youth, usually with a sense of right and wrong once imposed by parents and affirmed by culture (Thomas, 2010). This version of the American dream still remains for those who would embrace it. The rules for achieving this American dream may no longer be taught in and supported today but that doesnt mean they dont work. Thomas ends his article by implying that America will put itself back together again if they just took this path towards an American dream, something that I would have to agree with. We need a clear and simple path for the American people to focus on that they can work with and improve the countrys current and future conditions. Now with all that in mind I think its time for my final response on this matter. Education, Employment, financial, and the essence of the American dream to provide a Good life; all these things need to work in order for us as a country to succeed and become the one of the top countries in the world again. I have shown and explained how they all connect. If one aspect is ignored then the whole system collapses and we end up right where we are now. If education fails then the workforce suffers the loss of employees that have the knowledge required for such jobs! When that happens then the whole economy suffers causing those who have tried to work hard to obtain the Good life through the American dream to go through hardships that they dont deserve. If the employment fails then those who went through the education system wont be able to get a job to help pay their debt and provide for their families

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which once again causes the same disturbance in the economy. This cycle would repeat again and again. As I said in the beginning of this paper, the American dream is far more than just words. It is a way of life that is determined to guide us as long as we are willing to balance it out. We need to work together as a country to revive the American dream. Sure times have changed and the old way isnt really up to date anymore but that just means we need to put in the effort together to change with it where we see fit, starting with the problems Ive covered today such as: our spending and cuts in our education, unavailable workforce, and how we continue to utilize someone elses money in todays economy. Once we do that and understand how we need a balance between the three and notice that if one fails they all fail then will we finally obtain a good life. Then and only then will be able to re-master the American dream.

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Works Cited
Alhanati, J. (2012) What's Wrong With America's Education System? Retrieved from
http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/whats-wrong-with-americas-education-system.aspx

Dunham, B. (2011) The American Dream Have the Rules Changed? Retrieved from
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2012/09/25/is-the-american-dream-dead

Francis, D. (2012) Is the American Dream Dead? Retrieved from

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2012/09/25/is-the-american-dream-dead

Graff, G. Birkenstein, C. Durst, R. They Say, I Say. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. Print. Herbert, B. (2010) King, B. (2011) Mallaby, S. (2005) Thomas, C. (2010)

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