What Happened to the American Dream?
Speaking at a briefing sponsored by the Brookings Institute recently, Celinda Lake stated the Americans are “angry and anxious” about their economic security and few have achieved the “American dream”. But what exactly is the American Dream?
The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: “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 or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”
This statement, which appears to be the first mention of the term American Dream, defines the dream in a way which unfortunately is no longer applicable. In the early part of the 1900’s immigrants flocked to America to escape injustices they faced in their homeland, they came here in search an opportunity to succeed. In more recent years, Americans have come to rely on government intervention more and more in order to make up for their shortcomings, as is evidenced by Celinda Lake noting that 58 percent of those surveyed thought the American dream could be restored through government and community action.
If the American Dream were still alive in its original form, Americans would be begging the government to stay out of their lives, not take more control of them. The American Dream was, and is, a Dream of prosperity through hard work. When James Truslow Adams spoke of “opportunity for each according to ability or achievement”, he was not speaking of free education, free healthcare, welfare, food stamps, or social security. The underlying premise behind the American Dream is opportunity, the opportunity to succeed based on your ability, and work ethic.
Over the last 100 years individualism has slowly but unmistakingly been diminishing. Americans as a whole no longer believe ability should dictate success, relying on the government to level the economic playing field. Through taxes and social programs, America has ceased to reward citizens based on ability and achievement, and now rewards based on need. A successful American is now one which pays more in taxes than they receive in government funded programs.
For those who feel as many of the respondents in this survey felt, that it is increasingly more difficult to achieve the American Dream, please remember what the dream truly is. America guarantees equal treatment of all its citizens, and offers an opportunity to succeed which is second to none. The dream is there, and it is certainly achievable, as long as you remember the American Dream is about personal responsibility, not governmental responsibility.
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I disagree with the statement that “Americans as a whole no longer believe ability should dictate success, relying on the government to level the economic playing field.”
Where did the writer arrive at this conclusion? Have studies been done which show the majority of citizens believe they should receive a guaranteed annual income of some sort? Please cite your sources of information.
Ap, to the best of my knowledge no studies have been done which prove this, but this is the conclusion I have reached when I read polls that cite 60% of Americans in favor of universal health care, and similar government programs.
Please clarify what you consider the appropriate limits of government.
The infrastructure which allows all of us to reach financial “critical mass” depends on government. I regard government as a social contract in which citizens agree on the need for such things as clean water, non-toxic food, free vaccinations, postal service, tax service, attorneys general, police and fire departments, public education through college, the diplomatic corps, OSHA, etc.
Are you saying this social contract between citizens is a bad thing?
I am saying the social contract should be made at the local level, where elected leaders are more accountable for their actions. With the exception of the military, there are very few things that the federal government should be responsible for.
The world is increasingly local, as the flow of information is now lightning quick. Elected federal officials can now be held more accountable for their actions than in the past. (Karl Rove wasn’t elected.)
Just because millions for time immemorial have labored at jobs that weren’t necessarily the best match for their individual talents, staying only because of health benefits, pensions, due process rights, and the like doesn’t mean we should force this destiny on our citizens in the future. Most people wish we had universal health care because we could then choose a job and a state better suited to our individual talents and preferences rather than be forced to live in a state or take a job just because of the health benefits, as many, many people do. Wouldn’t this scenario increase market efficiency and productivity?