Siera Fitzhugh Essays (849 words) - American Culture, Psychotherapy

Siera Fitzhugh Colleen Harvel English 217-C4019 May 24, 2017 American Dream An essay titled " The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? " is a prime example of how the "American Dream" is perceived in so many ways. The author, Brandon King defines the state of the American Dream this way "I would redefine the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future" (573). King believes that t his definition still holds true even though there are others who do not. 47 percent of the American population believes this redefinition needs to be redefined again. Since 2011, when his article was published, the economy has gotten worse for many Americans. For the last 50 years' people rarely found themselves in ever growing fear of losing or finding a job, home, car or basic needs. In the past, they found homes and apartments affordable, and food available at reasonable prices. Many made annual trips to Disney World every year to reap the rewards of their hard-earned mon ey. Now a new reality has taken hold that threatens to destroy that dream and affect the dreams of many Americans. In Brandon King's "The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?" he concludes the American Dream still lives on, but with the ever-expanding gap between the wealthy and the middle class, many people say they increasingly find their dream unattainable. Bankruptcies, foreclosures and homelessness have risen to high levels. Isn't it time to redefine, again, what their priorities should be in this uncertain world. Today's American dream is about surviving not just progressing. The local economy and the global forces and economic pressures have affected people's prospects in achieving a rich lifestyle and rely heavily on government entitlements and programs which so many criticize as going in the wrong direction. In reality, entitlements like Medicaid, food assistance (SNAP), Medicare and Social Security have helped so many Americans survive through these hard times, although many of these programs do not form part of the American Dream in many minds. In the past many Americans depended on manufacturing jobs for their livelihood. When they got a job, there was a great amount of certainty that they could rely on it to progress and sustain a healthy lifestyle for their family to buy a home, car and everything that came with it. Today those jobs have gone to other developing nations who can afford to hire employees at low wage. Many believe there is a worldwide trend towards government and the private sector merging together to preserve the American way of life and their well-being, which is the future answer to solve our economic woes. In his article, King states "providing money to businesses may encourage them to hire more people, thereby increasing job opportunities." (575). But not even President Obama's $33 billion tax credit was not enough to substantially increase jobs in the market. To the contrary, it has gotten more difficult and complicated to keep the job market growing at a satisfactory pace. King claims, "If the Great Recession has taught us anything, it is that planning for the future by saving more and enacting policies that sustain economic growth are what will keep the American Dream alive." Many economists believe that rather than having the resources divided among different competing groups, individuals should be giving unregulated economic freedom to selfishly improve their lot and eventually their efforts would trickle down to the rest of society. Though this thought worked for America for many decade s, the global markets have no dictates what control we have over the economy. Can Americans keep on redefining The American Dream to suit their perception of it? King recognizes there are issues and questions of what the dream really means when he states, "The American Dream, however, is based on perception; on the way, someone imagines how to be successful." (575). Many do believe this to be the case. Otherwise uncertainty and desperation would follow if people stopp ed dreaming about their future. T he dream, however redefined, must go forward regardless of what the reality really is. If the people continue to redefine their dream, some