The American Dream... Really?

This thread has nothing to do with partisan politics. Both parties are so beyond disingenuous, so corrupt and immoral, that it makes me sick to even watch these conventions. That said, in both conventions I have repeatedly heard this "American Dream" rhetoric of upward mobility and opportunity. At first I just scratched my head in confusion but after just about EVERY speaker, in both conventions, used this line I had enough, it was time to come on ATS and set the record straight.

Now, for these elitist republicans to talk about "the good ol' American Dream" is just comical at best and really just down right ridiculous. Bush, Romney, Paul... these guys represent an Oligarchical Plutocracy far more-so than they do this "American Dream" feces they keep spouting. They were born into filthy rich families and had their lives pretty much handed to them. So immediately that just gets a

But these democrats are something else. Some of these people really DID come from the relative bottom and made it to the top. They are the epitome of this "American Dream". Except this is not really the "American" dream, but rather a dream they were lucky enough to fulfill. For it to be an "American" dream you would think that at least half, if not a majority, of the population would have the same opportunity. But you see, these people are the exceptions to the rule, not the rule itself.

This is what ticks me off so much! These people stand up there and preach their egoic "You can be like me" diatribes, discounting the fact that they were completely lucky. The facts are, 94% of people never will do what they have done! articles.latimes.com...

They are really doing nothing more than rubbing their success in other peoples faces. What is the "American Dream"? This:





And the worst part about it, many of these people saying this are Blacks! Are you serious, an "American Dream"? Since when did a nightmare become such a beautiful and glamorous thing? Almost half of black children born into the middle class this past generation dropped to the lowest income group by adulthood! WOW...



I don't know guys/gals, this whole "American Dream" thing just sounds to me like a way to rub our faces in their success and get us to hop further onto their govt/corporate bandwagon. I don't like it one bit! It just seems insincere and disingenuous, to put it lightly, on both sides. I don't care about your success story, especially when you are a complete exception to the rule. Nobody liked the kid in school who went around bragging about their successes, why would we like the adult who does that?

reply to post by openlocks


I just find it funny, it your first graph, 5 of the first countries are considered Socialist.

I realize this word -Socialist - is the new swear word in the US, more so with the GOP crowd.

reply to post by Tw0Sides


LOL how is Canada a socialist country ... When damn near every western country is the same no one has real choices of representation . All our governments cater to corporate interests and hand outs and vise vera... or is it cause most of these countries you list have free healthcare ... or was that something you heard on tv?

Originally posted by freedomSlave
or is it cause most of these countries you list have free healthcare ...

You nailed it with that quote.

While I will help you to figure it out a bit, the Healthcare is not Free.

Collective taxes from everyone to pay for Collective Healthcare.

See , you learned something today.

Well, what do you expect from a bunch of psychopathic liars? The American Dream doesn't exist anymore as we understood it. If they stood up in front of the cameras and said, "The American Dream is dead. You will, by and large, not do nearly as well as your parents, and you'll be lucky to be able to keep a house, a job and a car for more than 5 years before losing them. Your wages have been stagnant for over 20 years, but your debt and tax load have exploded. If you're a college graduate, better get used to saying 'Would you like fries with that?' because the odds of you being able to get into the vocation of your choice and make a living are slim indeed."

"The future is bleak. Our economy, once based on manufacturing, is now a service economy in which all the jobs are part-time and low-paying. Oh sure, a few of you will do well, but for the most part, y'all are screwed. Totally, utterly screwed. Send your children into the military, it's their only hope. As for you, save your larger boxes, you may have to live in them...Oh, and contrary to popular belief, cat and dog food really doesn't taste that bad. I won't keep any of my campaign promises, I just want the job so I lie through my teeth. VOTE FOR ME!"

The writing is on the wall. The New American Dream is about surviving without living in the street, or starving to death.

These conventions are just bread and circuses for the commoners, to actually think that something will change for the better. Too many clowns who aren't funny.

reply to post by Tw0Sides


No I am fully aware where money from healthcare come from non the least I don't mind paying a portion of my taxes for that to receive care... As well as my taxes from cigarettes....

Edit I was in a motorcycle accident last month broke my arm and fractured my wrist in a few spots I went to the ER got xrayed and a cast , then few weeks later re xrayed and a new cast and do it again next week ... what would that service run a guy up in america?

Originally posted by FissionSurplus
Well, what do you expect from a bunch of psychopathic liars? The American Dream doesn't exist anymore as we understood it. If they stood up in front of the cameras and said, "The American Dream is dead. You will, by and large, not do nearly as well as your parents, and you'll be lucky to be able to keep a house, a job and a car for more than 5 years before losing them. Your wages have been stagnant for over 20 years, but your debt and tax load have exploded. If you're a college graduate, better get used to saying 'Would you like fries with that?' because the odds of you being able to get into the vocation of your choice and make a living are slim indeed."

"The future is bleak. Our economy, once based on manufacturing, is now a service economy in which all the jobs are part-time and low-paying. Oh sure, a few of you will do well, but for the most part, y'all are screwed. Totally, utterly screwed. Send your children into the military, it's their only hope. As for you, save your larger boxes, you may have to live in them...Oh, and contrary to popular belief, cat and dog food really doesn't taste that bad. I won't keep any of my campaign promises, I just want the job so I lie through my teeth. VOTE FOR ME!"

The writing is on the wall. The New American Dream is about surviving without living in the street, or starving to death.

These conventions are just bread and circuses for the commoners, to actually think that something will change for the better. Too many clowns who aren't funny.

LOL, awesome post. I think I would actually vote for that politician though. He would be a real paradigm shift. Telling me he is going to lie to me and doing it is actually far more honest then telling me he will be truthful and repeatedly lying to me. I don't like sneaky people.

reply to post by openlocks


So its the European dream now? or the Denmarkian dream...

reply to post by BacknTime


I guess... if you want to call it that. I wonder if these other countries have such high national exceptionalism though? I wonder if they consider there nations to be the "Dream"? After all, they're beaten us at our own game. Or maybe it is just an American thing.

Anyone from these nations described above care to chime in and let us know what is up?

reply to post by Tw0Sides

I realize this word -Socialist - is the new swear word in the US, more so with the GOP crowd.

Exactly. Again, it would be interesting to find out all the contributing factors for why these countries are ahead of us in so many categories. Just saying "it's socialism" I don't think really tells the full story.

It's funny that the US calls Canada, and those others on the list, "socialist" because of our healthcare, and yet the US has a ridiculous amount of people on food stamp programs.....

Yeah....what is the American Dream??/ OWN a nice house with a white pickett fence, 2 1/2 kids (i have never figured that out) a dog and a nice car. Ok, If you own something, you have to pay taxes on everything, but if you rent a house, and don't own anything, the government pays you to stay that way. I myself, would not depend on the government for anything.....

That's why it's called the "American Dream".

Because if you think you are going to get rich in America today.

You must be dreaming...

The "Nordic Examples" seem to be doing very well. Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Quite funny in a way. These "socialist" countries have the largest per capita percentages of millionaires and billionaires in the western world. Yes, they have a higher percentage of millionaires/billionaires than the USA does.

But keep in mind, they have very small populations in comparison. They are in a position where they actually "need" the neighbor down the road...we...not so much. If you "need" your neighbor to survive, you are more likely to look after him and his needs...just saying.

Interesting graphs and data nonetheless.

reply to post by Jeremiah65

But keep in mind, they have very small populations in comparison. They are in a position where they actually "need" the neighbor down the road...we...not so much. If you "need" your neighbor to survive, you are more likely to look after him and his needs...just saying.

Good points. I was also thinking, they are not nearly as imperialistic as us. I wonder if they even have a military budget? (kidding, kind of) I'm sure there are tons of reasons why they are better of right now though.