Top 10 Biggest Problems with the American Dream
Although a highly celebrated ideal in the United States, the American Dream does have its share of setbacks, and many Americans feel as if the ideology itself is rather "backwards" and not worth it. Famed authors, namely John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald, have criticized it in some of their works.What do you perceive as a problem based on the American Dream?
Much of the American Dream is driven by the desire to live a good life, but the method to attaining this is tied to profit. The ideal is to earn as much money as possible to ensure your own life. Personally, I don't see much motivation in that. In fact, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck harshly critiques the negatives of materialism. Not everyone can attain it. It's a tragedy.
So should society depend upon spiritualism and a false sense of leisure? I'm an idealistic man of the left, but you won't go anywhere in life without working hard and accumulating wealth. I agree with the visitor's statement, and this is coming from a half-Russian.
Yes, I live in America, and it is a great country. However, it does have a lot of problems, such as racism and issues with some of the people who live here. Immigration, I think, has become too selective, thanks to the travel ban. Many immigrants come to America seeking refuge from their war-torn, impoverished, or crumbling societies. Also, I can't believe how controversial the Trump Administration is. I don't like involving myself in political drama, but the Trump Administration has done some very questionable things, like the travel ban. America is great, but it has a lot of problems.
It's an ideology dating back to the 18th century and is seen as part of the American identity, so it's no surprise it's well known. However, since it is synonymous with wealth, it can lead to a very materialistic mindset for those who adopt it. This ties back to my earlier point, emphasizing how it affects people.
The influence is enormous and unavoidable, which is a bad thing.
Donald Trump and Ajit Pai are certainly living this dream. Corporations are still making tons of money every year and will continue to profit. Meanwhile, much of the American populace is finding it difficult, and sometimes even painful, to meet their financial demands and debts. Many Americans are angry due to how they're treated within the class hierarchy, which severely damages the population both physically and emotionally.
This is very true, as is the case with most laissez-faire capitalist nations. Bernie Sanders was their last chance at redemption, and they blew it.
The Great Depression, the amount of money the American government has spent on foreign trade and warfare, and various events have left the United States in serious debt. I feel bad for the middle-lower class people because of how much they struggle with money and how their opportunities continue to dwindle despite their efforts, while the rich get richer.
The economy is too high, and many young people are struggling to find work to afford their pricey apartments. The American Dream is bull crap.
Materialism plays a prominent role in why so many Americans are rather misguided these days. They want to brag about their wealth and what they possess, even going as far as making fun of others based on that. Additionally, those in the middle-lower class may not receive the education they deserve, which contradicts what the American Dream is meant to stand for.
Wherever we go, the media is glorifying either Kim Kardashian or anyone related to the Kardashians, simply because they're rich. Meanwhile, actual heroes who worked hard to achieve something or contribute to change are overlooked or even forgotten. It doesn't matter if you're a veteran soldier, someone who helped during 9/11, or a doctor who discovered a breakthrough cure - if you're not rich, your popularity is nonexistent. This would explain why much of the youth has little general knowledge outside their interests, which is honestly sad.
There are ideologies that are several centuries or even millennia old, and they've somehow managed to withstand the test of time. However, the American Dream contains a lot of "backward" content, particularly in how it depicts women. Its viewpoint on wealth is also somewhat primitive compared to the present day.
This, in turn, can influence them to become bullies and egotists, which does not align well with the true spirit of the American Dream. Jake Paul is a notable example - he's made a lot of money yet chooses to spend it on worthless and boastful pursuits. Gene Simmons also fits this bill well enough.
Self-entitlement is a plague at this point.
This point reinforces the idea of self-entitlement and the benefits that favor the Upper Class. While it's true that some wealthy individuals genuinely care about the poor, most are more concerned with themselves and their status.
Exactly! Inequality is a terrible thing.
Why don't minors get a piece of the pie too?
That could interfere with your right to play video games all the time.
This means a lot of people just don't feel like doing it.