The United States built its economy on (1) unlimited land, (2) unlimited cheap labor, (3) unlimited innovation and (4) geographical isolation. But now, growth has slowed.
The American Dream is simple: it’s the unwavering belief that anybody — you, me, your friends, your neighbors, grandma Verna — can become exceedingly successful, and all it takes is the right amount of work, ingenuity, and determination. Nothing else matters. No external force. No bout of bad luck. All one needs is a steady dosage of grit and ass-grinding hard work.
Education isn't enough.
Most jobs created since the recovery began have been low-wage jobs followed by high-wage jobs. The recovery of middle-wage jobs has been lackluster, however. Source: NYTimes via National
Employment Law Project
The world has changed.
Although the "American Dream" is still mentioned in much of the political rhetoric, it is no longer a possibility for many if not most Americans. For the past couple generations there has been an idea that if you work hard, you will have earnings as high, if not higher than your parents. However, now, working hard, and even getting a college education, does not guarantee your personal success.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with Zoe. American Dream has lost its credibility for ordinary americans. Working hard and getting a college education cannot guarantee the personal success for people. Our generation is so much different from other parents.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of the above statements. It seems as leaders of the nation do not realize that circumstances have changed/are changing (some of which are as a result of policies implemented by these leaders) but are still preaching that the same path to success exists. Or they have realized but aren't being proactive about helping different generations find other means to success.
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