Is the American Dream real?

[TheLilAbs]

people always say if you believe in yourself you can do it
or the sky is the limit if you reach to the sky and touch the stars you can get your dreams

[ExpeditionSailor]

The American Dream used to be real. However, with the way things are now, America seems to be rapidly devolving into a Third World country, with all of the usual problems and corruption that afflict Third World countries.

Fifty years ago, it was unthinkable for any American city to be broke, and unable to pay for the essentials that any properly functioning city needs. Today, there are scads of cities in the US that are not only broke, but on the verge of bankruptcy.

I could expound at length on why this is so, but I think part of the reason why is that too many cities have been trying to be all things to all people. The other reason is that sooner or later, all empires fall apart, and the US is not immune to that rule.

[Rocky Top]

The American dream is fastly becoming just that... a dream. I won't go H.A.M. and say American nightmare, but I would say that we are no longer the work 30 years at your job/white picket fence/2.3 children/wife/2 car garage/retire comfortably at 65 country anymore.

[pete98146]

It is possible but I think these days it's only for the upper 1/3 of the nations most talented individuals. In other words the American Dream is slipping away from most of us. But you can opt to be a glass half full type of guy and still have the International Dream which in the long run may prove to be equally exciting.

Instead of that 2500 square foot house, maybe you have a two bedroom apartment. Maybe instead of getting married to the high school cheerleader, you marry a girl from Philippines. Instead of that brand new BMW, you drive a 1998 Toyota Camry. Instead of retiring on the lake with a large nest egg/pension at age 60, you save every last dime you have and retire overseas at 55.

Guess what I'm trying to say is there are viable rewarding options left. You just need to stay positive, work hard and dare to think outside of everybody else's preconceived notions of what makes a person happy.

[PeterAndrewNolan]

George Carlin said it best...."they call it the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it"

[Repatriate]

It's still real if you're from a poor country and want to save up and become middle class. For everyone else it's like the progress clock is being turned backwards in time.

[boycottamericanwomen]

No, the dream is dead and has been dead for a very long time now.

America has become a NIGHTMARE.

[newlife]

I like to read a lot of articles about how bad things have gotten in the usa. It's deficits, it's social rot, it's inequality. It makes me so angry but I'm not the one in charge of things. Let it go to hell for all I care. I'm not living there anymore.

As regards to 'dreams', I'm making my dream reality here in Asia with my online business. Probably couldn't do this in the land of no freedoms. Nope. Too many taxes, laws, & such.

[sushiman]

people always say if you believe in yourself you can do it
or the sky is the limit if you reach to the sky and touch the stars you can get your dreams

And then it went wrong.

What it really means today is if you are cut throat enough to exploit your brothers and sisters you can "get your dreams", at their expense. The problem is of course these people then have to live together in the sociopathic world of their creation. Sounds so nice!

[Jester]

people always say if you believe in yourself you can do it
or the sky is the limit if you reach to the sky and touch the stars you can get your dreams

It's absolutely still true. It's true here, it's true elsewhere as well.

See it in your mind, let yourself go make it happen, see it in real life. Here or elsewhere.

Evil people (i.e. people who need to neg you out, who believe in hobbling you, and who believe in making you lose) have wormed their way into key positions. But the metaphysical truth, that what you believe and expect and work for, you will get - remains true.

To paraphrase Jesus - America is within you.

[momopi]

The American Dream is real for those who succeeded.

[Contrarian Expatriate]

The American Dream is a marketing ploy intended to spur marriage and consumption for economic growth. Buying the home, car, furniture, kids' items, etc. is the means to entrap Americans into wage slavery and a false sense of accomplishment.

The American Dream is a fraud that several generations fell for. Don't be among the duped; opt out of that mentality and be free and wealthy.