What is the "American dream"?
108062
As it refers to personal happiness and the pursuit thereof, it certainly differs from person to person.  But traditionally, it has referred to the level of economic success wherein a person could afford to do such things as support oneself without government assistance, retire at a reasonable age with a comfortable lifestyle, and especially, own one's own home.  Many politicians even refer to home ownership as "the American dream."  BTW, I would also now add "send one's kids to college" to the mix, since more and more people are viewing a college education as a minimum requirement for economic success.
321835
The idea is that you can rise from your own economical class to an even higher social and economic class.  The idea is that hard work will indeed guarantee success in our country because we have the freedom to do so.\n\nWhile many countries have a caste system, we are without that.  People who are impoverished can go to college in our country.  People can intermarry someone of a different social class.  People can even choose to live above their means and live within a class they virtually can't pay for.  It's the freedom we have that makes this somewhat true.\n\nEach individual's dream is different however.
297402
Excellent observation.\n\nPretty soon there will be only very wealthy and poor individuals/families.  There is no job security anymore so how can anyone buy a house or other objects related to the "American Dream"?  The American dream has evolved into a nightmare.
876635
American dream is lot's of cold beer and good looking women and hot wings!
71747
That anyone who works hard can accomplish the American Dream
1169158
LOL, that's a good one.  It's all a matter of interpretation.  The buzzword is "democracy", when people use that word they can mean either an old fashioned American Style Democracy, or a European style social democracy.  Unfortunately since the mid thirties American government has been slowly morphing into the latter.  In a social democracy voting is merged with socialist ideology that everyone deserves a "minimum" standard of living.  In the older American model people got what they deserved through hard work or not.  Success was a prize to be won, not an entitlement to be taken for granted.\n      It all comes down to ideology, and niether one of the parties is "conservative" in the original American sense of limiting government's power, taxes on the citizens, and preventing a big central authority from dictating to the States or the people.  In my opinion, both parties are social democratic parties at their face value, but also elite privilege makers to keep corporate sponsors happy and donating to the campaigns.  We have evolved a strange two faced game where politicians try to placate the poor people with programs and the rich with tax shelters, leaving the hard working economic producing classes (middle or not) holding the bag.  The only real answer is a hard look at history (which most are scared to take) that inspires a new party that believes in limited government, freedom, and letting individual people sink or swim on their own merits, helped if they need help, by their families and local communities, not uncle sam's big fat pocket book. Happy surfing, I'm out.
1114710
What the heck is that pic, a mug shot? Good Luck on the American dream blonde.....you are going to need it
383996
Yes and No. Yes, because of the stance America is taking on world issues. Also because the Govt. is confusing the world over with its stances which is so different from what it used to be. \n\nNo, because the American dream and the ideals would always remain. It is getting corroded by today's American society, especially the youth (who do not even know who the first President of the United States was!) \n\nSo in 50 years, America would be the UK of today, saying 'yes' to India and/or China for everything. And if it listens to China, that is the day the American dream would crumble.
318120
I was hunting down a Gorilla poacher in Africa,had him in my sights just as I woke.About your dream,America has it's neck stuck out quite a bit,pushing the limits of what they can get away with.I hope they stop it before we all get killed,then all those things you dream of really will come true.
160653
America, will "not" let the unfortunate prosper? Have you ever heard of hard work? America, does "not" hold anyone back..Can you tell me, why is everyone trying to get into the U.S.to try and make a better life, for themselves, and there family? Is everyone trying to migrate to Cuba, or Russia, to try and do those things? Anyone with a little ambition, can also be fortunate enough to have a piece of the "American" dream..And, where did your forefathers immigrate from..We all came from another country, to make life better, for future generations..
639154
Everyone has one point of time have Big Goals and Dreams. We are born with Goals and dreams, there's nothing wrong with it. (Think about when you were a child, do you have big goals and dreams). The sad thing is that too many people sell themselves short when they grow older. Life gets in the way esp. finances and they begin to settle. They shrink their dreams to meet their income. That is why most people live in mediocrity.\n\nSuccessful people (less than 5% in America) do the opposite. They don't let circumstances control them. If they have big goals and dreams, they find ways to make more income to achieve those dreams. \n\nI am certain that I will be rich coz I have big dreams and goal and I found the vehicle to achieve them. If I am not lazy, all my dreams are going to come true. I am in the process of chasing my dreams everyday. The only way to achieve your dreams is to materialized them in your mind. You can never have what you don't believe could happen. This is call faith.\n\nMoney is not the root of all evil, the love of money is. So, chase your dream and live your life to the fullest so that you won't have any regrets. Don't ever let the nay-sayers take away your dreams because Dreams come from God and only Him can take it away from you.
117704
Looking for a free America. The American dream, that anyone can become anything. Great opportunities. New beginnings. America is the Melting pot of the world. In search of a new life!!!
593600
Those of us who are more educated, classy, healthy and etc, need to be more vocal and involved publicly, I suppose. \n\nUnfortunately, I think your description describes the majority of Americans. \n\nAnd it would help if more people were not into superficial BS like spinners, who drives the best cars, listens to the best music, makes the most money and etc. And into other things like education, arts, health and etc. \n\nThat's a nice dream..
833102
Self and national aggrandisement seems to be culturally iconic in the U.S.  False consciousness is virtually a requirement for existance in any modern culture.\nWhat is the illusion of wealth? Do you mean that I owe more than I own but fool myself I am doing well? Or do you mean that as a nation, the american people tend to overlook the poverty (etc)within their own borders whilst asserting themselves as world leaders with a model social/economic/political system? Or are you referring to what is happening on a global scale?\nWhat do you mean by strong and successful and isn't it simply a matter of opinion?  America is a contradiction; a juxtaposition. From whence comes the expectation of streets paved with gold? Isn't that an elton john song? Or a biblical reference?
544815
It is like winning the lottery and then giving your winnings to your community members. We have great freedoms here and with it the responsibility to be appropriate and self controlled amongst such vast opportunity.  Man kind can be lowly and make bad choices every where under the sun, and in some lands man given power unchecked equates to the casting down of his fellow man. In America all of this is possible however less likely to occur. We are a people that believe in human rights, freedom for all and even the downtrodden can be lifted up. I feel so good about America that I best describe it as a childish dream of electric delights and bright lights, of candy apples and warm family events. Certainly its not all milk and hunny but it’s a long way from the control of communism. Sure we have our problems too but our government is not totalitarian. Sure we have some bad politicians like the Clinton's, but even they are held at bay with checks and balances. Our advanced culture still cannot answer the problems of the homeless and children of abuse and neglect with the best programs and policies, however you can choose to be a success fight for that success, work hard on it, get it, and also order pizza delivery with your cable TV programming at midnight and get it hot and fresh or its free. Oh and you can drink the water. Like a great Russian once said of our country, “you can get chicken in a fish place, I love this country.”
3562
I'd look at the Monroe Doctrine (i think).  It has a statement by a former president that says that the American dream should be for the country to touch the atlantic and the pacific.  \nUS rail system encouraged travelers & those moving by providing efficient transportation.\nFed Govt encouraged this by buying, annexing, and winning by force property that is now the United States.\nNative Americans presented a barrier and discouraged those moving to live in a place where raids were frequent.  The US should have made terms with the Native Americans to make peace in the beginning.\nImmigrants went where ever jobs were needed, so they were always ready to move somewhere else if they could get a job.\nHope it helps.
1145385
The only way I could figure to answer this, is to say that if they have arrived in the US and in that respect are to identify themselves as Americans, then it is based on those ideals shared with any and all immigrants who ventured here and founded what would become the Americas... greater freedoms in all areas of life, new opportunities, and simply put, the realization of dreams their homelands could not provide. I think all of us are either in pursuit of such things or the product of them. Hope that answers the question.