I have heard the term "American Dream" a lot, what does that mean?

[SunnyRS]

I am completely clueless about the context about this term, what is it used to portray?

[goaded]

I think it's basically that any American, if they work hard, can be a success (defined as over-consumer). It's not true now, and never has been, although it was closest to being true post-WWII for white Americans; they got government money in the GI bill, there was social security, and their jobs were unionised.

[SunnyRS]

That is interesting.
So it is mostly a myth?

[goaded]

Well, it's worked for some, obviously not all, and some are more equal than others.

The winners tend to be assholes who don't want to support anyone but themselves. At least, not until they've got so much wealth they couldn't possibly spend it in a dozen lifetimes.

[SunnyRS]

Yeah I know that's true, there are some people like that everywhere, not only in America.

[AngryCarl2]

Did you know the American Dream was invented by James T. Adams in 1931? No? Me neither.

[goaded]

@AngryCarl2 I did not. Worth a read: en.wikipedia.org/.../James_Truslow_Adams His view is amazingly topical, as are many facts of life from 100 years ago.

[Snakeyes7]

It was the concept that anyone can change their social class at will which was a novel concept at the time and what nade capitalism so revolutionary.

It doesn't mean all that much anymore because idiots who think they can just rewrite the laws of economics are taking the center stage at the moment.

[SunnyRS]

That seems like a far fetched concept.
But if someone can pull it off, it sure would feel like a dream come true.

[Snakeyes7]

It seems like a far fetched concept now because the economy is so screwed up that it is difficult to move up in comparison, but you can still do it.

Back then, you were in the class you were born in and there is no moving up no matter how hard you try. Serfdom and the Caste system (which still exists today in India) were the laws of the land at that time.

[SunnyRS]

That's true to some extent.

[goaded]

upload.wikimedia.org/.../..._unequal_countries.jpg

[Snakeyes7]

@goaded How are they determining this?

[goaded]

It comes from this book: en.wikipedia.org/.../The_Spirit_Level:_Why_More_Equal_Societies_Almost_Always_Do_Better

[Snakeyes7]

@goaded Yeah no shit. There wouldn't be any upward mobility in a place with the most income inequality, considering when there is less income inequality there wouldn't be a higher social status to ascend to, eventually everyone will just be equally poor.

The only "logical" conclusion to that if you look at it that way is communism where socioeconomic classes have been abolished and we all know how awful it is because it is the literal rewriting of the laws of economics as if scarcity is a concept created by the "capitalist pigs" and expecting a good outcome.

The question I have now is does it ever explain *why* do we have so much inequality? If you ask me it is because of the welfare state and the infantilizing of the people who are too lazy to do anything with their lives.

[MementoMori777]

a lure lmao, they lure you with that saying then you reach america and snap, they trap you in their system 😂

[SunnyRS]

😅😅

[Anonymous]

The meaning can vary from person to person, but for a lot of people, owning a home is the American dream.

[SunnyRS]

But owning a house could be anyone's dream, why specifically the American Dream?

[Opinion Owner]

Not sure to be honest.

[SunnyRS]

Fair enough

[AngryCarl2]

It's used to portray shut up and don't question the establishment.

[In_Trance]

a google search will give you everything you need to know

[SunnyRS]

Well if we live on google search for everything we won't get human interaction, that might seem like a good idea to you but I prefer human perspective more than a net search.

[In_Trance]

... humans put information on Google.

[SunnyRS]

True but that's not interaction what we are having right now is called interaction.
Try searching interaction on google if you might

[In_Trance]

If it's interaction you're craving get off the internet and talk to people in real life

[SunnyRS]

Wow thanks for the advice man, you seem to be doing just that talking to me right now.
You seem very smart