American Dream Problem

“Forty seven percent of Americans say that no matter how hard they work; they cannot get ahead” (Wallechinsky 3). This statistic shows that almost half of the people that took this survey can not get ahead on financial issues no matter how hard they work. This makes people wonder is the American Dream still something that people can obtain. Many Americans do make enough money and can support their families on their own. They believe that America is full of opportunities and freedom. While on the other hand many believe that it is really hard to achieve the American Dream because they do not have the freedom or the chance to make as much money to support their families. Although many citizens believe that the American Dream is still attainable
due to the financial aspect and job opportunities available; however, others argue that the American Dream is not attainable because of the lack of opportunities and freedom they have to be successful.
To begin, the first thing that many people think about to obtain the American dream is money and their job. For many families money and jobs are not a problem.
They make a good income, are able to raise their families, and can still have extra money saved for emergencies. In the article by David Wallechinsky it says that, “seventy four percent of the middle class say that they take responsibility for their own financial success or failure”(3). Basically what this fact is trying to say is that the Americans that are financially stable say that it is up to them if they are successful and are able to raise their families with the income that they make. They don’t see the problems that others may face with money. Also from Robin Fretwell Wilson’s article she states that, “The American Dream means more than becoming rich”. For some families they do not see this. They believe that money is the most important thing. They do not value the money the way other families do. Some readers believe that money is the most important but it is not the number one thing that should be on their mind. It should be about having enough money to raise the family and saving for emergencies. While some American families believe that money is not a problem others believe that it is more than just a problem because they cannot even get by with the income they make. They are not able to save money
especially for something as important as emergencies. Many families all over the United States live like this and it is hard for them to obtain the American Dream because they are so focused on how they are going to raise their families with the income they make. “Sixty six percent say they tend to live from paycheck to paycheck” (Wallechinsky 3). This is proving that over half of the people that took this survey have trouble being able to pay everything with the amount of income they get. It is hard for them to even have money left over for the essentials they need to raise a family. In the article Wallechinsky talks about a family that is in their forties that states that “financial stress is a part of their lives”(Wallechinsky 3). This just shows how hard it can be for some families that they constantly have to be worrying about money. They are not able to live the American Dream because they can not afford to have the opportunities that some families do. They have to value their money in a lot of different ways than financially stable families. Overall, some families think that the American Dream is attainable because they have a good income and have the opportunity to spend money on things they want, while others cannot obtain it because they are not even able to raise their families with the income they make.
Although many Americans believe America is the place for freedom and opportunity others may view it as a total different perspective. Some believe it is the place to come for freedom. A place where they can get away and start a new life while for some families it is a nightmare to come to America. In the excerpt by Michel-Guillaume Jean De Crevecoeur he explains about how he was able to come to America to have a chance at a better life he stated, “The knowledge of the language, the love of a few kindred as poor as himself, where the only cords that tied him; his country is now that which gives him land, bread, protection, and consequences” (De Crevecoeur 1). What he is saying by this is that where he came from they did not have to opportunity for a successful life. They were very poor and could not be successful where they lived. So, when he came to America and was able to have the opportunities to have a better life with money, food, and protection that made him believe that nothing could be better. The American Dream is all about being able to have the opportunities to make money and own land. So, when he came to America he was able to obtain the American Dream because he was was not focused on just the money aspect he was able to be happy with the new land he owned and was still able to get by. He used America as an escape to get out and make a better life than what he had in his “home country”. He also said, “The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas and form new opinions” (De crevecoeur 2). Basically, what this quote is saying is that here in America he was becoming a new man. He was coming from a place where he had nothing to a place where he actually has a voice and a place that he would be able to call home. When he says he is new man this is just showing how he is obtaining the American Dream by proving that he has so many more rights and opportunities in this new land. While some families have a happy ending other families may beg to differ. Some families did not get to come here for better opportunities to start a new life they were forced here and the ending for them was not so happy. In the poem by Langston Hughes expresses many powerful statement such as, “I’m the man who sailed those early seas in search of what I meant to be my home … torn from Black Africa’s strand I came to build a “homeland of the free”” (Hughes 1). This statement explains just how for some families coming to America was not for better opportunities they were forced to come here for reasons they did not want. They were being forced to create this land of the free when they do not even have freedom themselves. He also stated in his poem, “Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, Must bring our mighty dream again. Sure, call me any ugly name you choose the steel of freedom does not stain” (Hughes 1). What this quote explains is that they were the ones who were putting in all the hard work to make America successful but they were the ones that still did not have the freedom they deserved. For these families coming to America was not benefitting them. They did not have the chance to live the American Dream. They did not get to be happy and have opportunities like some families got. They were being forced here to work and still did not get the freedom that they should have gotten. All in all, America may be the place to come for opportunity and freedom but for many others it was torture to come to America because they did not have the rights or opportunities that others did.
As a result, even though many Americans believe that the American Dream is still attainable because of the fact that money and jobs are available to them many others conversely think that the American Dream is not attainable due to the lack of freedom and opportunities they have.
Overall, every American has a different perspective of the American Dream and what it means to live the American Dream. For some families it is easy to obtain the American Dream and make a living off of what they make while for others it is extremely difficult to get by. All in all, every American has a different definition on how they perceive the American Dream whether it be in a good or bad
way.