The American Dream

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If the American dream is a reality, at what cost is it attained by the title character? According to latest polls, majority of people in the US have lost faith on the American dream reality. For instance, in a poll conducted in June, 59% agreed that the ‘dream is becoming impassable and that there is ‘’not much opportunity ‘’ in getting a head. The main qualities of the American dream such as wage of living, retirement security and opportunities for younger generation to get a head have become unreachable and are only available to the wealthy people. There are various costs associated with the attainment of the American dream and making it become a reality. First, majority of people cannot get a head financially, this is because the American dream requires a reasonable rate of income growth for the working class, majority of the American people do not expect achieving it. Ben Casselman of fivethirtyeight.com observes that the wages of the middle class have not increased for 15 years now. He further asserts that the percentage of the middle-class households in the U.S are decreasing as time goes by. For instance, the median household income has been decreasing since the financial crisis of 2008. Secondly, the costs of attaining the American dream continue to increase. Initially middle class managed to lead a comfortable lifestyle by depending on a single person’s earnings. However, those days are long overdue, today households have to depend on earnings of more than two households’ members so as to match the rising costs in the education sector, home costs and transportation .Third, the debt is on the rise among the Americans because their salaries have failed to keep up with their expenses. Finally, the education sector is encompassed with student debt because non-wealthy Americans have to borrow in order for them to acquire education so as to enable them get a head. Public colleges and universities have long been viewed as the ‘get-ahead’ option for all Americans, the poor included.

An analysis done by USA TODAY indicates that the American Dream is carrying a price tag of $130,000 per annum. This price tag encompasses essentials such as groceries at $12, 659, a 4WD SUV and other associated vehicle costs at $11,039. Other essentials include things like vacations, entertainment, internet and cell phone for a combined total of $17,009.However, only 16 million U.S households earned to qualify; this is based on the U.S Census Bureau. This analysis is in agreement with majority of Americans who feel that the American dream is something that cannot be reached; the dream of Americans has not been about material wealth. The American vision is that work is the goal of life, thus everyone is supposed to build, innovate and grow so as to move from where an individual is to some where better .However it is not a must, one has an option of choosing either to drop out or continue to the point where they feel they are no longer to trade more economic advancement for less leisure time. In most cases, the Americans choose a significant level of growth and ambition because that is the ‘American Dream’.

Works cited

http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-does-fitzgerald-portray-american-dream-use-465864

http://www.e-scoala.ro/referate/engleza_fitzgerald_the_death.html

http://enblog.mukto-mona.com/2013/03/19/the-american-dream-an-illusion-or-reality/

http://www.alternet.org/economy/7-facts-show-american-dream-dead

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865608140/What-the-American-Dream-is-and-what-it-isnt.html?pg=all