How Has The American Dream Changed Over Time Essay Sample

Economic advantage promotes political supremacy, which fosters a vicious loop of political power decisions among the 1%. Although we live in the world's richest and most powerful country, many people are impoverished or on the verge of becoming so according to the minimum wage. Almost every American aspires to get a college graduation, find a secure job, buy a house, and start a family. The influences on the attainment of the American dream are changing. Since WWII, prices have risen significantly, as have education expenditures, yet unemployment and growth have remained stagnant. Productivity increased after WWII, and workers' compensation followed suit. In the early 1980s, inflation-adjusted median household income stopped rising. The majority of Americans believe that achieving the American Dream will need far more effort than in the past. The concept of "free market" independence has acted as a useful shield for those who do not want the market's mechanism to be completely revealed; the government hides its power behind mythology (Reich 85). Therefore, Reich states that the "free market" is a deception that prevents us from evaluating these rule changes and questioning "whom they benefit (Reich 4). Those who do not want the market's mechanism fully revealed have disguised themselves in the notion of "free market" independence. The concept of a corporate system has evolved, as has the structure of the market. privilege has boosted the 1% 's riches and given them greater control over future decisions, and the rules created over the previous 50 years have restricted much of the people's capacity to realize America's goals; with the shift in market money, the American Dream is no longer a dream, rather a necessity to live.

The American ideal is centered on the Declaration of Independence, which asserts that "all men are created equal." Growing up with immigrant parents, I've witnessed personally how hard my parents work to guarantee that their children, rather than themselves, may achieve the American dream. When they initially arrived in our country, they worked hard hours with little to no English until they stepped up to the plate and established the life they had imagined. Unfortunately, the American ideal would include the ability to attend school and not have to work to pay expenses or care for ourselves, as it did for my brother and me when we were our age. The system works in a chain; if one's family is impoverished, succeeding generations are likely to be poor as well. Unfortunately, because the economy is driven by wealthy interests, the American dream is more of a fantasy than a reality. They have political influence, allowing them to continue collecting wealth and cementing their economic power. To prevent wealth inequality, the government and the people must implement policies that disperse money and create jobs. This can be accomplished by introducing market restrictions that counteract patterns that largely favor the wealthy while causing individuals to lose their jobs. Nonetheless, many individuals, particularly immigrants, feel that the more they work, the closer they will be to achieving the American dream. “While the United States has enjoyed unprecedented affluence, low-wage employees have been testing the American doctrine that hard work cures poverty” (The Working Poor, 4).

The entire concept of "free market" and "free trade" mainly favors those who are already affluent, such as people who own large firms and hire employees who only increase their salary by a small amount to keep their income expanding as inflation rises. Therefore the “American Dream” has become more of a dream than a reality. providing some evidence for when that was the case and when it changed. These building blocks have been relegated to the new property, monopoly, contracts, enforcement, and bankruptcy, according to Reich. Contracts are made to safeguard market players, which goes against the ideals of free-market advocates. They are not self-enforcing, according to Reich; instead, the government is accountable for doing so. A contract is an agreement made in writing between a buyer and a seller to perform or provide services in exchange for something else (Reich 72). The new property, defined by Reich as "someone who takes ownership," influences the size and strength of a firm or small group of enterprises (Reich 8). It refers to the amount of market power that may be exercised in a market economy. When a corporation has too much market power, competition is fierce and consumer costs rise, putting the poor and middle classes in danger. The most well-known example of bankruptcy is the financial crisis of 2008. This offers the larger banks an economic edge over smaller banks, encourages greater development and influence across the financial industry, and boosts their political clout to get the laws they want while avoiding those they don't. Large firms must emphasize lower pay because when the market tanks, so do the advantages to the employers. Employment is outsourced to lower-wage countries because minimum wage presents a barrier for enterprises and investors worried about the near future. Equal opportunity and free enterprise are central to the American ideal, according to Shipler it, “thrives on difference—the difference between the owner and the worker, the educated and the less educated, the skilled and the less skilled […] and ultimately the rich and the poor'' (89).

Most people's prospects of fulfilling the American dream have been hurt by-laws enacted over the previous 50 years, harming the middle class, the working poor, and single mothers of all races. Shipler describes immigrants among the working poor as a perfect example of how the American Dream is essentially just that. "Wherever immigrants go in search of a better life, they bring their poverty with them, creating islands of misery among the swells of wealth." "They feed, clothe, and soothe the Americans they strive to be like for a pittance" (77). Firms will increase production if the state raises the minimum wage. Employers should keep in mind that the working poor are not accustomed to self-reliance. A supporting employer is required for everybody who believes in America's beliefs, "employees coming out of poverty are rarely armed with support networks, coping skills, and backup mechanisms to insulate their workplace from their difficulties,” Shipler writes (129). Some employees trying to get out of poverty need gratitude and compassion in the workplace. Shipler further explains why society needs to act as a model for the working poor, arguing that to believe in oneself, others must also believe in themselves. The lack of a "support network" leads to inadequate development failure. Over the last decade, members have provided billions of dollars in “employment assistance” such as childcare subsidies and tax credits, but have not been able to objectively eradicate poverty. Coming from a home with a single mother has taught me about the government's inefficiency. Due to my mother's income, I was unable to get government aid as a child, and my father was unable to work due to leg surgery. With diabetes, his recovery took months, and obtaining disability approval from Social Security would take years. My mother was responsible for almost all of my brother's and my costs, including medical bills, home bills, and other requirements. It was astonishing to see how little the government cared about people's circumstances, knowing that I was neither impoverished nor bankrupt. Free health insurance, additional money for education, or not having to pay as much in taxes would have been extremely beneficial to my family and myself.

Unfortunately, the working poor lack the knowledge and authority to demand change. It is time for America to open its eyes and notice the unseen working poor, as David Shipler puts it. “Relief will come, if at all, in an amalgam that recognizes both the society’s obligation through government and business, and the individual’s obligation through labor and family —and the commitment of both society and individual” (Shipler 300). Government regulations have been removed, jobs have been exported to lower-paying regions, and labor unions have become a threat to huge firms. "a fuller understanding of what has happened to the middle class requires an examination of changes in the organization of the market,” Reich states (Reich 118). People, communities, companies, and governments that are both impacted and not affected by poverty must unite together and commit to improving any region that needs assistance.