# Does anybody take seriously the notion of "the American Dream?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 21, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389 "2017-02-21T15:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/21 "2017-02-22T04:38:16Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > But what the heck IS “The American Dream?” Can it be whatever I want it to be? Has it always some vague notion that was defined personally? I think I recall Fannie Mae using the expression to promote home ownership before the recent crapping out of our economy. Has it always been a marketing tool? **QuickSilver** and **Chronos** already answered the first, if you can’t read it’s not their problem. And yes, “the grass is greener Over There” has been a recruiting tool for migrants since the first time someone realized it might be a good idea to get people moving Over There; it’s not limited to the Americas in general or to the US in particular, but it’s received more use there because the need to move people there was perceived as greater. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/22 "2017-02-22T11:54:46Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Strangely, there’s no such thing as Canadian bacon in Canada. Just like New York pizza and cheesecake in New York. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/23 "2017-02-22T12:35:57Z")
The Australian dream is to own a home with a view of the harbour, have a child who plays in the Australian cricket team and to be known in social circles as a “colourful racing identity”. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/24 "2017-02-22T13:41:11Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > The _American Dream_, if there is one, shouldn’t be an entitlement program, or a subsidized loan program. It shouldn’t be a handout. It should be something that people sacrifice for, people work extremely hard for. The _American Dream_ isn’t something that everyone is promised or achieved, but everyone should have the opportunity to pursue. Just not everyone is committed to the hard work that is required to achieve it. Hard work does not equal financial/emotional stability and success. So you’re basically wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/25 "2017-02-22T13:41:21Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Freedom from discrimination based on my ethnicity (not so much religious freedom because I’m a practicing atheist). > > Education and economic opportunities that would not otherwise be available to me. > > Freedom of speech and movement. > > Not having to live in a socially oppressive society. Interesting. I can rarely find any expression of it that isn’t almost wholly economic. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/26 "2017-02-22T15:23:57Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Hard work does not equal financial/emotional stability and success. So you’re basically wrong about that. The only thing wrong is the assumption that you made about my comments. Mis-attribute much? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/27 "2017-02-22T15:46:52Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > The only thing wrong is the assumption that you made about my comments. Mis-attribute much? > [@](#): > > Just not everyone is committed to the hard work that is required to achieve it. If I misunderstood this part of your statement, please correct me. Or if you misunderstood mine, I’ll be a little more clear. The implication that the American Dream is accessible to everyone who works hard enough is a pernicious perspective that is based on selective observation of those for whom there has been a perceived coloration between work and achievement. Also, you don’t really state what you think the American Dream is, in your post. What do you think it is, and how do you think ‘handouts’ have ruined it? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389/28 "2017-02-22T16:37:57Z")
Context is everything Eonwe. I don’t know if there is an American Dream. I attempted to answer the OP’s question based upon being a citizen of this country for over half a century. When society attempts to define things such as home ownership and college education, and I’m sure there are other examples as well, there is a natural tendency to make those things achievable by a greater multitude of the citizens, even when there is no basis for such objectives, other than the perceived. Let’s take home ownership as an example. Is owning your own home a right? An expectation? I would say neither. But policy makers have felt in recent past that we as a society should make it easier for people to achieve this objective across all facets of our society. Not everyone in our society is in a financial secure enough place to own a their own home regardless of the size or value. Will owning your own home give you financial/emotional stability and success? I don’t know, maybe, maybe not. Should we have a society whereby everyone has the opportunity to own their own home regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion? Yes. For most people, does getting yourself in a financial secure enough place where you can afford to purchase your own home, require hard work and sacrifice? Yes. It requires financial discipline, saving, living within your means, etc. Is everyone capable of that, probably not, and many people buy homes that they can’t afford and shouldn’t have. Can people be happy and emotionally well adjusted without achieving what society says is the American Dream? Sure, I know lots of people just like that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-take-seriously-the-notion-of-the-american-dream/780389.md?page=1)