Redefining The American Dream

962 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The american dream and consumerism essay

Redefining The American Dream

Consumption patterns portray the dynamic effect of the American Dream. The American Dream today is significantly different that it was fifty years ago. Today Americans work longer work hours, spend 40% more time watching T.V and 40% less time with their children (AGO 2001). “The avarice of mankind is insatiable,” claimed Aristotle when describing how the appetite of mankind is never satisfied (Durning). As every desire is satisfied a new one rises up to take its place (Durning). This is true for all people; we want more money, a better job, a new car, better benefits, on and on until suddenly it is clear that we have wasted our lives in search of something that actually never made us happy. A wise woman always told me “never have any expectations and you will always be pleasantly surprised”, the same holds true for consumption.

Imagine a world where consumption was an addiction similar to alcohol or drugs. Over consuming is a crime punishable with jail time and “Consumer Anonymous” rehabilitation meetings. This was the world we attempted to portray during our brief “Consumers Anonymous” meeting. The opposite is currently happening, the economy expanded 4% between the first quarter of 1998 and 1999 (Krugman 1999). Consumption grew 5.5% during that period (Krugman 1999) . When the economy toke a down turn after President Bush was elected into office, the federal government urged Americans to “do their part” by spending.

The average savings in the United States during 1970 was 8.5%, which has plummeted to an obscene low of 2.1% in 1997 by 1998 savings dropped even further to less than 0.5% (SLI). The lowest saving rate ever witnessed was in 1933 during the great depression at a –2.1% (SLI). By 1997 the total debt of U.S. households had reached 89% of the total household income (ecocompass 2000). The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population however; Americans consume 24% of the world’s energy, 27% of the world’s aluminum and 21% of the world’s beef (SLI). The big shocker is with all of this consumption the happiness levels are not raising (SLI).

Show More
Related

  • Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

    1106 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many tell us to keep dreaming. To chase our dreams until they come true, and that the unattainable can always be achieved with enough pursuance. Is this saying really true? In the novella Of Mice and Men, the story follows the life of two immigrants, George and Lennie. Lennie a gigantic man with a mental infirmity travels with a man named George, they dream of owning a farm, and living off of the land and thus only working for themselves. With Lennie’s disability, he repeatedly gets into trouble. As result, both Lennie and George flee from their old town, Weed, to find new jobs in the hopes to collect enough money to buy a piece of land. They find employment as barley buckers on a ranch and meet the other workers, Candy, and old swamper who’s hand is missing, Crooks, a black man with a bad back, and the only woman on the ranch, who is Curley, the boss’s son’s wife. Not long after does Lennie get into trouble once again. He breaks the neck Curley’s wife and runs to the stream where George told him to go if he were to get in any trouble. George then shoots Lennie in the back of his head to end him of his misery. They could not live by constantly running. Throughout the novel, a motif of unachievable American dreams is presented. American dreams are always a thirst, and although they are highly sought out, several unfortunately never make it to reality.

    Read More

  • Charles Dickens's A Tale Of Two Cities

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    This was years before the French Revolution but it was all a build up. People were tired of the unfair social and wealth between classes and in efforts to fight back, the French Revolution began. The story begins with Jarvis Lorry traveling to Paris to reunite Lucie Manette with her father Dr. Manette, who has been imprisoned for eighteen years. Throughout the novel Lucie finds herself marrying a man named Charles Darnay who gets caught in some unexpected trouble and being saved by Sydney Carton. The characters all try to save their family and their own lives and the outrage causes many problems to occur. Charles Dickens’ relates this novel to his own personal experience with The Frozen Deep. In the play, Dickens plays the roll of a man who falls in love but cannot be with the woman who he loves but can not be with because she is married. He sets out to kill the man but ends up saving him and puts his life on the line so the woman he loves can be happy in life. Similarly, in the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton is in love with Lucie Manette. But, Lucie is in love and marries Charles Darnay. Carton strives to have Lucie but in order to make her happy he risks his own life to save Darnay. Charles Dickens starring in The Frozen Deep led to an intriguing novel, inspired the story

    Read More

  • Comparing Romeo and Juliet and Pyramus and Thisbe

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Famous texts often have many similarities as it makes good discussions to find all the possible things that are very related to one another. These certain texts between Romeo and Juliet and Pyarum and Thisbe are almost so closely related, that there are infamous of resemblances that you can point out. There are the obvious general observations, but once you dig deep, you find that there are much more comparisons that meet the eye. Since they are so closely related, we are able to really truly understand the concepts that stand out through each reading. This will make our thoughts deeper and more powerful towards both texts. In Romeo and Juliet, the text is very similar to Pyramus and Thisbe through a love connection between characters even though differences between families make it a struggle, miscommunication and misunderstandings, and the conclusion of a tragedy.

    Read More

  • The Impossible American Dream

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1931 when the American Dream arose, Americans believed that the harder one worked, the more one would prosper (Meacham, 2012). In other words, they strongly believed that the American Dream was gaining a better, richer, happier life. Today, the American Dream is still hoping to earn a college degree, get a good job, buy a house, and start a family, but according to MetLife’s fifth annual survey, 41% of the respondents said it was about personal fulfillment, while most American’s say it is out of reach for many (White, ...

    Read More

  • During the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Tale of two cities is a compelling tale written by Charles Dickens. The tale takes place in London and Paris. Main characters Dr. Manette, Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and the Defarges are chronicled before the French Revolution and when the revolution begins throughout France. The author Charles Dickens explores the economic disparity between rich and poor within in the two cities and topics during enlightenment such as revolution in political thinking. In addition to establishing the time period Charles Dickens explores themes such as true friendship and love. What makes this story great is the use of the supporting characters such as Jarvis Lorry, Jerry Cruncher, Mr. Stryver, and Marquis Evrémonde to really develop the story and connect it all together.

    Read More

  • The Pursuit of the American Dream

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    To do what makes oneself happy. The American Dream is represented in many different ways and every person lives and chases a different version of the American Dream. Chris McCandless lived his American dream by walking alone into the wilderness of Alaska. The song written by Toby Keith, “American Soldier”, shows the price some pay for their dreams and ours to come true. Jay Gatsby died trying to acheive his dream and get the girl he loved, but died happy because he had pursued her until his death. The band All Time Low wrote a song called “The Reckless and The Brave” that brings a new light to how we go about achieving our dreams. So I believe that the American Dream is all about doing what will make you the happiest in the end.

    Read More

  • The American Dream

    673 Words  | 2 Pages

    "The American Dream" is that dream of a nation in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with options for each according to capacity or accomplishments. It is a dream of social stability in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve to the fullest distinction of which they are essentially competent, and be distinguish by others for what they are, despite of the incidental conditions of birth or stance. The American Dream is often something that humanity wonders about. What is the American dream? Many people discover success in a range of things. There are many different definitions of the American Dream. However, the American Dream embraces prosperity, personal safety, and personal liberty. The American dream is a continually fluctuating set of ideals, reflecting the ideas of an era.

    Read More

  • The Evolution of the American Dream

    1649 Words  | 4 Pages

    Comparing the perspective of the American dream in the 1920’s to the American Dream in the 1940’s and present day seems to be a repeating cycle. The American dream is always evolving and changing. The American dream for present day is similar to the dream of the 1920’s. An Ideal of the American life is to conform to what our society has determined is success. Money, materialism and status had replaced the teachings of our founding fathers in the 1920’s. A return to family values and hard work found its way back into American’s lives in the 1940’s. The same pursuit of that indulgent lifestyle that was popular in the roaring twenty’s has returned today for most Americans, many Americans are living on credit and thinking that money and the accumulation of material items can solve all problems. Through film, literature, art and music, an idealized version of what it means to be an American has changed from money, materialism, and status of the 1920s to hard work and family values of the forties.

    Read More

  • Lucie's Loving Ways in Charles Dickens´A Tale of Two Cities

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    Love has the power to change the world. It can do far more than any speech, treaty, or war. Love, on a smaller scale, can especially impact the lives of those who communicate and receive it. This passion has the ability to assuage, provide comfort, and provide life. In particular, one girl dedicates her life to spreading love, even when she must sacrifice a large amount of her time. This woman is Lucie Manette. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses the character of Lucie Manette to prove that love and sacrifice can impact one’s life.

    Read More

  • Essay on the Similarities between Romeo and Juliet and Pyramus and Thisbe

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Romeo and Juliet” is so much like “Pyramus and Thisbe” it is excruciatingly obvious. These timeless tales tell the story of true love, and also the loss of death. “Romeo and Juliet” can compare to “Pyramus and Thisbe” for three reasons; the lovers come from disagreeing families, the tales are both tragedy, and they are based on misconception and ill-timing. Although these stories are painful, they are also true to human nature, and that is why they are so similar.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Lucie Manette And Madame Defarge

    608 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his “A Tale Two Cities”, Charles Dickens uses the characters of Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge as two strong women that contrast against the rather manly group of characters. These women are both driven to do what they believe is right. Although Lucie and Madame are strong willed and independent, they both use these strengths differently. Lucie is a woman who is driven by love and affection. Whereas Madame Defarge is driven by hate and rebellion. Both these women, although similar, have such significant differences.

    Read More

  • Why Math Is Important Essay: Why School Is Useless?

    2017 Words  | 5 Pages

    Engineering is a major that is very known in that it 's probably that is the most sought after major. according to the article, “Engineering Job Description”, some of the skills that’s needed are creativity, math skills, mechanical skills, problem solving, teamwork, listening, communication, project management. The Engineering field is like a giant tree. a tree that branches out to other field of engineering. Engineering is where innovative people are coming up with ideas that makes our life better and more efficient. Some of the ideas are being used to this day like the a the river dam, waterless toilet, even wind turbines. The dam was build with the though to compensate without electricity usage, the waterless toilet the world 's water problem, the wind turbines are made for more cleaner way to make electricity. Since there are many branches, each branch is specially suited on one topic. Personally i tried computer engineer, what i 've learned is that computer engineer is also another form of that can helping out. It involves coding programs and having that program command a machine to carry out that command. However the process of getting the code is quite difficult. The code can get quite lengthy and difficult. The code can mess up just by one error. The entire action may be cancel out just by one error

    Read More

  • The American Dream Today

    1960 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is the American Dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its often elusive fulfillment? Indeed, the American Dream has come to represent the attainment of myriad of goals that are specific to each individual. While one person might consider a purchased home with a white picket fence her version of the American Dream, another might regard it as the financial ability to operate his own business. Clearly, there is no cut and dried definition of the American Dream as long as any two people hold a different meaning. What it does universally represent, however, it the opportunity for people to seek out their individual and collective desires under a political umbrella of democracy.

    Read More

  • The Effect of Social Media on Children and Adolescents

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    The cons of social media can be very risky, especially when the youth of this society is partaking in it. Children and adolescents are now known for inappropriate content on social media sites or just simply not understanding the concepts of privacy. A nationwide issue that has been addressed is the action of cyberbullying. This action often leads to harmful circumstances such as suicide attempts, with some being successful. In just one state in the U.S., 1,491 high school students that were the “cyber bullies” were related to suicide attempts and about 4,693 students were rel...

    Read More

  • My Future as an Electrical Engineer

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Choosing a major is never an easy work. I have to know and understand the major in the first place, and then seek the value of learning that major. Based on my own experience, I have to get clear with the subjects that I need to learn. Most importantly, what is my future going to be if I choose that major as the direction of my life. As an electrical engineering student, I believe that the technology surrounds us will continue to expand and engineers will lead the way.

    Read More

More about Redefining The American Dream

Open Document