"Even though I walk through the valley in the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou are with me." - Psalm 23
http://www.silive.com/obit
Commentary on all things human.
"The persistent weakness of American liberalism is its fixation with rights and procedures at any cost to efficiency and common sense. Democrats' reluctance to push Clinton out of the race is the perfect expression of that delicate sensibility.
There is some point at which a candidate's chance of winning becomes so low that her right to continue is outweighed by the party's interest in preparing for the general election. Does Clinton have a chance to become president? Sure. So does Ralph Nader. Clinton's chances are far closer to Nader's than to either Obama's or John McCain's."For generations our society, culture, the media and our government have propagated the idea that
When my Grandfather’s family came here from
The media always takes a liking to "rags to riches" stories. We always hear about the hopeless subway entertainer who gets discovered by a record producer, the computer whiz who builds a garage based business into the largest company in the world and so on. But let’s be realistic. These stories of grand success from nothing are few and far between. Reality is most people do not, in the words of Thoreau “go confidently in the direction of their dreams and live the life they’ve imagined.” Most fail at achieving the American dream. And reality shows this hidden truth.
I believe there is truth in numbers. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. According to the Cato Institute "the top 1% now takes in an astounding 16% of national income, up from 8% in 1980." These wealthy people lobby, donate and influence our politics to ensure that our government representatives are working with the best interests of the affluent in mind. Money buys power, status, political influence and makes more money. The class struggle is no longer a struggle but a battle that has been lost by the middle class, a class which is quickly becoming non-existent.
Our higher education system is somewhat to blame. Hiding behind the guise of the old adage of better education equals higher earnings potential is the true story of admissions. There have been numerous studies that show a significant amount of Ivy league attendants are only there because of their parents ability to donate to the institution or because they are a legacy entry, not because of their ability. The child’s whose parents attended Harvard or whose parents have the ability to make a significant endowment take precedence in placement over the middle class child with sometimes far superior academic credentials. George Bush, our current President, attended Yale, so did his wealthy Father. Point taken. Even if you are fortunate enough to be someone who is admitted from a lower income class, upon graduation you are entering the real world with one strike against you, severe debt. Severe debt leads to a hindrance toward the next step of the American dream, home ownership.
Home ownership for young people today is also a far fetched aspect of the American dream. With the credit crunch (caused by those top 1% earning business executives might I add) coupled with unbelievably high home prices is causation of the basic foundation of the American dream, owning a home, becoming just that, a dream. Social mobility, at least upward, is virtually non-existent. I would argue that with the hand I am holding it will be very hard for me not only to move socially upward but to keep an even keel with my parents. That's not what we think of when we contemplate the American dream. We think everyone starting at the same starting line. Not the case.
With that said, I believe the workplace is perhaps the best example of the death of the American dream. When it comes to acquiring a new, prestigious job it is not necessarily what you know, it is who you know. The prestigious, well paying positions are occupied by men of wealth, good educations (most likely received again, through their family’s ability to donate) and prestige. If you come from a family of wealth, chances are they associate with those who are in the wealthy class. In turn, when it comes time for you to enter the workforce, more often than not nepotism will take over, strings will be pulled and just by familial association with wealthy circles you will garner a prestigious position. Hence, the rich stay rich and the lower class is forced to work toward that dream which may never be realized but instead just handed to someone of privilege. It is a vicious cycle in which I see no end.
The volumes of data out there has harkened me to the belief that the American dream is dead. By no means am I insinuating that I am hopeless from ever living the life I would like. I like to think of myself as becoming one of those very, very few exceptions. However, the chips are not stacked in my favor. Perhaps the term American dream needs to be removed from our lexicon and adjusted to better describe what it has become, an un-graspable idea and false hope for so many.
I love the sarcasm. Thanks to Paul Krugman for having a link to it on his blog.