The American Dream

"The American Dream" has been sought after by countless people throughout history. Inevitably, the circumstances the American Dream was based on have changed over time for the general American public, yet the American Dream remains the same.

The gap between test scores of the rich and poor has grown by 30-40%, according to Source B. Source A argues that this is an issue of money, but Source B argues that the gap is the fault of the disproportionate amount of money and resources showered upon the intellectual elite. It's an interesting argument, that the smartest and most talented among us are too successful, but an argument can also be made that the intelligent children of the rich are given an unfair amount of opportunities, education and resources from the start. Furthermore, according to a study by Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam, the rich-poor gap also affects participation in sports, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and church attendance. Too many talented, intelligent children are too poor to make their way up the social ladder.

Nicole Done (Source C) thinks differently: "For me the American dream is working hard for something you want. It's not about having money. My dream is to get an education that I can't get in the Dominican Republic, to live comfortably." Yasmina Shaush (Source D) also believes in this optimistic interpretation of the American dream. In her opinion, "Anything is possible in America, anything." She views the United States as "one of a few countries that can boast the successful by-products of hard work." In my opinion, this view of America is unrealistic. Admittedly, Mitchell Hartman (Source E) says that "Now, there is more chance of upward mobility in the broad middle class." But Hartman also states that "more than 50% of people raised here stay at the same income level as their parents or fall back. Also, "Americans who started in the top and the bottom of the economic ladder tend to remain stuck there themselves as adults."

It is an incontrovertible truth that the American Dream needs some serious renovation if it's to become attainable to all. Social mobility does still exist, but it's not nearly as prevalent as it used to be. This is alright for the rich and for the upper-middle class, but for those in our society with less, this needs to change.