Bethany Thorne

Sue Briggs

English 1010 11:30-1:50

July 12, 2012

Annotated Bibliography

The American Dream Is That What It Has Become…?

Just a Dream

America and all its people once believed that in this land any man or woman could get a good education, find a job, buy a home, build a secure affordable life and provide for yourself and family, live out the American Dream. Our nation has gone through many changes, from my parent’s generation to current times it has transformed from a land of opportunity and freedom, to falling into its deepest recession since the Great Depression. Times are hard, and like so many others pondering the same question “Is the American Dream still possible?” I just turned thirty years old; my daughter is sixteen months old, in my second semester of college, poor and struggling. Hoping for a better way of life, that should be achievable through dedication and hard work. However, the future seems bleak has the idea of what was the American Dream become just that...

a dream…

King, Brandon. "The American Dream:Dead, Alive, or on Hold?."They Say I Say WITH READING. Ed. Cathy Birkenstein, Ed. Russel Durst and Ed. Gerald Graff. 2ed. New York: Norton, 2012. 572-579.

Brandon King makes his point of view sound very positive while still acknowledging the economic hardships that many Americans have come to face. King believes that the ideals and values of the American Dream are still alive (572). King redefines the term the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future. That the American Dream is alive and more important then ever and could be the key to climbing out of the Great Recession, overcoming inequality, and achieving true prosperity. Americans, King implies still believe it is possible to start poor, work hard, and become rich. With a more trimmed down and modest version about what they believe constitutes for being “successful” like being able to retire without struggling (573).

The nation’s fragile economy having delt with so many obstacles during the recession makes it hard to see the United States making a full recovery. The most worrisome problem is inequality: that wealth is concentrated into the hands of a rich minority and that there is a lack of clear economic progress for lower and middle income families, creating an important reason to seek more equal distribution of income (574).

However,King, along with some economists and politicians argue that supporting the richest sectors of the American economy will bring economic stability and a full recovery. That a gap between the rich and the poor does not necessarily prevent individuals in the lower and middle classes from achieving the American Dream, that it is necessary and imperative to continue supporting the business mechanisms that sustain our economy (577). The American Dream will continue to exist as part of the American psyche, not artificially stimulated by government regulations to change income distribution (578).

Analysis

Brandon Kingstudying political science and enjoys writing pieces related to his major especially economic inequality and political structures in the United States. Makes a very good point that the idea of the American Dream has in fact suffered in recent years, although it is his belief that this is not new, we have dealt with economic downturns in the past, and have faced trial and tests before. Even since the height of the Great Recession, we have adapted the values contained within the American Dream to meet new challenges (577). King makes a strong argument with good information to help the readers understand his point of view.

Assessment

Kings Piece helped me realize that even with hard work and education, the recession has had a huge impact on the way Americans judge success. Because of growing unemployment rates , change in economic structures, more people are focusing less on material wealth and striving for more stable middle class lifestyles, one in which they can save money for the future and have secure employment.

McCann, Steve. "Is the American Dream Over?."American Thinker. AmericanThinker.com, 09 11 2010American. Web. 12 Jul 2012.

Is the American Dream Over? Steven McCann jumps right into a major topic of conversation within the corridors of power in Europe and Asia and that is the decline and potential end of the United States as a major global economic power. McCann states that the domestic and foreign consumption of goods and services produced in the United States is vital to reduce deficits, stabilize the dollar, and reset the U.S. economy. That the overall structure of the economy must be addressed (McCann1). McCann implies that unless there is a national policy established to re-industrialize the United States and reduce the size of government spending the naysayers from around the world will be justified in questioning the end of the American Dream (McCann2).

Analysis

The American worker is still the most productive worker in the world and can compete with anyone. It is up to all American to continue the American dream. McCann believes America should be viewed by Europe and China as a strong Nation free from debt.

Assessment

America needs to stop printing more money and start making some serious changes before there is nothing left to call the American Dream. I did not think about domestic inflation or global currency war until I read this piece. Nevertheless, McCann could very well be right with where America is headed, if that happens that kill the American Dream.

Ryan, Frank. "A Generation Losing Hope: The Shattering of the American Dream."American Thinker. AmericanThinker.com, 24 01 2012. Web. 12 Jul 2012.

A generation Losing Hope: The Shattering of the American Dream by Frank Ryan

“Before our very eyes, a generation of Americans is losing faith in the American dream and adopting attitudes and behaviors that emphasize living for the day, not planning to take care of their own futures. They clearly see the problems ahead and draw rational concussions.,” says Ryan (pg1).

Most of our problems have been governments poorly thought out legislation Ryan implies. Ryan explains a little bit about what he believes are our nations problems such as the Social Security underfunding, cost of college education and student debt, cost of medical insurance, and the dropping of home prices but how homes are not appreciably more affordable for the average American.

Ryan then shares how one of his students call the American Dream as her parents American Dream is her generation’s nightmare. Ryan then says “It is time that we demand that our nation re-establish its moral compass. It is essential that we reward hard work and end the mentality of an entitled society. It is essential that our society make our decisions based upon the long run, not based upon the short run, if we are to recreate the American Dream of a better tomorrow for our children (pg2).”

Analysis

Frank Ryan, is a CPA specializing in corporate restructuring and lectures on ethics for the state CPA societies. Ryan’s argument is very clear and blames the government, concerned that it is causing a generation to lose hope and shattering the American Dream.

Assessment

Ryan’s work sounds a lot like McCann’s piece. I believe that major issues with the government, consumption and trading, the cost of education, and jobs having less unemployment, the areas all need to change improve to keep the American Dream alive. I believe Ryan is correct when he says, “The time for serious solutions to serious problems has come (pg2).”

Seelyle, Katharine Q. "What Happens to the American Dream in a Recession?."The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 07 05 2009. Web. 12 Jul 2012.

Katharine Seelyle asks the question, “What is the state of the American Dream?”

Seelyle provides readers with information on a nationwide survey that 72% of Americans believed it is possible to start out poor in the United States, work hard and become rich, a classic definition of the American Dream. And yet, only 44% said they actually achieved the American Dream (Seelyle pg1). In the survey 31% expect to attain the American Dream within their lifetime. Only 20% have given up on ever reaching it (Seelyle pg1). Seelyle informs readers that even though their economic outlook is worse, more people are saying they have either achieved the dream or expect to do so.

Seelyle then shares with the reader that when asked about the American Dream, Berry Glassner, a professor of sociology at the University of Southern California and studies contemporary cultures and beliefs said,

“You want to hold on to your dream even more when times are hard, and if you want to hold on to it, then you better define it differently (seelyle pg1).”

Analysis/Assessment

Katharine Seelyle piece had a more positive tone with good information. I think it was good to use the nationwide survey to support her views.

Conclusion

All the information I got helped really open my eyes to what is going on in the United States. It is good to know the American Dream has not died but has transformed to adapt to the changing times of today.

James Truslow Adams wrote in 1931, “The American Dream is that dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.”