Dream Chasing

The American dream is still accessible today in many different ways, first of all the American Dream doesn’t not guarantee success; your work and effort do because nobody becomes successful over night. Secondly the American dream does not mean to be rich, it simply means being what you want to be and achieving the goals you want to achieve.

            While reading “RIP, the Middle Class: 1946-2013” I noticed that Edward McClelland was in favor of government regulation such as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal.” Although this was appealing to many to get out of the Great Depression, McClelland wants more than just a regulation on jobs. McClelland states on page 558, “… we need a Newer Deal that will raise the minimum wage, reduce obstacles to union organizing, levy higher taxes on passive wealth such as investments and inheritances… perhaps lowering Medicaid eligibility…” Government regulation is one thing when it comes to jobs but regulating peoples every day lives is not okay simply because you are not living in the “land of the free” you are living in the land of the free with restrictions. The American dream should be the choice of the people not the choice of the government because if we continue down this road of regulation there will soon be a new style of economy known as socialism or even worse fascism and the American dream will just be something old people talk about.

            The American dream is said to becoming what you want to become and everyone likes to say it is to become super wealthy when in fact it is just to become the person you want to be. The middle class makes up the majority of our country whether it is lower or upper and although they need money to survive they do not need boatloads of cash, just enough to support those that they love. I am against much government regulation but a raise in minimum wage would be okay simply because $7.25 an hour can barely take care of one person who needs a home, transportation, groceries and necessary household items. McClelland uses an interesting quote from a steel worker Mike stout where he says, “You can’t grow an economy, grow a middle class, without making things, producing stuff” (556). Life is hard but the American dream can still be achieved no matter the obstacles, money can’t buy happiness nor can you pay God with it.

            As long as you are happy and loving the life you live then you truly are living the American dream in the land of the free.

FROM NICKEL AND DIMED

 This essay is about how maids have struggled to stay afloat through long days at work and all the obstacles they overcome through strict dress codes to not being able to smoke less than fifteen minutes before work. Barbara Ehrenreich the author then over hears her boss learning that the company in which she works for takes the majority of the cash that she makes as if they are pimps. The essay then goes on and on about the hardships of her duties but the more time she spends on her work the more seems to take pride in what she is doing which then leads to the end of the essay where she goes home. To end her day she goes on a sunset walk on the beach and passes by Peruvian musicians that inspire her to be happy and appreciate the life she lives.