American Dream

                The American Dream. In a way it defines America and American identities, the idea being that if a person works hard, that hard work will eventually pay off in the end. Unfortunately, the American Dream is just that, a dream. The reality of the world has much more complexities than the black and white results of the American Dream. Factors surrounding things that we can and can’t control keep us from climbing the social ladder as high as we wish. It comes from the family we are born into and the fruits that stem from that circumstance as well as the opportunities granted to some and not others.

            Education is the building block to success in the 21^st century. Without going to a decent college and getting that degree or doctorate or whatever it may be, the chance to move up the social ladder is slim to none. The interesting aspect about education is that even though it is so important for those in the lower class to improve their circumstances, they are less likely to succeed in an academic environment than those from a higher social class. According to Sean F. Reardon in his article “No Rich Child Left Behind”, “…children of the rich perform better in school, on average, than from the middle-class or poor families.” (Source A). So social class is a clear predictor of performance academically. Unfortunately the “…differences in educational success between high- and-lower- income students have grown substantially” (Source A). This growing gap has a direct link to the social class system in America. How is possible for these people to fulfill the American Dream if they are left struggling in the education system, a system that is so vital for someone’s future? The article, “Social Mobility in America: Repairing the Rungs” states that “…most OECD countries spend more on education of poor children than rich ones, in America the opposite is true” (Source B). Our country does nothing to help those struggling to climb the social ranks, yet we still state that anything is possible under the “American Dream”. Sure, there are a few that break the norms, but can we really base the existence of the American Dream on a few sporadic outside cases? It is clear that America is focused more on the rich, those who statistically are shown to succeed. But if this is true, where is there room for the American Dream?

            We are all born into families, each having different circumstances economically. These circumstance present us with a different number of opportunities. Those in the higher class have more opportunities than those in the lower class. This is plain and simple. It may not be what people want to hear, but the truth is harsh. In a report commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts in 2012, figure 3 shows that American in the upper and lower ranks will likely stay there during their lifetime (Source F). Now the American Dream is based partly on mobility on the social ladder. If mobility to those who need the benefits of the dream are unable to achieve it, what is the point? One of the main reasons those in the lower class are unable to move up is inequality. They are given less opportunities because they are in a lower class rank. “The Great Gatsby Curve” by Paul Krugman shows “…America is both unequal and has especially low mobility” (Source G). The graph compare America as well as other countries from around the world. The inequality in our country is a direct cause to the lack of mobility. By definition, the lack of mobility conflicts with the basic principal of the American Dream.

            It is not so clear, black and white, that the American Dream is real. I think that the American Dream is only a dream, and not a reality. The lack of educational success, assistance from the government, and inequality are clearly affecting American people negatively. It would ideal if anyone was able to move up in the ranks, to get that dream job and become that person they always wanted to be. It will most likely never happen for most. I hope that in the future, American’s can pull their act together and make something that may only be a dream into a reality and change our country for the better. 

Social Class

My results from the quiz showed that I belonged to the Bourgeois Vous, or the upper-middle class. I this reflects pretty accurately on my life. I do indeed eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and our house contains many books. I do view people in a positive light (unless they demonstrate otherwise) and I am not a fan of heavy metal music. I found it interesting how the length my parent’s breast fed me helped determine my class. I also thought it was different how choosing to eat food without paying or spy for a competitor gave a person a higher score on the social ladder.

                The article “Shadowy Lines That Still Divide” by Janny Scott and David Leonhardt shares many similarities and difference to my life and how social class defines and affects it. The article states that “mobility…has flattened out or possible even declined”. I find this very true. It is harder now with worldwide completion to become more successful than your parents. Everyone is vying for that top spot or that loophole. Living in McFarland, a town that is pretty well off, I see how parents “scramble to scoop up a house in the best school district, channel a child into the best preschool program, and land the best medical specialist…”; My parents were the same way, which probably why I still go to McFarland and why they push me so hard to be the best. This is why I don’t agree with the article’s statement: “Parents with money, education and connections cultivate in their children the habits that mediocrity awards”. This seems completely flawed in my personal case. My parents push me to be the best I can be so that hopefully my life could be easier than theirs. There is that constant pressure to succeed, not to settle for anything, especially mediocrity.

I agree with the main message in the article “Money Always Talks” by Daphne Merkin. I think that “the rich are different”. The article also states, “They make us think we would do better if we had their dough….Or, at least, we want the option to prove our lofty conjectures”. As the upper-middle class, I constantly see people talking about how they could change the world if they had the chance, or they would spend the money more wisely. What gets me is how money can inspire and corrupt people. Sure it can change your social class in an instant, but what if it changes you as a person? This thought may reflect on my social class, always trying to see the best in people, but money can flip people. Is it really worth it?

This leads into the film People like Us was very eye opening. It showed me that the rich really don’t have it all. They can be arrogant and selfish and naive, just like the rest of us. It is not their fault, but the fault of the class system. The boys from the mobile home wanted nothing but an education and a future, and I am sitting here complaining about how slow this laptop is. This divide of wants and wills shows that the class system is still here in the United States; those in need should be given more aid. I hope that in the future the class system will be something based on merit and honor and kindness, not money because in the end, money is just paper.