Quote:
Originally Posted by NeonSamurai
Anyhow I don't think the American dream was ever true to be frank. More a mythology that is effective in keeping the lower classes working, by convincing them if they work hard enough they can make it. Problem is almost all of them are very hard working (many I know personally often work 3 jobs or more 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week). We like to think that those people on the bottom deserve their fate, they are lazy freeloaders and don't try hard enough. Nothing could be further from the truth in most cases, they just don't have any chance and never did.
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Concerning the 'American Dream': When I was a student, I've read "My American Journey" from Colin Powell.
Powell describes very well his raise and his constant fear of being not the best in his course etc. because that could have meant that he cannot escape his original social status and cannot have the live he wants to have.
Powell is an extraordinary person but 99% of the people do not have that power, this iron will and these capabilities.
So this 'dream' may be valid for 5% of the people, who had a bad start in life for various reasons.
U.S. and Germany could learn from Scandinavia (e.g. Sweden and Finland), which are no faultless countries but addresses some key problems, especially in the area of education. Both countries are constantly on the top 5 positions of the hit-list, which compares the economical competitiveness of all countries in the world. So, they are no 'socialist' countries by any means.
Frankly - related to that discussion - I have never understood the discussion in the US. about the health insurance for 'everybody' and why that would be a 'socialist idea'. I've thought that getting (standard) health care is a human right for everybody and has the same priority than getting basic food and be equal at the court.
And the society pays a high bill for having a heavily fragmented society: Be it the criminal activity or the loss of income, since a lot of human capital is not used.