Article

2006-06-10 Europe

Al Guardian: Wake up: the American Dream is over

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Posted by Omater Huperelet5850 2006-06-10 17:35|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Correct and Worng. Yes there are a LOT of rich people in the U.S. and they are very rich compared to the poor. But there is an even LARGER middle class and the "poor" in America are lightyears ahead of the "poor" from Mexico or most countries in Europe. I would bet any amount of money that if any of the "poor" were offered a ticket to any other country in the world they would decline.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2006-06-10 22:14|| 2006-06-10 22:14|| Front Page Top

#2 The Guardian, wisdom in black and white. Fool's wisdom, but still considered "wisdom" by most.

Both my parents were high school graduates during a time when fewer than 50% of Americans achieved that goal. They were far better off than their parents and grandparents. My brother has a BA and doesn't use it, I have the equivalent of a MS, and don't use it. My brother and his wife own their own business and make over $100,000 a year. My military career has left me with a large, diverse education, skills in a dozen different areas, and a decent retirement with lots of bennies. When I was forced to retire from the chip manufacturer I worked for, I was being groomed to take over a major role in their company, with outstanding promotion potential.

Hard work alone won't make anyone rich. It takes the willpower to develop skills that are needed, to find a niche and fill it, or to stumble into something by blind luck that fits extremely well.

Yes, the rich get richer. Yet our "poor" frequently live better than the upper-middle-class in most nations, including much of Europe. A person can start out flipping hamburgers and end up managing a WalMart or something else equally as productive and challenging.

The American Dream isn't over, it's just evolved into something slightly different for this generation than for the previous one. The opportunities are still there. The disparity between "rich" and "poor" is more the difference in education, training, inherent skill, and opportunity. To think that puts a "lid" on how successful others can be is both condescending and stupid.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2006-06-10 22:17|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2006-06-10 22:17|| Front Page Top

#3 So I guess those 12 milion illegals we got here will be heading home now, right?

Posted by tu3031 2006-06-10 22:45|| 2006-06-10 22:45|| Front Page Top

#4 Don't over-define The American Dream, because in essence, The American Dream is The Pursuit of Happiness.

This pursuit isn't a static thing. It varies with each person, and in each person many times in their life.

Perhaps in turn, its best definition is The Ability To Try. Government *not* stepping in and forbidding you from even trying, for whatever reason.

"You can't do it because you are a commoner."

"You can't do it because you are the wrong race or sex or religion."

"You can't do it because we do not wish to license you to do it."

"You can't do it because you have to pay me a bribe."

Now granted, not everyone can play NBA. But even if you are 5'4", if you want to try, and some team is willing to hire you, the government will most likely not tell them that they can't, because you are just too short.

Right then, it just might be your American Dream.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-06-10 22:48|| 2006-06-10 22:48|| Front Page Top

#5 Paul Harris of the Guardian as an oddly ambivalent attitude toward wealthy Americans. When he was predicting the outcome of the 2004 election, the fact that the Kerrys were filty rich didn't bother him a bit. He described Terayza as the "head of one of America's largest charities."

Posted by Matt 2006-06-10 23:21|| 2006-06-10 23:21|| Front Page Top

#6 Wishful thinking by Eurotrash.

Posted by Whavish Thrineper6405 2006-06-10 23:58|| 2006-06-10 23:58|| Front Page Top

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