American Dream

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the "American Dream", the opportunity to achieve greater material prosperity than was possible in ones country of origin.
The paper discusses the fact that the notion of the 'American Dream' is now changing and explains why. The paper continues and relates that the new economy is changing the American dream. Money is still central to the American dream but independence and freedom are equally as important. The American dream is available to all: It is a model for an ideal society. The paper concludes that to preserve that ideal, America needs to promote social justice, income equity, and an economy based on creativity and innovation.

From the Paper:

"Another problem with the state of the American Dream is that it has changed into the American Entitlement. A sense of entitlement undermines the American Dream because it reduces the importance of a solid work ethic. A solid work ethic can help stimulate creativity. Work ethic does not entail laboring for long hours in deplorable working conditions. A healthy work ethic means that Americans work hard because they love what they do and take pride in it. Warshauer shows how the "get rich quick" ideal has permeated American society, replacing what was once a healthy work ethic with an unhealthy arrogance. Liu also refers to what he has perceived to be a "culture of entitlement" in which individuals feel they deserve to be rich without having to work. The American Dream was never about winning the lottery."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Florida, Richard. "The New American Dream."
• Francis, David R. "The American Dream Gains a Harder Edge."
• Library of Congress. "What is the American Dream?" Retrieved June 23 2007 from http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/dream/thedream.html#cooliris
• Liu, Eric. "A Chinaman's Chance: Reflections on the American Dream."
• Warshauer, Matthew. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Changing Conceptions of the American Dream." Retrieved June 23, 2007 from http://www.americansc.org.uk/online/American_Dream

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