is the american dream still attainable essay

• The American Dream and Related Constructs Words: 1407
• Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the Illusion of the American Dream Words: 1514
• Conception of “The American Dream” in US Words: 822
• The American Dream as a Way of Crossing the Frame of Consciousness Words: 830
• The Concept of the American Dream Words: 1379
• Changing the American Dream of Immigrants and African Americans Words: 1120
• The American Dream: Values and Hopes Words: 553
• American Dream in the XXI Century Words: 1108
• American Dream and Poverty in the United States Words: 601
• The American Dream: Improving Lives Through Hard Work and Opportunity Words: 573

Is the American Dream Attainable?

As we approach elections and reflecting on the current economic recession, slow wage growth, increasing cost of living, punishing inequality, and shattered healthcare issues haunting our nation, a question worth asking is whether the American dream is still valid. Coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931, “The American Dream” has been a flourishing mantra in America until recently. The American Dream was an ideal of a land with equal opportunity for every American to prosper through tenets of hard work, determination, and initiative, which is fading for many Americans. Considering the political unrest of the previous presidential election leading to the current political incongruence, fundamental changes in the American economy, and the failing healthcare system, it is apparent the American dream is nowhere near attainable.

Rising political violence, differences, and civil unrest in America are upturning stability and validating violence as a political tool. The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, painted a nation haunted by political instability. After the event, the rivalry and divide between the two partisan coalitions escalated, creating a politically polarized era. Moreover, after the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, coupled with other police violence scandals, ongoing civil unrest has culminated. Acknowledging we are heading to the 2022 midterm, political interests will likely affect policy issues. For instance, a review by Carter and May (5) highlights that political interests influenced the government’s response to COVID-19. Essentially, political instability in the U.S. limits the conducive environment for optimal macroeconomic policies and performance relative to the American dream of equal opportunity to succeed.

The trending economic frustrations of the increased cost of living, rising inequality, and stable wages debilitate the American dream of better opportunities and the capacity to succeed. In a report recently published by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index hiked by 8.5 percent by the first quarter of March 2022 following a hike of 7.9% between February 2021 and February 2022, marking the most significant price uproar since 1981 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 1). As consumer spending skyrockets, wage growth is moderate, leading to rapid inflation. Economic performance is the principal factor for achieving the American dream since it creates capacity. The economic downfall trends underlie the fading dream and much frustration of the American people.

Despite the U.S. government allocating far more to healthcare, the healthcare system is broken, which indicates ominous signs. First, investments in healthcare are seemingly misdirected, such as Obamacare, which failed to meet the health problems it was supposed to. A report by Harvard Health indicated that compared to other high-income nations, the U.S. scales poorly on multiple metrics of healthcare quality, such as life expectancy and avoidable hospitalization (Shmerling 2). Contrary to the dream of equal opportunity, many Americans are yet to purchase medical insurance, leading to unequal access.

Ultimately, the American dream will remain a mirage, maintaining the current political, economic, and environmental challenges. Political instability and civil unrest marked by the January 6 th attack on the U.S. Capitol inhibit the optimal performance of the government in making initiatives. Additionally, while a significant economic backdrop limits the capacity to succeed through hard work, determination, and initiative, failing healthcare presents a challenge to equality and a supportive environment. The coming elections are a chance for all Americans to save the situation and reassert the American dream.

Works Cited

Carter, David P., and Peter J. May. “Making Sense of the US COVID-19 Pandemic Response: A Policy Regime Perspective.” Administrative Theory & Praxis , vol. 42, no. 2, 2020, pp. 265-277. Web.

Shmerling, Robert H. “ Is Our Healthcare System Broken? ” Harvard Health , 2021. Web.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Consumer Prices up 8.6 Percent over Year Ended May 2022.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics . Web.

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — American Dream — The American Dream Argumentative

The American Dream Argumentative

• Categories: American Dream Social Mobility

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Words: 565 |

Published: Mar 13, 2024

Words: 565 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

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The growing gap between the rich and the poor, the decline of social mobility, the persistence of systemic barriers to success, in conclusion.

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