The American Dream

[alephi]

My conjecture is that the term itself is a reflection of something which is ultimately unattainable and more deeply, reflective of a cognitive dissonance central to American culture.  Discuss...

[1714008030]

1714008030

[1714008030]

1714008030

[1714008030]

1714008030

[1714008030]

1714008030

[1714008030]

1714008030

[Elwar]

The American dream of a house with a white picket fence and a car in the garage.

It is basically an ideal of having a productive society where you work to pay for your house, you have a car that you can use to get to work and a fence to signify ownership of your own piece of the world.

Unfortunately the banks took the dream and turned the house into your chains for your slavery to working for the bank and making payments on your car. And the fence became your prison walls where you are supposed to stay put and be a good citizen.

[EFS]

American dream is basically capitalism. If you are in the middle-class you try to jump upside and be rich.

[margaritahuyan]

The American dream, Made in China.

[CoinsForTech]

Replace 'advertising' with 'the american dream'

[TECSHARE]

[TheButterZone]

"... is that we have human rights which cannot be infringed with effective impunity."

[kokjo]

the american dream, is not about happiness. its about acquiring wealth and "the package", for no other reason that's its a false symbol of happiness, same as freedom. Free people are not necessarily happy.

[Mike Christ]

the american dream, is not about happiness. its about acquiring wealth and "the package", for no other reason that's its a false symbol of happiness, same as freedom. Free people are not necessarily happy.

Right; if happiness were so simple, that merely existing without rulers was the key, life would be such a simple, dull passage.  But in the very least, those who wish not to be ruled couldn't be made unhappy by it.

Except for the people who want to be ruled, and I know people like that, and I think that's great.  Just stop asking me to participate.  A free society would allow the people who enjoy rulers to continue to enjoy that.  A free society also allows the people who do not want rulers to enjoy their lives as well.  Freedom, then, may not make us happier, but it'll make a lot less people unhappy; and we'll all have an easier time to pursue the things which would make us happy, whatever they may be.

Except for those who will only be happy when everyone is ruled.  But I don't mind them being the small percentage that die unhappy.

[kokjo]

the american dream, is not about happiness. its about acquiring wealth and "the package", for no other reason that's its a false symbol of happiness, same as freedom. Free people are not necessarily happy.

Right; if happiness were so simple, that merely existing without rulers was the key, life would be such a simple, dull passage.  But in the very least, those who wish not to be ruled couldn't be made unhappy by it.

Except for the people who want to be ruled, and I know people like that, and I think that's great.  Just stop asking me to participate.  A free society would allow the people who enjoy rulers to continue to enjoy that.  A free society also allows the people who do not want rulers to enjoy their lives as well.  Freedom, then, may not make us happier, but it'll make a lot less people unhappy; and we'll all have an easier time to pursue the things which would make us happy, whatever they may be.

Except for those who will only be happy when everyone is ruled.  But I don't mind them being the small percentage that die unhappy.

and some people like to rule over people that don't like to be ruled, who are you to deny them happiness?

[Mike Christ]

and some people like to rule over people that don't like to be ruled, who are you to deny them happiness?

The guy whose happiness is being denied.

[kokjo]

and some people like to rule over people that don't like to be ruled, who are you to deny them happiness?

The guy whose happiness is being denied.

Go live on you little way-out-in-the-ocean-island where no one can influence you through force, thread of force, suggestion of force, communication and free markets, only then you will be truly-free^tm. Stop telling the rest of us what is wrong and right, most of the world clearly have different opinions then you.

You are shouting in the echo chambers of the anarchistic internet, afraid of the real world.

[Mike Christ]

and some people like to rule over people that don't like to be ruled, who are you to deny them happiness?

The guy whose happiness is being denied.

Go live on you little way-out-in-the-ocean-island where no one can influence you through force, thread of force, suggestion of force, communication and free markets, only then you will be truly-free^tm. Stop telling the rest of us what is wrong and right, most of the world clearly have different opinions then you.

You are shouting in the echo chambers of the anarchistic internet, afraid of the real world.

"Stop telling me what to think!"

"Now, think the same way I do!"

I promise you, kokjo, we will find the cure for autism.

[kokjo]

I promise you, kokjo, we will find the cure for autism.

We are the future!

[marcovaldo]

The American dream, Made in China.

Chine became quite developped recently.
Soon, it won't be attractive to product there, and it will be "Made in Africa".

[jarhed]

The American Dream was destroyed by the Millennium Falcon We are the afterMATH.

[alephi]

Was that before or after Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star?

[b!z]

Go to college, work your whole life, buy a car, buy a house, get married, grow old, and die. Rinse and repeat.

[xxjs]

The american dream is about individual freedom and the ability to create your own future, life as you define it yourself. It is mostly in the gutter now.

[Bjork]

^