The American Dream

[GuiltyCowboy]

This phrase - ‘the American Dream’ - was coined by a banker-turned-writer called James Truslow Adams during the Depression.

What did he mean by the ‘American Dream’ though? What’s your understanding of this particular phrase?

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

[Will collect best answers here]

 

[Saint_Ann]

I have an American dream every night. Rarely remember them. If I do I'll let you know.

 

[ll74]

I have an American dream every night. Rarely remember them. If I do I'll let you know.

Does it involve hulk hogan with guns?

 

[njlauren]

I think the best summation I can give is that your kids will have it better than you did. That it was coined during the middle of the great depression is telling, in that all people really had was dreams to keep them going.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Does it involve hulk hogan with guns?

Mostly wandering.

 

[Saint_Ann]

The right to pursue happiness, or misery. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Get a good job. Get married. Buy a house with a yard, 2 car garage and a white picket fence. Have kids. Take vacations at the lake. Retire comfortably and enjoy the grandkids.

 

[ll74]

Get a good job. Get married. Buy a house with a yard, 2 car garage and a white picket fence. Have kids. Take vacations at the lake. Retire comfortably and enjoy the grandkids.

Yah, not what happens these days.
Get two good jobs. Get a third job to get an apartment.
Find a person who has time to date.
....etc

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Yah, not what happens these days.
Get two good jobs. Get a third job to get an apartment.
Find a person who has time to date.
....etc

Not as much these days, but many young people still realize the dream.

 

[ll74]

Not as much these days, but many young people still realize the dream.

It's not the same dream.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

I think the best summation I can give is that your kids will have it better than you did. That it was coined during the middle of the great depression is telling, in that all people really had was dreams to keep them going.

In the 1940s, 92% of young adults earned more than their parents. Today half the country will earn less than their parents.

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

In the 1940s, 92% of young adults earned more than their parents. Today half the country will earn less than their parents.

We really need to resume taxing the rich the way we did in the 40s

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

Get a good job. Get married. Buy a house with a yard, 2 car garage and a white picket fence. Have kids. Take vacations at the lake. Retire comfortably and enjoy the grandkids.

Impossible not to think of this…

 

[Saint_Ann]

We really need to resume taxing the rich the way we did in the 40s

You must not be rich. Lol.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Get a good job. Get married. Buy a house with a yard, 2 car garage and a white picket fence. Have kids. Take vacations at the lake. Retire comfortably and enjoy the grandkids.

Once again, an aging boomer harkens back to the halycon days of Leave It To Beaver, where June Cleaver vacuumed the house wearing pearls.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Once again, an aging boomer harkens back to the halycon days of Leave It To Beaver, where June Cleaver vacuumed the house wearing pearls.

You must have had a terrible childhood eh rib?

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Once again, an aging boomer harkens back to the halycon days of Leave It To Beaver, where June Cleaver vacuumed the house wearing pearls.

Ha ha. Our generation loved that show!

 

[BoredDirtyCommie]

The American dream:

Choose a life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers... Choose DSY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit crushing game shows, stucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away in the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself, choose your future.

 

[glamorilla]

currently its hoping something fucked up happens to you on camera so you can make bank online via begging apps like go fund me.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

You must have had a terrible childhood eh rib?

They couldn't afford servants.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

…the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself, choose your future.

Sweeping generalizations about younger generations are pointless. Every generation includes brilliant and happy high performers, as well as individuals who fail.

 

[BoredDirtyCommie]

Sweeping generalizations about younger generations are pointless. Every generation includes brilliant and happy high performers, as well as individuals who fail.

Considering most of y'all are waaaay older than me, I'm wondering how you didn't get a reference from a movie from the mid 90s.

It's from Trainspotting.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Considering most of y'all are waaaay older than me, I'm wondering how you didn't get a reference from a movie from the mid 90s.

It's from Trainspotting.

No doubt we’re way older than you. don’t know what movie you’re referring to. Most of the movies I saw in the 90s were movies I took my kids to. The Lion King, Home Alone, stuff like that. Lol.

 

[Wat_Tyler]

Considering most of y'all are waaaay older than me, I'm wondering how you didn't get a reference from a movie from the mid 90s.

It's from Trainspotting.

I remember the Nastiest Bathroom in Scotland.