The American Dream has been broken. Paul Ryan said that the country is not determined by the circumstances of your birth. It is a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and fulfill their dreams. Many people strive for a life of happiness, which includes a job with stability, wealth and success. Hard work gives all Americans the same chance to achieve success and prosperity, no matter what class they are born into. The American Dream is what it’s called. The American Dream can be achieved by overcoming obstacles, but others believe it’s impossible without being born. Due to the income inequality, American Dream has become a nightmare. As the income inequality between the richest and others increases, so does the opportunity for richer people to have better opportunities.
The American Dream isn’t attainable anymore. All of them could afford some things like laptops, smart phones and refrigerators. Not the same standard. While a doctor and public officer may both have large, fancy TVs, only one can save for retirement, afford a house and send his child to college. Barack Obama gave a speech on the American dream, December 4, 2013, where he said, “their frustration comes from their daily battles. The rich are getting richer while the poor are becoming poorer. They may have to struggle to upgrade their living standards unless the luck of the birth lottery and circumstances is on their side. Americans dream of a fulfilling and successful life. However, the American Dream now is only a pipe dream. It’s broken because it doesn’t give equal opportunities to everyone. The middle-class or those below that cannot fit in a well-paying career and live a wealthy and successful life.
It is essential to achieve the American Dream that you have a good education. According to some studies, “increasing gaps in educational achievement and academic attainment have accompanied the increase in income equality.” College tuition is becoming more expensive as wages remain low. College tuition is expensive for parents. But for rich families, the story is completely different. Rich families raise their children to receive a higher education and have more opportunities. Rich children can easily get into world-class universities thanks to their parents’ help. The rich children are bound to get good jobs and live a prosperous life, just like their parents. But unlike these people, those from poor families cannot imagine what it is like to be rich. Their earnings will be barely enough to feed them. Due to the high cost of education, many people will get only a minimum level of education and end up with a low paying job. Some even take on part-time jobs to pay for expensive textbooks, tuition fees and rent while attending school. Anyone should have the opportunity to succeed and prosper in life through education. The income inequality that is growing has deprived those of working class the opportunity to obtain education. It’s unfair to deny them the same opportunity.
Income inequality affects not only individuals but our entire society. It is true that this leads to many people achieving the American Dream. However, it also ruins democracy. The poor, for instance, can’t afford expensive lawyers in difficult situations. Rich people, who use their wealth to achieve their goals, will certainly win. The poor will be less able to voice their opinion, and therefore, won’t participate in politics. Only the wealthy will be able to run the world. As politics becomes more involved, the gap between the wealthy and the rest of the world will grow.
How can Americans claim to be democratic if no one is able to participate in their nation’s affairs? Although it may not seem like a big issue, it could have a negative impact on Americans in the future. This is because the increasing income inequality “decreases participation in politics, which is an essential part of self-government”. American Dream also includes the ideals of democracy and justice. Reduced participation in politics will affect the American Dream negatively.
Some people still believe that they can achieve the American dream because they live in a Land of Opportunity. However, it’s not possible at the moment. In today’s world, anything is possible through sacrifice, hard work and taking risks. But, there are barriers to success and wealth. It is unfair that people in the working classes are denied this opportunity. It is easy for those who were born into wealth to get it. We need solutions to help young people and future generation have equal chances of success and fulfilling their desires. The American Dream can be achieved by working together and avoiding problematic outcomes.
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