Page 36 - Šolsko polje, XXVIII, 2017, no. 3-4: Education and the American Dream, ed. Mitja Sardoč
P. 36
šolsko polje, letnik xxviii, številka 3–4
ica, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small mira-
cles,” and ends his speech with his own version of the Dream: “I believe we
can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road
to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the
homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence
and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can
make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!”
In his post-election travels, Obama listened to a 30-year-old law
school graduate who said he is no longer able to make the interest pay-
ments on his educational loans, much less able to have a mortgage or a
family. He said he had been inspired by Obama’s campaign. But now,
“That inspiration is dying away,” he said. “I really want to know: Is the
American dream dead?”
“Absolutely not,” Obama responded. “There is not a country in the
world that would not want to change places with us,” he continued. “We
are still the country that billions of people in the world look to and as-
pire to.”
“It’s like the American dream in reverse.” That’s how President Oba-
ma, ten days after taking office, described the plight of Americans hit by
the faltering economy. His catchy description fell short – the dream has
turned into a nightmare for tens of millions.
Opinion polls reveal that increasingly, Americans believe that the
American Dream is a thing of the past. Perhaps surprisingly, Hanson
& Zogby (2010) report the majority of Americans consistently reported
that the American Dream is more about spiritual happiness than materi-
al goods. Americans continue to believe that working hard should be the
most important element for getting ahead in the United States, but does
not guarantee success. A majority of respondents believe that achieving
the American Dream will be more difficult for future generations. Amer-
icans are increasingly pessimistic about the opportunity for the working
class to get ahead and increasingly optimistic about the opportunity for
the poor and immigrants to get ahead in the United States.
As Hanson & Zogby (2010) comment, “Beliefs about opportunity
are essential aspects of social systems in that they involve subjective inter-
pretations of the legitimacy and openness of the stratification system ... In
the United States, there is considerable evidence that systems and struc-
tures work to the distinct advantage of some and to the disadvantage of
others.” Obviously, growing and structured inequality is not compatible
with the American Dream, as its main ideological tenet is to suggest that
all can succeed. In this context, inequality is immoral and irresponsible.
The American dream has been eclipsed by the power of wealth, and the
34
ica, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small mira-
cles,” and ends his speech with his own version of the Dream: “I believe we
can give our middle class relief and provide working families with a road
to opportunity. I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the
homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence
and despair. I believe that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can
make the right choices, and meet the challenges that face us. America!”
In his post-election travels, Obama listened to a 30-year-old law
school graduate who said he is no longer able to make the interest pay-
ments on his educational loans, much less able to have a mortgage or a
family. He said he had been inspired by Obama’s campaign. But now,
“That inspiration is dying away,” he said. “I really want to know: Is the
American dream dead?”
“Absolutely not,” Obama responded. “There is not a country in the
world that would not want to change places with us,” he continued. “We
are still the country that billions of people in the world look to and as-
pire to.”
“It’s like the American dream in reverse.” That’s how President Oba-
ma, ten days after taking office, described the plight of Americans hit by
the faltering economy. His catchy description fell short – the dream has
turned into a nightmare for tens of millions.
Opinion polls reveal that increasingly, Americans believe that the
American Dream is a thing of the past. Perhaps surprisingly, Hanson
& Zogby (2010) report the majority of Americans consistently reported
that the American Dream is more about spiritual happiness than materi-
al goods. Americans continue to believe that working hard should be the
most important element for getting ahead in the United States, but does
not guarantee success. A majority of respondents believe that achieving
the American Dream will be more difficult for future generations. Amer-
icans are increasingly pessimistic about the opportunity for the working
class to get ahead and increasingly optimistic about the opportunity for
the poor and immigrants to get ahead in the United States.
As Hanson & Zogby (2010) comment, “Beliefs about opportunity
are essential aspects of social systems in that they involve subjective inter-
pretations of the legitimacy and openness of the stratification system ... In
the United States, there is considerable evidence that systems and struc-
tures work to the distinct advantage of some and to the disadvantage of
others.” Obviously, growing and structured inequality is not compatible
with the American Dream, as its main ideological tenet is to suggest that
all can succeed. In this context, inequality is immoral and irresponsible.
The American dream has been eclipsed by the power of wealth, and the
34
