The American Dream

Just what is the American Dream? It seems most folk describe it in terms on economics. Meaning in this country if you work hard and are industrious you will have economic success. That is a good thing. It is also what many are dissatisfied about as this type of dream seems to be fading with the wealth distribution going to a favored few and the middle class struggling. Hard work does not seem to guarantee success so that you children will all have a better life than we have had. That has now changed and people are angry about it and blame whoever they choose to blame for its cause.

But I think there is more to the American dream than just economic matters. I believe there was a common morality, ethic, norms that served us well for a long time that now seem threatened by an over emphasis on just plain greed. We have a moral of the bottom line, if it meets my short term benefit, it is good. Providing benefits for stockholders outweigh the merit whatever product and service a company is providing. CEO’s and the like are worth outlandish monetary remuneration even when their companies are in economic trouble. We create and applaud industries that are too large to fail because it will have a negative impact on the country. Big is always better.

In simpler times we had more direct contact with the providers of goods and services and the buyers of those goods and services and personal expectations of both. Now we can hide behind structures that isolate and insulate us from each other which allow our more base nature to dominate.

Our government reflects this disconnect. Politicians’ main job is to get elected and reelected rather than to be public servants providing what is necessary for broad public. Again, greed has replaced a sense of intimate public service. This lack of contact allows us to dehumanize folk we do not agree with and convivial conversation of important issues gets lost.

Can we fix our country unless we fix our morality first? Where do we look for moral leaders and teachers?

We live in an immense country where maintaining a common civil morality gets more and more difficult. Smaller countries have an easier time in maintained focus on the public good and responsible behavior of citizens and government.

Some are hopeful about our future and some are very pessimistic. Where do you look for hope or what makes you despair? If the American dream settles only for economic issues I have little hope, if the American dream looks beyond economic to social issues I am more hopeful. Right now the jury is out.

--------

Luke 12

¹⁶Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. ¹⁷He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ ¹⁸Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, ¹⁹and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’

²⁰“Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’

²¹“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”