Factors Affecting The American Dream

The mentality of average Americans is affecting the American dream in a negative way. A business week poll in 1995 found that two-thirds of Americans thought that the American dream was much harder to obtain than it was ten years ago and feared that it would become increasingly harder in the next ten years (Thompson). If citizens have this negative view on obtaining the American dream then it is very likely that these same individuals (more than half of the nation) will not whole heartedly attempt to achieve the American dream. This is a very depressing thought which unfortunately may be true if over half of the nation thinks the American dream is already hard to achieve and will only continue to get worse. It might seem that being stuck in a class is an inevitable occurrence in our nation. In our nation today it is a fact that “as many as 85% of the U.S. adults think, when it comes to getting ahead, there are different rules for the …show more content…
Immigrants used to believe that a better life where they could recreate themselves and make a good living was a dream that awaited in America. This dream, however, has been shattered by the increasing wealth gap, class distinctions, and political corruption. Now days, moving up in America and going from poverty to wealth is a lot harder than it was in previous generations. The upper class controlling a majority of the wealth and political power results in the middle and lower class having nearly no chance of moving up in wealth. These classes, who need their voices heard the most, are left in the dust and forced to try and make a reasonable living while the wealthy continue to get more benefits from the government. America needs a change. The middle and lower classes have lost hope in the American Dream. However, until people put forth an effort to revive the American Dream and take action to help make the class divisions more equal, the American Dream will remain