Economic Security In President Roosevelt's 'Chasing The American Dream'

In chapter 3 of “Chasing the American Dream” the authors write about the important element of economic security in the American Dream. We learn that a vast majority of Americans believed that “In America, hard work should lead to economic security for your family” (29). There is a general perception that the American dream is the assurance that you will reap the benefits of your work, a core component of the American dream is “fundamental compact between hard work and economic security” (31). The authors reference Presidents Roosevelt’s 1944 State of the Union address, in which he lists the fundamental rights that should we afforded to all Americans in order to ensure their well-being to define what is means by ‘economic security’. The authors define this as having a job that can support your family; owning your own home; quality and affordable healthcare; and securing equal or better opportunity for your children …show more content…
We go on to learn that the deterioration of the American dream is a result of corporate America failing to fulfill their role in maintaining the American dream. A report by the United Nations showed that “employed Americans are putting in the most time on the job and are the most productive workers compared to those in countries in the European Union as well as in Switzerland and Japan” (35). However, the average U.S citizen enjoys less economic security than the employed in these other industrial nations. The authors conclude, “to argue that American workers are not holding their end of the bargain is simply incorrect. Rather, corporate America has not kept up its side” (34). The stories of Jim Wilson, a former electrical worker, and Michael Pendleton, a high-end shoes salesman, are used to illustrate the disintegration of thee relationship between hard work and economic