The American Dream: It Once Was Called The American Dream

It Once Was Called the American Dream
The American Dream was something all Americans and immigrants coming to America wanted to reach for. This dream of hard work for a fair and descent wage in order to gain the home with the white picket fence, and having the family with the 2.5 kids was not only what most people dreamed about but what a lot of the country songs were written about. This idealism of success was based on what was referred to as an ‘old social contract’ where by the performance of “hard work and loyalty” was rewarded with “full ad increasing wages, dignity and security”, (Koch & Shulman, 2007). With the ending of this social contract era, this essay will reflect on the social contract concept, proposed ideas to other social …show more content…
During this time, things were more black and white in regards to what was wanted and how to obtain it. Work hard to earn money to buy the American Dream which was provide for the basics; food, shelter, health care and protection for the family. The demise of this simple and ethical dream came to an abrupt end mainly because of greed. The ‘new norm’ or ‘new social contract’ was now abstract as it was to provide profitable gain to employers and their shareholders, thus taking away the basic American dream from the reach of the workers. The new corporate America idea is to get more out of their employees for less money and benefits, “Employers saw health insurance as an inconsequential component of the overall labor costs established through collective bargaining”, (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2014 pg. 62). In essence the old notion of working hard, showing loyalty to your employer in exchange for pay and benefits that would provide for a family was replaced with working harder and longer to gain much less. New contractual ideas need to be introduced to bring back the dreams that are getting …show more content…
When they are being told to get paid they have to become involved in a Electronic Record System, or they need to jump through hoops and get paid less in order to accept Medicare or Medicaid. This makes the social interaction between the professional and the system sway further apart instead of cohesively working for the betterment of all concerned. To circumvent this, there either needs to be a defined universal payment plan that not only provides the care to the consumer at a fair rate, but also guarantees adequate compensation to the provider, or a fee-for-service needs to be across the board for all. Setting a flat standard fee for service so the consumer knows the exact cost, and the provider knows they will be paid the exact amount for that service. It is like going to a fast food restaurant, and ordering a number one combo meal for $5.00. The restaurant would not provide for less, the consumer would not offer or pay less, it would provide the advanced pre-determined, pre-agreed upon amount. The same would be for the health care system and professional. Increases of cost would be taken in consideration to the cost of supplies, however with this social contract, profit would be limited for supplies and provider fees and facility fees to eliminate un-necessary costs for the insurance carriers or for the