Is the american dream achievable?

Essay by demy2799 November 2014

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Is the American Dream achievable? "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it" -George Carlin, 2005[2: http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/American-dream]

The American Dream: the image of a white picket fence house with a perfect family, two educated children, one girl and one boy and the mother and father both working without worrying about financials concerns. This is the typical example of the American Dream; it is called the stereotypical dream. The Oxford dictionary states that the American Dream is, "The traditional social ideals of the US, such as equality, democracy and material prosperity." However, I firmly believe the American Dream is to be accepted, to be free and to be equal; overall the dream is to pursue personal happiness. I strongly believe that the American Dream was not attainable in the past, is not attainable in the present day and will not be attainable in the future.

Immigration is a prime reason why the American Dream is unachievable. I feel that poorer individuals appreciate and make the most of the little things they have and this would suggest that their money worries does not affect their 'dream'. I also believe, despite the fact they are struggling financially, they still put others before themselves, ensuring their children have the opportunity to lead a 'better' life, the chance they themselves never had. Immigrants strive to fit in with the US 'crowd' as they don't want to be seen as different. Immigrants flock to America so that they too can grab a piece of the exciting, spectacular dream that they perceive that America offers. Individuals arrive in the USA expecting every day to be like the fourth of July. The harsh reality is far from it. In 2012, overall crime rates rose to roughly 10.2 million; America 'the land of...