The specifics vary over time, but the basic idea is that in this country one could change the station of one's birth for the better, or lose it if one behaved badly/stupidly/etc. The point was that the US did not have a permanent aristocracy or a permanent underclass. That set it apart from most other countries at the time. The myth was classlessness; the reality was potential for mobility among the classes. Somehow (as is well-noted above) that was transferred into a preoccupation with being able to mindlessly acquire things. Let's hope that version of The American Dream is gone. Being able to choose how one wishes to live - whether living simply, or madly accruing stuff, or showing off, or something else - is more of a reality than in many of the countries of our peoples' origins.
I'm pretty content. I'm amazed that we're looking to buy a place before I'm thirty. My current dream is a second bathroom. It is so not necessary, but it would help those times that I'm bathing and Lawnchair wants to use the toilet. I've got decent health insurance again, and enough cushion to get by. (Not sure what I'd do with a second TV).
Just got health insurance and income to buy 2 computers (but computers are my trade so it's edumacashunull) and free certification videos. Am privileged beyond my wildest hopes!
See, now our jobs and lives require computers. Once upon a time, we didn't need them. We certainly didn't need them for personal use. Kids certainly didn't need their own computers. I'm just comparing how we used to see "wealth" and "making it in life" versus how we see it now.
As for health insurance... I actually believe the American health insurance system is the biggest crock/ripoff ever. But yes, it's good to have it. I only got health insurance for the first time last year. It makes a big difference.
Oh yeah the health care system is shitty but now at least I can get glasses next week because mine were stolen six months ago and I haven't been able to see very well ever since. Life is good!
All I need is glasses, computers, and thingys to hold my hair up.
This is so true. I was just talking about this in my Employee Reward Systems class. The economic downturn was brought up as the topic and I volunteered that perhaps we are looking at things in the wrong light.
America has become a nation overwhelmed by consumerism and with the slightest sign of the need to spend less and being more subjective with the purchases we make, everyone throws a shit fit.
I mean, isn't it time that we look around and realize that we were getting out of control. That every else in the world, people are happy because of things other than the material wealth that has this country so wrapped up in spending on bigger, better, more more more.
Isn't this "downturn" a good thing then? In order to open our eyes to the world around us, we need to be shaken up a bit with some restraint and regulation.
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As for health insurance... I actually believe the American health insurance system is the biggest crock/ripoff ever. But yes, it's good to have it. I only got health insurance for the first time last year. It makes a big difference.
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All I need is glasses, computers, and thingys to hold my hair up.
Reply
Reply
America has become a nation overwhelmed by consumerism and with the slightest sign of the need to spend less and being more subjective with the purchases we make, everyone throws a shit fit.
I mean, isn't it time that we look around and realize that we were getting out of control. That every else in the world, people are happy because of things other than the material wealth that has this country so wrapped up in spending on bigger, better, more more more.
Isn't this "downturn" a good thing then? In order to open our eyes to the world around us, we need to be shaken up a bit with some restraint and regulation.
Reply
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