The American Dream is a cliché that is very much a part of the American cultural landscape. In essence the American Dream is a belief that if one works hard, and keeps out of trouble then one will gain success in life.
In essence, the American Dream is a modern day religion. Only, this being the American Dream, one’s piety is repaid with the promise of a heaven in this lifetime rather than next one. The odd thing, from the perspective of this cynical Anglo-Saxon, is not that there is an American Dream, but that it is an accepted truth.
After all we all have dreams – I dream of having the talent of Michael Owen and playing for the England Football Team at the age of 17. Alas I have no footballing skill, and in fact such is my lack of talent, I suspect if my cat were over 30, even he might be able to take my place on the subs bench of my team instead of me.
The American Dream is a quaint notion, yet flawed. In my view life is a dispassionate, disinterested observer. And in the unlikely event that it has some real purpose, dispensing earthly justice certainly isn’t part of it.
However, regardless of any flaws in the American Dream, it is an integral part of the belief system. I can report that the American Dream is alive and well and (at least in part responsible) for a whole mindset here in America. Further it plays it’s part in sustaining the relatively high levels of inequality that pervade American society. While America is the world’s richest country, enjoying amongst the highest GDP per person in the world, a third of the population has no access to medical facilities. A recent local report identified that one in three children in San Diego live below the poverty level.
It is the conclusion of my philosophizing that the American Dream by promoting the belief that our destiny is in our own hands both encourages people to preserve the status quo, and places the blame for failure on the individual. Thus the American dream provides both a carrot and stick to ensure the continuation of an unfortunate and unfair social setup.
In San Diego, the gulf between rich and poor is highly entrenched. On the one hand there are the well off middle classes, University educated and typically working in either the biotechnology or computing industry, and enjoying a six figure annual household income, stock options and lucrative fringe benefits. On the other hand there is a significant minority of the workforce that works in the tourist industry, and generally receive low wages, and little or no benefits. Ironically, the tourist industry, via the hotel tax is the major source of funds for the City council. In essence the middle classes elect the council, while the working classes fund it. And the glue that binds the whole system together and stops the city erupting into riot and social breakdown? The American Dream!