Preface and Introduction (xviii-14), Chapter 19 opening, (539-541)
Krugman “Confronting Inequality” (561-580)
King, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” (610-617)
Roemer, “America Remains the World’s Beacon of Success” (618-622)
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Blog post by Tuesday 9 AM.
Write a 3-5 paragraph response to the readings:
1) Summarize both sides of the argument, Does the American Dream still exist? as presented by Krugman, King and Roemer
2) What is the strongest argument and why?
3)What is your personal response/thought to the argument
  Post your response as a COMMENT |
Sunday, September 11, 2016
9/13 - American Dream
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The American Dream was first expressed by James Truslow Adams during the Great Depression as “ [a] dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.” This still holds true in some sense, but not in its entirety. The idea behind the American Dream can be debated from many different sides and angles. For the purpose of the readings and views of the three authors; Krugman, King, and Roemer, the stances are limited to is the American Dream dead, or is it still very much alive? All authors were able to backup their claims with an appropriate amount of evidence and the right amount of their personal views. Krugman’s main argumentative point was that the rising inequality in America, whether it be socially, financially, educationally, and/or economically, is leading to the end of the American Dream. Too many people are being forced to take on debts that are entirely too high and confines their way of living. They are forced to spend and survive on less, in hopes that they can pay everything off and provide a better life for their children. On the other hand, King and Roemer believe that the American Dream is still very much alive. King’s argument is centered around that life is what you make of it. The American Dream can never die because everyone has different perspectives of what that “dream” truly is. Where it once was about having absolutely nothing, achieving a great success, and becoming ridiculously rich, it’s now about security, and what people are willing to make of it. Roemer states that America is “a beacon of success.” How can a country full of such success and achievements not keep a dream of prosperity to all those who live within it is a strong argument that he makes. America is on top in military, technology, and even in post academics, and saying that there isn’t a chance for people to make it doesn’t seem like a valid argument in Roemer’s point of view.
ReplyDeleteWhile all arguments were supported with examples and statistics, the strongest argument of them all was Krugman’s “Confronting Inequality.” This excerpt had the most information out of the three, and made sure that every piece of evidence was explained and made sense. There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of information where the common person couldn’t understand or had a hard time understanding what was being presented. The points made were clear and well developed. Whether a person agreed or disagreed with what Krugman was claiming in “Confronting Inequality,” Krugman did a good job describing why he believed he was correct in what he was saying. What really set him apart from the other two was the incorporation of graphs and visuals. He made a point to show you exactly what he was talking about by showing the graphs, further allowing a greater emphasis on what the numbers represent. The pictures thrown in further support his claim about the social and income inequalities people face everyday.
Personally, I believe the American Dream is what you make of it. Everyone has their own opinions on what it looks like and that is perfectly fine. We are a nation filled with all different kinds of people. Naturally, no one’s vision of the American Dream is going to be exactly the same. It is all based on what we want from life. I think that there will always be an American Dream because there will always be Americans trying to make it through life in the best way they can. There will constantly be an uphill struggle for anybody who wants to do important things in life, no matter their economic or social status. If someone wants to make it big in the world, they need to earn that right. To me the American Dream is not about making it on top, but having the desired outcome at the end of your life. Regardless of your social standings and economic wealth, you can achieve your own personal American Dream with hard work and perseverance.
I see why you thought krugman argument was strong due to the visual arts. I didn't pay much attention to it but the graphs and tables are helpful
DeleteI truly agree with your personal response of what the American Dream is. Reading your personal statement in my opinion is the best way to describe it.
DeleteI also noticed Krugman's inclusion of supporting data and its impact on his argument. I think King really lacked in supporting his argument as effectively.
DeleteI like how you incorporated one of Roemer's greatest points "How can a country full of such success and achievements not keep a dream of prosperity to all those who live within it." That really stood out and allowed me as a reader to really think.
DeleteThe American dream was the idea that someone who was dirt poor will be able to become wealthy and buy their desires. However, according to experts, this definition has changed throughout history. King, Krugman, and Roemer have their own views of the American dream. Roemer believes that the American dream still exist in which he uses his experiences in another country to determine this idea. He was an ambassador where he is able to see the struggles of other countries and relate it to the condition of our economic status. The idea he persuades is that we are superior to the other countries in many ways and we should be grateful of what we have. Krugman and King have a similar view on the American dream. King states that the standards of the American dream has changed. One of the major problems in the American dream is inequality of the income gap. He engages the concept by talking about our history of economic crisis such as the recessions and other downfalls. He concludes that the American dream is alive but is how one will like to interpret what the American dream is. Krugman talks about the a similar view on how for the American dream to stay alive, our country needs to focus on the inequalities and the new definition of the American dream which revolves around living the middle class.
ReplyDeleteAll arguments were relatively strong; King's argument stood out from its strength in being able to relate to history, statistics, and other sources. He uses statistics such as the survey from the New York times which shows us what the American dream really was. The conclusion of that statistic tells us that the American dream has changed. He uses other sources and tackles the main concern of the American dream which was the income gap. The percentage of where all the wealth is and how companies have overtaken our economy. King relates to experts like Krugman where he states inequality is one of the biggest problems. This strengthens his argument where the economic growth is controlled by a small minority. He takes Thomas's view to counter the fact the American dream is dead. Thomas view is similar to King's view that people need to realize that they are in a decent position and believe in growth. Using many experts' view, King wraps up by adding a collected opinion on how to keep the American dream alive.
The American dream is something that can be interpreted in many different ways. Everyone has different wants and needs. There will always be an economic struggle in our society. The American dream where everyone tries to climb to top has to have a bottom or what we know as the poor. However, poor itself can be interpreted in many ways as Roemer have stated in his excerpt. In my opinion, the American dream isn't about being so wealthy that you can buy anything you want; but it's about being able to do what you want and living a stable life how King stated. In the end, I believe the American dream exist because with hard work we are able to experience and find many opportunities.
"The American Dream isn't about being so wealthy that you can buy anything you want; but it's about being able to do what you want and living a stable life." Couldn't have said it any better. I also believe the American Dream still exists because it depends on the individual if he/she is willing to push themselves over their limits!
DeleteI agree with your support for both sides however I disagree with your statement that King and Krugman have similar views, my understanding was that their arguments couldn't be more different.
DeleteExactly!! There are numerous of interpretations of the American dream. Many of which is living a life of luxury with financial security. However, everybody can agree that the American dream is about a new life and a fresh start. Opportunities are vast in America, but it is not whether you work hard or not for you to be entitled to those opportunities; instead, it all depends on equal distribution of those opportunities. Yet, we all know that it is impractical for there to be social equality as long that wealthy one percent continues to take up the whole pie.
DeleteXi quoted what I wanted to quote!!!
DeleteI believe I understand what you meant when you said " King and Krugman have same views", because a part of the article mentioned that they shared some perspectives but in general I think they generally had opposite opinions about the American Dream.
DeleteThere are many stances on whether the American dream still exist in todays society or is it completely dead. Paul Krugman clearly argues that American dream is no longer possible but that it is somewhat still alive, all there’s left is to close the increasing income gap that’s widening more and more. To back up his argument he presents various statements and statistics and other evidence. He argues that due to the rise of income inequality, social inequality is on the rise as well. He goes well into details of how this is affecting the middle income class and the lower income class, who’s used to be seen as a key to our economic balance. The inequality has caused a weakening in our middle class. He goes on to give examples of the way the middle class and the lower class are being affected. As well as going back and forth comparing the country to when it was first founded to what it is today. He mentions how it was founded on the principle that there wasn’t perfect equality in between the class but that the difference wasn’t as extreme as it is now. Before it just seems as an easy bridge to cross but now that bridge seems unreachable. The gap has grown so much that it looks impossible to cross. Throughout his piece he just goes on to naming ways in which policies can sort of improve the country on the income inequality level. As for both Brandon Kings and Time Roemer stance on the American dream is it is alive. Brandon King clearly states that the American dream is still “very much alive” his writing goes on to defining the Term the American dream and where it first came from. He as well gives his definition of the American dream as of today. He goes on to give examples about the American dream not being dead and one of the facts he gives is that the American dream is based on perception. And so that since it is based on ones perception of what is the American dream then it can’t truly die. Just like Krugman, King as well believe if policies that closes the gap of income inequality between the social classes were institutionalized it would “keep the American dream alive”
ReplyDeleteFor me the strongest argument would be Brandon Kings. I chose Brandon King as having the strongest due to a precise statement he said “The American Dream, however, is based on perception, on the way someone imagines how to be successful. That sentence just made me feeling something I can’t really describe with words, but it just made me nod and smile with agreement with him. The American Dream was built based on a one-person personal perception of it, James Truslow Adams – American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. (1931)”. Due to how society progresses and changes, our perception/definition of the American dream changes with it. Ultimately it falls down to the way oneself perceives the American dream. Based on his statement I agree that it can’t truly die due to the fact that there will always be at least one person out there with their own perception/ definition of the American dream.
My personal opinion is that the American dream is and can be whatever you want. It’s based on your view and beliefs of what it means to you specifically. It may be to become filthy rich after hardships and hard work or it could just be to be happy with family and being able to afford expensive objects from time to time and just having stability. For me specifically is just be happy and stable. Being filthy rich and having so many things is really important to me. As long as my family and I am happy is all that matters and that is what the American Dream means to me.
I agree with your point that the American Dream is what the individual makes of it. Many people fail to realize that there is not a set definition for what the American Dream is and that it is different for each person.
DeleteI also agree with your opinion on what the American dream is. Being happy and stable is the best thing!! :^D
DeleteI agree with your opinion on what the American Dream is.
DeleteI agree with your view of the American dream
DeleteThe American Dream is a concept that has many opinions tied to it. The gist of the American Dream is that everyone, no matter the race, culture, social status, or economic status, will be able to achieve the highest of their potential with all equal opportunities. The major debate that the American Dream causes is that of if it still even exists.
ReplyDeleteKrugman, King and Roemer expressed their views on whether if the American Dream is still alive. Krugman is one who believes that the American Dream is no longer held to its true definition. He expresses how the inequality has affected the over all goal of the American Dream. He focuses mainly on the income gap, inequality between parents who have had a more stable start than others, and the situations between the poor and wealthy in his argument. King expresses that the American Dream is very much alive just having a different definition that it initially started with. King states that his definition of the American Dream is "the potential to work for an honest secure way, of life and save for the future" (King 611).
King believes that we are to learn from our mistakes and better ourselves from there. Roemer expressed that the American Dream still does exists. Using his experiences he shows us that America is still the place that others wish to come to. America is still far more advanced and more powerful than the countries he's touched upon in his experiences. He believes that we are just facing challenges that we need to work through but the American Dream is very much still alive.
Krugman's argument comes off the strongest due to the way one can relate to his evidence. His opinion is mainly relatable to the middle class families and families who are struggling. We are able to relate due to the inequality issues we see and face daily. One can see the truth in his writing and agree to his evidence. His use of statistics, graphics,current situations, and the ability to relate made his argument the most strongest.
Personally I believe that the American Dream is alive if you want to believe it is alive. If one doesn't believe in the American Dream no longer, they will no longer work towards that dream to make it reality. If one were to still believe that it was alive, one would continue to work towards that dream making it a reality. The American Dream is very much alive if you still believe in it. We are all going to face struggles, bumps, and hiccups along the way but without the work and effort put into it, there will be no result of this so called American Dream.
I agree that in order to achieve something you have to believe it in. So if people believe in the American Dream, they will be able to attain what they came here for which is economic prosperity, social mobility, and giving their children better life.
DeleteI like how you also included hardships as a part of the American dream. Sometimes difficulties are overlooked and people strive to be successful on their first try.
DeleteIn his chapter titled Confronting Inequality, Krugman goes into great detail about the worsening disparity between classes in America. Krugman goes in depth by mentioning one single issue and broadening its scope to reveal yet another resulted in the extreme concentration of wealth. For example he mentions shocking numbers of families filing for bankruptcy, which contrary to popular belief is not due to increased spending on luxuries, but instead increased spending on housing. Such an increase is explained “by competition to get into good schools,” which needless to say has a direct impact on American youth. Krugman also mentions upward mobility being least likely in America than any of its Western counterparts. Although for the first few pages he appears to only be critiquing the “American Dream,” he beings to offer solutions that collectively could be effective enough to salvage whatever is left of that now seemingly naive dream. Krugman poses these solutions in almost a snowball effect; eliminating the hedge fund loophole increases the income tax, leading to universal health care and other progressive reforms. By the conclusion of the chapter the reader is left with open eyes to the imperfections of the American system but also an open mind to the possibility that redemption is achievable.
ReplyDeleteIn Brandon King’s The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? he adamantly defends the vitality of the American dream and goes on to identify sources of its “erosion.” He claims the American dream lives on through a set of ideals, an outlook on life, despite record unemployment rates, and through enforcement of these ideals America will actually achieve the American dream. King claims that the dream itself has become a more modest version of what it once was. Now instead of striving for becoming “filthy rich” Americans are settling for middle-class, proved by the fact that home ownership had dropped nearly 3% in five years. King negates claims that the dream is dead based on the premise of “there [being] more poor people than rich” because there are programs like welfare, minimum wage and unemployment benefits to aid even “the poorest Americans.” King tackles the notion of raising taxes as counterproductive to the recovery process as America’s wealthy minority is the solution to our economic hardships, and increasing taxes will only stunt their ability to stimulate our economy with their spending thereby stunting recuperation. Although King maintains that the American dream is very much alive he simultaneously identifies with “laissez-faire economist and Wall Street supporters” in that government regulations set in place to artificially stimulate the economy are unnecessary because “business mechanisms,” and them alone, are powerful enough to “sustain our economy.”
After comparing both texts, regardless of personal opinion, Krugman poses a more convincing argument for a number of reasons. Primarily Krugman never outright says “This is where I stand,” but King does exactly that, and to his disadvantage as it greatly weakened his claims. King’s essay also comes across as idealistic, simply relying on just the sentiment of the American dream to resolve the country’s worsening problems, whereas Krugman mentions actual facts to support his thesis. Unlike Krugman who provided extensive data, King used a few measly statistics in a feeble attempt to hide his opinion based argument; however, his use of words like “seems,” “may,” and “might” make it unclear whether he is trying to convince the reader or himself. King’s whole essay came across as one giant straw man fallacy, especially when explaining how Americans these days are more humble with their aspirations than they were decades ago. He mentioned how Americans rent instead of buying but that ties into the whole uneven distribution of wealth, people are not simply choosing not to buy a house, they literally cannot. He was trying too hard to make the pieces fit where they obviously didn’t and for that reason, in addition to my personal beliefs, I am more inclined to support Krugman.
Solid writing! Also, I agree with your supporting claim :).
DeleteThe definition of the “American Dream” has changed since its original introduction during the Great Depression. Initially, the American dream was to have equal opportunity for everyone no matter your social or economic standing. Of course, as decades pass, it is expected that the American population shift its wants and beliefs on what the “American Dream” is. In Paul Krugman’s article titled “Confronting Inequality” argues that the American Dream is not truly attainable by everyone. He blames the inequality in social classes for this. Krugman would agree that there is a lessening middle class and that most of the nation’s wealth is owned by a small minority. The opposing argument can be found in Brandon King’s paper titled, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or On Hold?” He brings up the fact that the American Dream has shifted to being humble. No more are families looking to own luxuries like a house, car, or material wealth. They now place “American Dream” values in being financially stable and having a steady job. Because of this shift in what people want, the American Dream is more likely to be achieved. King leans towards the American Dream being very attainable and even states it is “more alive and important than ever” (King 611). The two conflicting arguments reflect upon how perspective and what your personal definition of the American Dream is can affect how likely a person it to achieving it.
ReplyDeleteKrugman’s argument is far stronger compared to King’s. Krugman seems more realistic and in the way the economy is in our country. He brings up how the education system, the striking difference in lower and higher class, and the control of big business is severing the attainability of the American Dream for working-class society. King offers solutions to these problems, such as giving corporations more money as incentive for them to hire more and creating more jobs. This argument, to me, comes off as naïve and sugar-coated. Giving big corporations money would only lead to out-source hiring in other countries (because it is often cheaper), and not benefit the middle class like King proposes. Krugman also heavily uses statistics to prove his argument. The use of Table 1 in his article to show how if one is from a higher social standing, they are more likely to attend college despite their grades allows the reader to understand how drastic the standards are for the class gap in an understandable way (Krugman 591). This lends to Krugman’s argument being stronger because seeing actual figures and numbers gives off a more official tone than King’s wishful thinking.
Personally, I believe that the old definition of the “American Dream” is no longer attainable and the new definition only came to be because the people’s standards have lowered. Americans no longer aim to own luxuries because it is not easy to become wealthy. People do not choose to not own a home or car, it is because they cannot afford it as easily. Also, the original mantra of the “American Dream” was that it was reachable to anyone no matter their social status, race, and age. But because our country was built on the regression of certain races, it was never truly possible. In order for the “American Dream” to be accomplishable for everyone there will need to be rehabilitation in how America uses its money and sees its own people.
This part, was an eye opener. "People do not choose to not own a home or car, it is because they cannot afford it as easily. Also, the original mantra of the “American Dream” was that it was reachable to anyone no matter their social status, race, and age. But because our country was built on the regression of certain races, it was never truly possible." Great way to conclude and grasp the reader's attention.
DeleteWhy is it so controversial whether the American Dream does or does not exist? The American Dream use to be regardless of who and where you came from, if you put effort and hard work you will succeed. However this was when settlers first came to America. Over the past few years the definition of the American Dream has changed and Americans started to lose faith in the American Dream.
ReplyDeletePaul Krugman, a teacher in Princeton University, said that the American Dream does not exist. He believes all the inequalities, and lack of services in America is killing the American Dream. Krugman uses his personal experiences and statistics to persuade his point of view. Unlike Paul Krugman, Brandon King and Tim Roemer still believe the American Dream exists. Brandon King is a law student. Within his argument he says the American Dream will help us overcome those inequalities and problems. He also gives another definition of the American Dream. King gives a lot of examples on how the American Dream will help Americans overcome the struggles. Tim Roemer was a congressman who worked as an ambassador. He based most of his writing on comparison between America and other nations. Roemer also provides statistics to back up his argument. Krugman, King and Roemer has their own side of the argument and the way they persuade the readers are different.
Krugman has the strongest argument because he uses personal experience on the struggles that defeats the American Dream. This way it helps correlate the readers experience to his. I think his argument made me think about whether I believe in the American Dream or not. At first I was sure that I believe in the American Dream but after reading his argument I lost faith in it. Therefore I came to a conclusion that the American Dream is alive to a certain extent.
For some Americans, the American dream remains alive and practical to achieve. However, for others, the American dream seems unrealistic especially for those who are middle class workers and below. In the readings Confronting Inequality by Paul Krugman, Krugman emphasizes that social inequality induces unequal distribution of opportunities such as affordable healthcare and education, which in the end creates boundaries towards achieving the American dream. Krugman goes on to say that government policies will become corrupted as the wealthy one percent continues to buy off politicians and government officials. This entire are factors that Krugman believes contribute to the reason why it is so hard for middle class workers to pursue a life of financial security and opportunities because there will always be unequal distribution of the pie.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Brando King author of The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?, and Tim Roemer author of America Remains the World’s Beacon of Success claim that the dream is alive. For King, he admits there are still high unemployment rates and that America’s economy is still fragile, but he underlines that businesses in Wall Street can rebuild the economy if the government provides fund for them. By doing so, businesses will have enough money to hire more workers and create more opportunities for Americans to pursue the American dream. The same belief that the American dream is still alive is implied by Roemer, who states in his travel oversea to India that he met “Indian students at schools or living in slums…consistently told [him] America is the place where they most want to study” (Roemer). Even though American continues to struggle on social inequality, Roemer continues to believe that America’s scientific and technological advancements are what make America the land of opportunities.
Personally, Krugman’s argument is stronger and more appealing to me than the other authors’ claims. Krugman’s argument is not limited to topics related to the economy but also to politics, which gives it more validity and support that the American dream is not just affected by a single factor. He outlines government regulations that has favored larger corporation and policies that relieved several businesses from paying taxes. In addition, Krugman emphasizes how the new wealth of the rich has grown their influence over politics to sustain their authority and wealth. Overall, Krugman stresses how social inequality leads to other issues such as unequal distribution of wealth and corrupted policies that make the American less tangible and more impractical.
For myself, I believe that the American dream has many interpretation of what it actually is. Some interpret it as a life of luxury and wealth and others interpret it as a life of freedom. I define the American dream as a goal that every person wants to accomplish in America where the opportunities are vast and there is free will to do so. Therefore, I argue that the American dream is still alive as long as people continue to set goals for themselves to pursue.
In the book They say/I say, parts of the readings discusses a very controversial topic of the different views on “American Dream” by Krugman, King, and Roemer. Krugman starts off the topic by asking us the question, “Why should we care about high and rising inequality?” This question leads to his disagreement of Irving Kristol’s article called “Income Inequality Without Class Conflict.” He shows his disagreement by using sarcasm at the beginning of the paragraph. Also, by stating his own view that income inequality does matter and it does affect social inequality. He took statistics and graphs to point out and support his views to us, about how America is a country of inequality. On the other side, King and Roemer thinks differently about this broad topic. Their ideas seems to be back to back. King thinks that the American dream today is just defined differently and that it should be that, “the American Dream today is the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future.” Roemer thinks that Krugman’s worries are understandable but he feels America is filled with opportunities that some other countries don’t have and fills us in on all the advancements America already has. Reflecting on these three readings, I agree the most with Krugman’s point of view that America today has returned to the Gilded Age.
ReplyDeleteThe Gilded Age is an era of serious social problems that lacks on the political level. Krugman made the strongest argument because he backs up almost all of his argumentative points with statistics or actual graphs then explains the point of those evidence. One of his evidence is on Table I, on the percentage of eighth graders finishing college depending on parents in the bottom or top quartile. The result is that the child that has a high test score with high-status parents have a much higher chance to finish college than the ones with high scores but parents that are in the bottom quartile. His argument and points are made clearly that he does not think the American Dream is what it is made out to be.
I personally feel that the American dream is to be redefined today and that some of it’s aspects are lost. It kind of combines both King and Krugman’s point. In my opinion, the American dream is to have a stable life where you’re happy and satisfied with the way things are. The point of the American dream is that, you’ll get to where you want to be depending on how hard you work. I feel that that aspect and that goal has been lost today. I support Krugman’s point where he said that the wage gap definitely makes it much harder today, where the lower waged workers are kind of forgotten and have a really small chance to strive for what they want. I feel that the “American dream” that my parents came to America for does not give them the happiness and the satisfaction that I want to define it as.
I agree the American Dream has lost some of it aspects over time because everyone does not view the American Dream the same way and the experiences that everyone faces can cause their own perception of it to change.
Delete"Krugman made the strongest argument because he backs up almost all of his argumentative points with statistics or actual graphs then explains the point of those evidence." I completely agree with this claim! I felt his was the strongest as well.
DeleteThroughout history, the American Dream was greatly debated whether it is still achievable or not. The American Dream’s first definition was that despite social class or circumstances of birth, one should be able to dream of a better and vibrant life. The definition had changed since; Krugman, King, and Roemer are three great authors who expressed their well-thought out ideas of the American Dream. Krugman argued that the social and income inequality is directly affecting the grasp for the American Dream. He is trying to convey that although the American Dream is barely alive, it makes it even more impossible to reach since the middle class and the lower class have been affected by the wide income gap. King argued that the definition of the American Dream changed over time and since then, the definition defers from people to people; people define it according their own desires. Roemer argues that America is actually not doing bad compared to other countries; there should be no loss of hope just yet considering all those advances America has made as a country. Both King and Roemer agree that the American Dream still lingers.
ReplyDeleteI believe Krugman has the strongest argument. He supported his claims throughout his writing with mainly statistical, graphical, and factual evidence. He did well explaining the relations of how economic inequality affected social inequality. An example was when he described how distinct the wealth class is to the middle class. Krugman’s most effective source were his statistic results showing the possible college attendance from different social status; this proves just how social class divides this nation. Thus, Krugman believes if government takes action to fix this social gap or difference, the American Dream may still be achievable.
I believe the American Dream can be viewed differently from person to person. The American Dream used to be about getting an opportunity and getting wealthy but that idea has since changed. As the high class rob of the low and middle classes’ social status, the American Dream seems to be fading its original meaning. There is always something someone wants that someone already has. Everyone’s “want” is different based on social status now. A “dream” of a lower or middle class person may not be big to that of a high class person. Overall, I believe the definition of the American Dream is that as long as you work hard and keep loved ones and yourself happy, that would be the American Dream.
The American Dream can defined in many different perspectives. The three authors King, Roemer, and Krugman all have great examples about if the American Dream still exists today. King, author of The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold excerpt explains himself clearly that the Dream is still alive. He writes, “I would redefine the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future.” King implies that anyone can climb out of hardship and achieve success when you really want it. The original definition of the American Dream might be different, however, it still ceases to exist if one wants to believe it, according to King.
ReplyDeleteIn the writing piece called, America Remains the World’s Beacon of Success, Roemer writes his point of view of the American Dream similar to King’s. In his article, he argues that the American Dream still exist because he experienced it when he serve as U.S. ambassador to India. “I gained additional benefit while overseas: I learned that America is still deeply admired around the world…” Roemer is trying to explain that many people that are not living in the United States, wish to come here for better education and a better grasp of their own American Dream.
In contrast to, Krugman believes the American Dream has been non-existent after a big change in inequality In Confronting Inequality, Krugman goes into depth about one particular topic which he gives numerous examples and details to support his claim. “Over the past generation, however, the country has returned to the Gilded Age levels of Inequality. The way in which inequality damages us: It corrupts our politics.” Krugman’s supporting claims about the weakening in the middle class and the income gap has had a great effect on the reading and helps the readers realize solely on where he stands about the American Dream being existent or not.
All claims were strong, however, I believe Krugman had the strongest argument. His article was longer and in depth to the point where he convinced me that the income gap has had an impact on the American Dream. He had much more realistic evidence, as opposed to just writings. He also had many visuals, such as tables and also statistics which helps a lot. Krugman also broke down every little detail to get his ideas across. His points had great emphasis on where I stand about the American Dream.
The American Dream, to me, is still alive. It just has changed over the past years and it’s not the same. There is no right or wrong definitions on the American Dream. It differentiates within each individual. I personally feel that the American Dream is not to live lavishly, but just to have a stable lifestyle where you can work your way to the top and have love and support from the ones you love. As Michael Jordan once said, “If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you.” If you work hard enough, you will rise to the occasion. Mind over matter!
I also thought Krugman's article was far stronger than the other two because of his use of statistics and studies. Showing quantitative evidence, I feel, always makes an argument superior.
DeleteI like your in-take on the article, and how straightforward you represented your claims.
DeleteTim Roemer’s article “America Remains the World’s Beacon Success” is about how America despite all of its challenges, it is still seen as a place of hope for those who live in other countries. He realizes that when he goes to serve as as an Ambassador in India in 2009. His overall argument is the American Dream is alive to those who are from other parts of the world because when it comes to getting a “higher education, America remains a beacon of success”(620). For example, the U.S has continued to be the leader of technological advances. He goes on further to say how students in Indian “consistently told [him] America is the place where they most want to study”(619). Since America has been able to maintain it stance globally, many people want to come to America to better themselves and climb the ladder of success.
ReplyDeleteBrandon King believes that the American Dream is still alive. He redefines the American Dream “as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future”(611). The American Dream first started off as a being able to afford your own house and car as well as being able to buy the materials goods. Today, the American Dream is more about being able to have a steady job, a secure place to stay, and be financially stable. So basically, people “prefer a stable, middle-class lifestyle, which [allows them] to focus on saving money for the future”(611). This indicates that the American Dream for people is not about being affluent but being able just to make it and give their children a better future.
Krugman talks about how inequality plays a factor into the Dream that has been something that many aspired for is no longer a Dream to those who are apart of the 99%. The inequality that exist in America has turned “into a nation with a much-weakened middle class, [and] has a corrosive effect on social relations and politics”(562). In order for there to be social mobility, there must be a strong stable middle class. The American Dream in his defense is dead because the rich have separated themselves causing “many middle-class families to buy houses that they can’t really afford”(563). By the rich separating themselves with their own medical assistance and their own economy, makes it hard for there to be any type of social relations because the Top 1% have their own style of living. As for the political side, those in politics tend to be more persuaded into achieving their own benefits. Basically, “the new wealth of the rich has increased their influence”(569). Since the Top 1% can influence those in high positions to be more about their own personal desires causes those in positions to put the matters that are prevalent to the side, which causes their to be corruption within the political realm. But the gap can be closed is if there is “a tax-cut rollback [that] is used to finance health reform”(570). Also, by increasing the minimum wage because it helps those with low-incomes and points out the unions should be put in place to reduce the inequality.
In my opinion, I think that Brandon King’s argument is the strongest out of the three arguments. I think this because he not only gives his opinion why he believes that the American Dream but he is providing evidence of how the Dream has changed over time. At first, it was all about acquiring material things but has changed to just being financially secure and being a stable place for many people. Not only does he state his reasoning but shows the side of those who disagrees with him but gives examples of why the American Dream is not dead. For example, he talks about how the welfare system gives those who are struggling a financial help until they get back on their feet to continue to reach their idea of the American Dream. But in my opinion overall, the American Dream is no longer about acquiring pure wealth but it is more about setting a goal for life in America and doing your best to reach it no matter how long it may take.
In the book They Say I Say, a controversial topic that was discussed was the American Dream. The American Dream is the ideal of there being an equal opportunity for all (in the United States) to reach success. Three men by the names of Paul Krugman, Brandon King, and Tim Roemer discussed the American Dream and their view on whether or not it is still alive today. King and Roemer believe that the American Dream is still alive to this day, while Krugman does not.
ReplyDeleteIn King’s article “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” he believes that the American Dream for the average person in the United States is to be financially stable. According to King this can be obtained, although the American Dream is not what it used to be, it fits for its time period. In Roemer’s article “America Remains the World’s Beacon of Success” his argument is that although America is not at its finest right now, other countries such as India still look up to America. America is still viewed as the land of hope and better opportunities for some people. In Krugman’s article “Confronting Inequality” he does not believe that the American Dream stills exists. The American Dream is not the American Dream anymore because it does not fit its true definition; there is too much inequality in the United States for there to be equal opportunity for all in the United States.
Krugman’s argument about the American Dream is the strongest of the three because of the evidence he used. Many can relate to what he said, he based his argument on facts, and not solely on his opinion. Krugman claimed that the American Dream is essentially unattainable by the average American (middle class). Middle class families are barely making it by, once you’re poor, it is extremely hard to get out of the slumps in order to make a name out of yourself. Krugman’s usage of graphs and visuals helped his argument for the better, he did not incorrupt too much information his argument to make it overwhelming. Krugman’s argument was not tedious and straight to the point.
I personally believe that the American Dream is what you make of it. There is no true definition to the American Dream. America is made up of immigrants, we all have a diverse set of beliefs based on our culture and who we are as individuals. The American Dream is made up of many factors all of which are different for each individual who choose to believe in it.
The American Dream is topic that has been widely debated. The American Dream was a lifestyle that stated that that everyone, regardless of the situation they were born into, would have equal opportunities in society to attain happiness and prosperity through hard work and determination, but is this the case in our society today? Some believe that it not attainable by the vast majority of Americans while others have hope in it. In Paul Krugman's “Confronting Inequality”, he uses a wide variety of sources, charts, and data to support his argument that the American Dream is no longer what it used to stand for and that it is no longer an ideal that that vast majority of Americans can live by. One strong point is that the cause of disunity and inequality is the rising gap between the middle class and the top 1%. The income gap is the cause of many social and economic problems throughout the middle class because as these citizens continue to work hard, they still have to struggle to make ends meet while the wealthy continue to benefit. It doesn’t matter how hard the middle class works, they are not rewarded the same opportunities to move up. However, authors Brandon King and Tim Roemer support the belief that the American dream is still alive. Contrary to Krugman's argument, King believes that the key to the dream is the gap. Survey data to shows that the definition of the American Dream has changed since the idea originated and that is the key to keeping the dream alive. Also contrary to Krugman's view, King states that if the income gap gets smaller, the poor would not get richer because of the shortage of jobs. He believes the income gap makes the economy as a whole stronger. The only solution he provides to keep the American dream alive is by planning for the future. Author Tim Roemer believes that in a land of many opportunities for everyone, the American Dream has to be alive. If people from other counties believe in the American Dream, then that should inspire Americans to believe it themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe strongest argument would be Krugman's. He states his position and uses articles to support how the gap not only effects economical life but also social life. If one person has more money they're more inclined to have better opportunities at nicer things, which causes conflicts between classes. He does a better job at explaining how lesser paid people face more hardships; hardships they cannot avoid. Many examples he uses include sickness because of no healthcare and lower lifestyles because of low education. Another reason why Krugman's argument seemed to be the strongest is because emphasizes potential solutions. In "The Arithmetic of Equalization" subdivision, he mentions solutions such as tax cuts and increases, closing loopholes, and how they could/could not work to provide help to the middle class. Although King uses articles to support his positions, I don’t find his argument strong because some statements he makes are false to me. He states that the measure of success in our society used to be based off of material things such are expensive cars and wealth. I personally believe that is still the case today. Much of what he says is not strongly backed up by numbers of our society today. Roemer's argument is the weakest to me because I feel that he focuses more on the opinions of others not involved in the situation instead of the actual people facing the problems.
While I agree with Krugman's argument that the original meaning of the American Dream is gone due to inequality in society, I also agree with King and Roemer's view that the American Dream itself is not gone. The American Dream is what a person makes of it; each person strives to have their own unique life. The real American dream doesn't involve being rich or having better things than others. It involves knowing you work your hardest to provide the best living you can for yourself, that you are happy and content with what you have, and that there is good in the bad and bad in the good.
The American Dream is a concept, an ultimate goal for those who seek to become successful in the United States. Depending on an individual’s view of what that success might be, one could argue that the American Dream is an old relic from the past or that it still very much alive, just not in the same way it used to be. Authors Paul Krugman, Brandon King, and Tim Roemer each give their opinions on The American dream and whether it is still alive. Krugman argues that the rising financial inequality is having a sort of domino effect on American society and killing the American Dream. Too few individuals at the top are holding a disproportionate amount of wealth, and in effect is creating a larger gap between the middle class and the one percent. This, he argues, creates social tension as middle class families are forced to take in an amount of debt they cannot pay off. All this in the hopes of providing a better life for their children. King and Roemer both hold the view that the American Dream is still alive and well. King bases his argument around the idea that yes, the American Dream has suffered, but that it is nothing new for Americans. Whether it was the economic scares of the 1970’s, 9/11, or the Great Recession, Americans pushed through and came out the other side victorious. Roemer views America as a prime example of what every other nation aims to become. America leads the world in technological development, military and education, so how is it possible that the values of the American Dream are dead?
ReplyDeleteRoemer combines his personal experience working as the U.S. ambassador to India and statistics to form the strongest argument. He uses his personal experience as a way to strengthen his argument that America is still viewed as a “beacon of success”. Being an ambassador enabled him to interact with people from a totally different culture, so he used this to present a different perspective in his writing. By bringing in non-Americans to give their views on America, these interactions reinforce Roemer’s argument that the American Dream is alive. Throughout his piece, Roemer also incorporates relevant and clear statistics to strengthen his argument. Roemer’s strongest use of statistics was citing that 7 of the top 10 universities in the world are based in America and the GDP of the U.S is larger than that of Russia, Britain, Brazil, France and Italy combined. He uses this to prove that you can accomplish your dreams by getting a quality education and remain successful in Americas strong economy.
Personally, I subscribe to the idea that the American Dream is whatever you set your mind out to do. Anyone has the opportunity to seize their goals as long as the effort is put in. You can arrive here without a dollar to your name, and through hard work and determination, you can end up reaching your American Dream. In my opinion, the American Dream is still going strong. We may no longer desire a three story house with four brand new cars in the driveway, but rather a safe and secure future.
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ReplyDeleteDoes the American Dream still exist? According to Krugman, King and Roemer the American Dream stills exists in some perspective. The American Dream has to according to everyone in the country including the wealth and the poor. The rich as they say has a greater chance in achieving the American Dream because of their parents income , they aren’t denied at anything. Unlike the poor or middle class they are denied at some places because they can’t afford it. Many of these people stop doing what they want to do best because they can’t afford it or because issues came along that they couldn't do it no longer. As Krugman said in his point of view many of those lower income have the highest test scores than those who have a very high income . Those were the ones who were at the bottom of the list. All three authors conclude that the American Dream can be achieved not depending on the income our parents received but if we are dedicated and hardworking, it can be achievable.
ReplyDeleteThe strongest argument would be Tim Roemer. He gives both opinions on the American Dream. He bases it off with India and their problems. I feel like this was a strong argument because he uses a different country to make us realize how fortunate it is to be in America and believe that there is a dream. He says the experience he had in India had a great impact on him and changed his whole perspective of what he thought about America and India.
I think Krugman gave us the real problem of why the American Dream isn’t quite real with some Americans. He believes and proves that people with higher income has the advantage of living the American Dream because they are open to many opportunities. Unlike the people with the lower income they are usually used to people closing their doors in front of their faces. Many people with lower income can’t truly live the American dream especially back then because when it reached to college that is where they had to stop because of money wise and prefer to find a job and earn money. Unlike now the government gives more and more opportunities to those with lower income to have a chance to study. I find it funny but it can also be true that the rich are dumb. Because In my opinion I feel that since many of them have everything they don’t really value how important the money or education is. I feel that if they didn’t have everything open to them they would know the struggle of living in fear of not paying things on time or even fear of one day leaving their stuff is because they can’t afford it anymore.