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Josh Cramer
English 1000
Laurie Bailar
6/14/16
The True American Dream
What is the definition of the American Dream? Well two authors think they have
the answer of the story told to us many times as children. This Dream around having
equality, the belief of making a better future for Americans, and of living a meaningful
happy life. Keli Goff states the dream is dead based on the comparison of todays
dream, to the dream of James Truslow Adams version. However, Cameron Smith
argues that there is only one idea of the American Dream, purely based on cooperation,
unity, and for the better of our children and their future. Personally, I believe that both
definitions that Goff and Smith put are correct. However, to me they are the same
dream, but just on more specific issues about the American Dream.
Goff starts off saying the dream is dead in her article The American Dream is
dead and good riddance is the dream has been told to us over the years. Similar to
Goff, Smith agrees with this by saying a similar answer, but adds in a few minor parts
about the details of the white picket fence. However, Goff uses the 1931 theory of the
American Dream by James Truslow Adams to place her standing in what the dream
means. She uses the full passage in Adams book that dream of a land in which life
should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according
to ability or achievement. Her ideals in the dream are about equality and just an overall
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better life. On the other hand, Smith says that there is only one true American Dream.
He bases his standpoint on the leaders of America stating Lately, many of our leaders
have suggested that the American Dream is fading, that without the right policy
solutions or political characters we will lose what has made us great. Without their
significant changes, they contend that we will wake up from the American Dream and
realize it was nothing more than wishful thinking based on the past success of
others. Smith believes that there must be change in the political powers to progress
America to its original state it was founded upon. Many readers have an idea about
what the American Dream means to them. So the question of whos right on the issue
of the definition cannot be answered so easily. As most of you know, the issue about
government controlling basically everything we do contradicts the belief of freedom in
America. I say that Smiths main point is identical to Goffs statement on the financial
situation in American today. To state that 1 in 8 Americans can afford the Dream
shows that the banks and government control a majority of why this issue is very
similar for both authors, but just on different circumstances.
Both authors argue at the topic of why the American Dream is fading away or
has changed. Goff opens her argument about the Dream changing by showing the
study done by USA Today showing the average price range it takes to be able to
afford the dream around $130,000 annually. Goff also throws in that the goal of
earning that much money is only obtainable to 1 in 8 Americans. Her standing on that
ideal is that can be finically harder to achieve this dream based on all the pathways of
actually reaching that goal, such as college debt, car payments, and a house
mortgage. However, Smith inputs a different theory about why the American Dream is
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fading. He blames the government mainly the media for this division that has been
sweeping America for years. He uses Senator Barrack Obamas quote to correctly
place us where we are as a nation: You hear a lot about the divisions in our country.
About how we're becoming more separated by geography and ideology; race and
religion; wealth and opportunity. And we've had plenty of politicians who try to take
advantage of these divisions - pitting Americans against one another, or targeting
different messages to different audiences. Using this quote Smith says that the
media is to blame by promoting this division by broadcasting it daily. I agree with this
based on this years presidential race how the division is based on which party you
are in or follow.
How to fix this issue of the American Dream from fading away is both of the
authors goal to help Americans see what the real dream is actually made up of to us.
I personally believe the stat that Goff used from USA Today that $130,000 annual
income is needed to survive in this American Dream is outrageous; purely based on
that $130,000 is enough money to buy a decently good house in America today.
However, as most of you know the cost of living as gone up among the years. Now
whos to say that by next year the annual cost for the ideal dream wont go up to
$200,000? These questions are very serious to me based on the fact that I work two
jobs, go to college, and still am struggling from time to time on bills, and car
payments. Those are just minimal issues that I deal with, but many Americans are so
far in debt that it follows their children and so on.
Now Smith and I share a similar idea on the Dream that its mainly about unity
and working together to provide a better future for the next generation of Americans.
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Now that is a big deal to me, for example, the reason why we have teachers is to
educate children to progress them into the world for a job they enjoy. If we didnt have
a government to organize everything, then we as a country would have perished long
ago. I do agree with Smiths view that the government has taken more power over the
years, based on as you see in the media that most politicians earn roughly over the
amount that Goff said was the minimum to achieve the Dream. So we see where both
of their views come into one issue as the government is the problem in American
today. If government can properly deal with earnings for most politicians and use the
extra money say for example, affordable healthcare, then more issues in America
could be prevented. Overall the argument of Goffs view to Smiths view I see are
exactly the same in a sense that they both see the true meaning of the American
Dream as freedom for all, equality of all race, religion, belief, and unity as Americans
all together.
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Work Cited
Goff, Keli. "The American Dream Is Dead And Good Riddance." The Daily Beast.
Newsweek/Daily Beast, 7 July 2014. Web. 16 June 2016.
Smith, Cameron. "Keeping the American Dream Alive Is Your Responsibility and
Mine: Opinion." AL.com. Cameron Smith, 18 July 2014. Web. 16 June 2016.
