The American Dream: Is It Within Our Reach Without an Education?
by Everyone in America has high hopes of achieving the American dream, whether it’s by owning and operating one’s own business, having a family, or seeking higher education. However, there are obstacles put in place to encumber your hopes and goals – hurdles that can’t be overcome by just being the strongest person you can be.
When did women come to a point that they were satisfied being completely ordinary, not wanting to reach for more success or a more enriching life? Women have come to the conclusion that writing a memo for a boss making five times more than they are is completely fulfilling, especially considering they spent four years in college getting a degree in business along with attending night classes to improve their typing skills.
This brings me to the fact that if you are coming to America with the high hopes of obtaining the American Dream, is it necessary to have an education? In my case, college did not prepare me for the business I owned and lost for the sole reason of our weakening economy and lack of social structure. I had no tools to arm myself when the business started to falter. My American Dream was ripped from my clutches and all of the money that I spent in college to prepare me for this moment just felt like a big waste of time. And so the question remains that if you want to achieve the American Dream, is it necessary to have a college education? According to past practices and present situations, I say absolutely not.
The American Dream is simply characterized by complete financial stability. According to Robert Longley, a writer for US Government Info, adults aged 62 and older (23%), those from 45 to 61 (29%) and adults aged 23 to 44 (26%) cite financial security; only 5% of 18-22 year-olds did the same. Being financially secure drives the perception of the American Dream for African-Americans and Hispanic adults .
According to Amnesty International, a publication introducing us to the life of girls in Haiti, gender based abuses have the effect of denying girls their right to education-including sexual violence-only serving to reinforce discrimination, inequality and poverty.
Most Americans believe that the American Dream is becoming harder to achieve due to social restrictions and class discrimination. A survey, conducted in August by KRC Research, found that more than one in three Americans feel that they are not living the American Dream and nearly half think it is unattainable for them. In all actuality, the US government makes it even more difficult to achieve the American Dream. From the personal experience of owning a business, success is not defined by the amount of education that you received, but it is clearly defined on how deep your pockets are and who you pay to back you when times get tight and costs get higher.
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Post CommentLauren Axelrod
On May 12, 2009 at 8:29 am
I wanted to start out the discussion by saying that this piece is my personal experience dealing with my business and the hurdles that just can’t be jumped.
Mr Ghaz
On May 12, 2009 at 9:08 am
Fantastic!..Great post!..well written piece and very informative article…must read..nice pics too..well done and thanks for sharing this great stuff
Joe Dorish
On May 12, 2009 at 9:39 am
The number of Harvard MBA’s who have run companies into the ground is a very very long list.
Miss Cellania
On May 12, 2009 at 9:59 am
I must have missed something. This seems to be a rant about how unfair life is, but then you use the term “Socialist Drivel”. Socialism tries to level the playing field for those who don’t have the advantages and opportunities others do.
Lauren Axelrod
On May 12, 2009 at 10:13 am
Hi Miss Cellania,
Nice to see you here. Socialism, much like the rest of the country, doesn’t mean what it used to. Now a days, the country is structured by the Socialists thinking that the power should be concentrated equally amongst themselves and not the poor.
Rant it my be, but it’s real life. This is what’s happening to the middle class business owners and anyone not able to obtain education because of poverty levels.
This is about the American Dream, and if it means anything anymore. People that are not affected by the present economy can hardly have an opinion on the matter, meaning government and anyone making close to a mill. a year.
Katie
On May 12, 2009 at 1:32 pm
“This just goes to show you that deep pockets can buy the American Dream. It’s quite alarming to come to the realization that this country is controlled by a Socialist society.”
“Now a days, the country is structured by the Socialists thinking that the power should be concentrated equally amongst themselves and not the poor.”
Do you have a source for these claims? As a socialist making $20,000 a year, I find your statements ridiculous. It’s apparent that you don’t know the first thing about socialist theory.
“Students from low-income families often find it hard to afford the expenses and forgone earnings associated with pursuing a college education, and immigrant families are considerably more likely than the general population to be living in poverty.”
This is true, so it’s a nice thing that free, publicly-available education is a tenet of socialism (see the 2nd chapter of Communist Manifesto — something which you ought to have read before writing anything about ’socialist drivel’ or else you really “can hardly have an opinion on the matter”).
Your piece is well-written, and it does have some good points. But your misuse of the word socialism is a glaring, ignorant error that has more to do with some personal bias than with anything approaching actual fact.
Lauren Axelrod
On May 12, 2009 at 5:16 pm
“Do you have a source for these claims? As a socialist making $20,000 a year, I find your statements ridiculous. It’s apparent that you don’t know the first thing about socialist theory.”
In all actuality, the true Socialists are the one’s making the real bucks in the country, and being that your salary falls in the bracket of the people that get the short end of the stick, you should fully understand why you’re making the money that you are.
Furthermore, this piece is structured around the American Dream and the fact that certain people have the control to deny us that right.
Socialism is controlled by the countries elite, and when I stated the government and anyone making over a mill a year, you can’t really relate according to your salary.
You can have a stance or certain ideals that fall under the old Socialist ways, but let’s be honest, you and I both know it doesn’t work that way anymore, otherwise all people in this country would be equal.
Socialism doesn’t level the playing field for the middle class, it divides the money between the individuals who are in control like the elite and the government.
Most of my Socialist ideals come from Professors of Philosophy and Government, the rest is based on the American Dream and whether it’s attainable with the present economic restrictions.
I appreciate your opinion Katie.
Katie
On May 12, 2009 at 6:06 pm
“You can have a stance or certain ideals that fall under the old Socialist ways, but let’s be honest, you and I both know it doesn’t work that way anymore, otherwise all people in this country would be equal.”
You would have an argument with this if America was a socialist country. It is not, and the suggestion that it might be is ridiculous.
Lauren Axelrod
On May 12, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Just because someone in this country told you that we live in a democracy doesn’t mean it’s true.
Just because the constitution states that we have rights as citizens of this country, doesn’t make that true.
There is a small group of individuals that defines your life and how you live it each and everyday. Who is that? The Government.
I must say, you seem completely satisfied with the state of the economy and your current financial state. If it was up to you, would you want to make more money? Do you think you deserve it?
There seems to be an very evident age difference between us considering your point of view, which is fine. We all have different perceptions of the US, however I have personally experienced the inner workings of this country, and I can tell you this.
This country, no matter what the textbooks say, no longer belongs to the people.
DA Cournean
On May 12, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Your last comment Lauren, is the sad truth.
Lost in Arizona
On May 13, 2009 at 12:20 am
Just popped in to read some articles of late, and has this one really ruffled some feathers. It’s funny to think how so many individuals are ready to stand by a country that is supposed to be based on “democracy” considering the constitution was only based for certain individuals, and that certainly didn’t include minorities or women. And as far as the economy works, it only works for those individuals that are making the bucks, while everyone else is trying to struggle to make ends meet. And I’m with you on education. It did nothing for me but put me in debt, and the only thing that has got me through it all is the drive to succeed and be an example to my girls to know that no matter what, they can make something of themselves despite what this world may be based on. So I say Miss Lauren, rant on, because you could not have put a more well formulated piece together.
Katie
On May 13, 2009 at 12:25 am
Lauren Axelrod, I do appreciate your responding here, but I have to wonder where you get the words you’re putting into my mouth.
I have not defended America, its government, the status quo, the economy, or any other number of things. The one thing I have said is that you are defining socialism improperly, and seem to be laboring under the delusion that America is a socialist country. I think we likely agree about a majority of things; it’s your frankly bizarre definition of socialism that I take issue with.
Kate Smedley
On May 13, 2009 at 3:33 am
Very interesting article Lauren which has definitely provoked strong reactions. College doesn’t prepare you for the realities of running a business, I’ve worked for myself for 15 years as I hit the ‘glass ceiling’ in industry so I realised if I was going to make it it had to be my way – the road less travelled if you like… but the realities of business are challenging and the current economic situation makes it harder for everyone with people losing homes everyday, through no fault of their own….I don’t know enough about socialism to comment constructively and I don’t want to rant.I thought this was a very well written piece and I’m sorry to hear you’ve had problems in business. As for education, the state system in the UK is – with a few exceptions – terrible. If you have the money you can buy it but if you don’t, tough, it’s a lottery, so I think your comment that the poor are set up to fail has some truth in it. Thanks for this, sorry to ramble.
Jo Oliver
On May 13, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Lauren,
Great topic, and you presented your experience and stance wonderfully.
I usually totally agree with you. This is no exception, other than a few points.
First, I 100% agree that “America” is moving more and more toward a socialist state. However, we do have control over that. WE elect our local officials, gov’s, Sen’s, Rep’s, Pres, etc…. to reflect our ideals. As long as we continue to elect and embrace people like Pelosi, Reed, Obama, etc..(that clearly reflect socialist views) then we are to blame even more than they are.
As to US education, I very much disagree with you on the poor. Take my nursing class. It started with 30 students. All but me and one other white student received pell grants and gov assist. In other words, their tuition, books, uniforms, supplies, etc… was all paid for. We were also the only two that didnt live in gov housing or get free board at school. The gov even gave those with kids X amount for childcare. The other girl and I had to get student loans and still work to pay for cost of living. So, in reality it is easier for those that are poor or unwilling to pay their own way….than those that come from moderate incomes and try to work. I find it ironic that only 8 of those that the gov pd their way graduated.
Education is not essential to the American dream….but common sense is. The reason the American dream is failing isnt because of a lack of MBA’s, but because of greed and dishonesty on the part of the biz and the consumer. The days of a hand shake and paying your bills are a thing of the past. The reason mom and pop biz could make it is because they operated on good faith, and people respected and honored their word. Now, biz is so worried about loosing a dollar, and consumers are so worried about getting over on someone for a dollar, that neither can be gainful. My grandmother and grandfather both had surgery while my mom was a child. Neither could work, much less pay their pharm bill. The Pharm gave them the med’s for 6 mo on good faith. They never forgot the trust and kindness of the pham, and paid back every cent. In fact, when my grandmother died, her instructions were to pay the pharm before anyone else got a dime.
Well, that is my two cents. Sorry for the rant.
goodselfme
On May 14, 2009 at 1:25 am
I always learn from your articles. You post them in such an order it seems as though people can just sit and talk with you about what you have stated.
In this day and age, we no longer are in charge of anything much. Our Senators are lifers and we don’t seem to mind, as a society in general, to throw the lot out and start anew. Until our voices are heard we are heading down the perverbial tubes.
marisolflamenco
On May 14, 2009 at 9:11 am
Great post!
Chris Stonecipher
On May 14, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Great post Lauren. It appears as time passes, many people with college degrees end up taken jobs that don’t reflect their level of education. Some of these jobs fit much better with high school graduates. The same with Master’s degree, taken jobs that much a level of a Bachelor’s degree.
Brian Daniel Stankich
On June 6, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Interesting topic, Lauren. I think the American Dream is, has been, and always will be a panacea. The definition you mentioned is related to financial security. If that is how people define it today, that is quite fascinating, because the AD used to include peace, family, contentment, and don’t forget the white picket fence. In reality, financial security is also mainly unobtainable, as the wealthy have so many problems and encumberments that are attached to the wealth. Brian