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Valerie Larios

Ms. Smith

English 11- Period 6

25 February 2019

The American Dream is an Illusion

From the time the Americas were discovered, people were motivated to find new

resources and gain profit, it elevated many to seek a greater lifestyle for themselves, in which

people now refer to as the American Dream. The American Dream is an opportunity in America

for success in the highest aspirations and differs from people to people as they seek for a lifestyle

that fits them. Many people’s perspective on the American Dream is different because the

American Dream is personalized to fit the personality/characteristics and needs of an individual.

The American Dream is dead, it is all but an illusion that is unrealistic to achieve due to low

wages, student debt, economic inflation, and most importantly social class.

Achieving the American dream has always been an ideal for many people. America is

known for the land of opportunity and prosperity but this is all a fantasy that is unrealistic to

achieve. One of the main reasons to why the American Dream is dead is because of low wages.

In the article “​7 Facts That Show the American Dream is Dead”​ , written by Richard Eskow, he

states ​“These cost increases, combined with wage stagnation, mean that families are struggling to

make ends meet- and that neither parent has the luxury of staying home any longer”. Richard

Eskow discusses how money is a huge factor to why the American Dream is unreachable.

Eskow also describes how now a days parents have to work twice as hard to make ends meet

because jobs are not paying enough for just one parent to work. ​In the article “​7 Facts That Show
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the American Dream is Dead​”, written by Richard Eskow, he also states ​“Median household

income has fallen since the financial crisis of 2008, while income for the wealthiest of

Americans has actually risen”. Eskow explains how in today’s society the rich are getting richer

and the poor are getting poorer and because of this unfortunately many families are living

paycheck by paycheck every week.

Student debt is one of the factors that contribute to why the American Dream is dead and

unattainable. College tuitions are increasing making the future for many impossible to reach.

Sadly some students are forced to live in cars, shelters, and often do eat the proper recommended

meals. In the article “​7 Facts That Show the American Dream is Dead”​ , written by Richard

Eskow, he states ​“...College costs have risen 500 percent since 1985...as of 2013, tuition at a

private university was projected to cost nearly $130,000 on a average over four years”. Eskow

describes how college tuition is increasing as time goes by. It is getting harder and harder for

one to achieve their dream and often have to choose between continuing their dream while

increasing their debt or getting a job that pays minimum wage. In the article “​Why Most People

Will Never Achieve The American Dream​”, written by Glenn Llopis he states, “Unlike the past,

when all you needed was a college degree to increase your chances of achieving the dream-

today much more is required for you to even be considered to earn the right to pursue the

dream”. Llopis states how back then it was very easy for one to fulfill their American dream

because there were many opportunities given to be able to become successful but in today’s

society it is difficult for one to fulfill their dream because there are higher requirements to be

able to earn the opportunity. It is no longer just knowledge that is needed to be given the

opportunity to achieve the dream but stabilizing both, what you know and seizing it.
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Economic inflation is another reason to why the American Dream is dead and

unreachable. As a result of prices increasing in past years, many people have found it hard to get

through and save money. ​In the article “​7 Facts That Show the American Dream is Dead​”,

written by Richard Eskow, he states​ “The cost of medical care is increasingly being borne by the

families themselves”. Eskow explains how healthcare cost is increasing as years go by and many

can not afford it. He also describes how confusing the household healthcare costs are soaring

while the rate of increase is slowing down. In the article, “​Why Most People Will Never Achieve

The American Dream​”, written by Glenn Llopis, he also states “When our economic bubble

inflated and lines of credit were easy to obtain, people became self-satisfied, grew lazy and lost

their hunger compete”. ​ Llopis describes how as the years go by, many people have lost hope for

the ideal dream because prices continue to increase.​ People often become hopeless to reach their

ideal dream and instead.

Social class is a huge factor that contributes to why the American Dream is dead and

unrealistic to achieve. It is nearly impossible for lower class people to achieve the dream when

they are struggling to make ends meet and pay off their debt. In today’s society everything

revolves around money and not everyone is born into the success that others receive. In the

article “​7 Facts That Show the American Dream is Dead​”, written by Richard Eskow, he states

“Americans who were planning vacations expected to spend an average of $1,180...if your

unemployed, you can’t afford it. And even if you a job, there's a good chance you won't get the

time anyway”. Eskow indicates that the wealthy have more opportunities than the middle class

because of money. If one is not born into being rich, the only way to achieve the dream is

through good luck or hard work. Lower class have to work twice as hard as upper class to be able
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to be equal and have a successful life. ​In the article “​7 Facts That Show the American Dream is

Dead​”, written by Richard Eskow, he also states ​“Want to retire when your older, as earlier

generations did, and enjoy a secure life after a lifetime of hard work? You’ll get to… if your

rich”. Eskow explains how money plays a huge factor in achieving the American dream because

without money not much can be accomplished. Unfortunately, only the privileged ones get to

succeed in life.

Although some may argue that the American Dream is still alive and attainable because

everyone is given the same opportunity to strive for the best, it is not completely true. Indeed

everyone does get the opportunity to strive for the best but at the end of the day, there are many

factors like money and social class that play a huge role in whether one is able to achieve that

dream. In the article, “​ American Dream​” it states, “Work hard, save little, send kids to college

so they can do better than you did, and retire happily to a warmer climate, has been the script we

have all been handed”​. This states that over the years many people have fantasized about of the

American Dream as being this dream that everyone can achieve but with the new societies and

new expectation, it has change the fabric of how we obtain the American Dream.

In conclusion, all the aspects that lead to the death of the American Dream in result of an

illusion that is unrealistic to achieve are low wages, student debt, economic inflation, and most

importantly social class. Unfortunately the American Dream is far out of reach for most people

and only through good luck and extreme hard work can one accomplish their American Dream.
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Works Cited

“American Dream.” ​Wikipedia,​ Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Jan. 2019,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream. Accessed 19 February 2019.

​Eskow, Richard. “7 Facts That Show the American Dream Is Dead.” ​Alternet​, 24

October 2014, ​www.alternet.org/2014/10/7-facts-show-american-dream-dead/. Accessed

19 February 2019.

Llopis, Glenn. “Why Most People Will Never Achieve The American Dream.”​Forbes​, 5

September2012,​www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2012/09/03/why-most-people-will-nev

er-​achieve-the-american-dream/#420798eb5dd4. Accessed 19 February 2019.

“The American Dream Is Alive and Well.” ​Fox Business​, 22 August 2016,

www.foxbusiness.com/features/the-american-dream-is-alive-and-well. Accessed 19

February 2019.