this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023
98 points (93.0% liked)

Ask Lemmy

26996 readers
2116 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Please don't post about US Politics. If you need to do this, try [email protected]


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either [email protected] or [email protected]. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email [email protected]. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

So growing up, I had this idea that the American dream was about that if you put in an honest amount of work, you would be rewarded with a good life. This would mean you would be able to take care of yourself and your family, afford a car and a house. In my view, working one job would probably be enough.

Nowadays, I get the idea that the American dream has become about working your ass off in order to have a chance to become a millionaire. Somehow glorifying “the grind” appears to be a part of it too now.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's just Instagram. The american dream, which is to be a company man and work the same job til youre 65 and live in a house with a nice yard and 2 cars and all that is still around, it's just out of reach for most people whereas it wasn't a generation or two ago.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think the American dream implied that if you put in honest hard work you could be successful.

I found that personally true for myself, transcending from low income to being a millionaire in my 30s. But I know that it has not worked out for some.

Factors that complicated this are numerous. Some are obvious such as the globalizing economy, as well as the increased deviousness of the ultra wealthy in their ability to influence public policy.

One factor I feel like we don't discuss enough is just the heightened potency and addictiveness that we are able to market and manufacture products. It's so targeted now that to me it seems that we are preying on the low income and draining them of their wealth by convincing them to spend money frivolously.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The last sentence, I think youre right. Well, not "we" I'm not, but some people are.

When politicians talk about stimulating the economy, stimulating spending, that's what they're talking about: incentivize everyone to blow their money and save nothing. Then when it's time to get elected they say things like "most people can't afford a $500 emergency without going into debt!"