The American Dream Myth
6/29/2017
The American Dream Myth
Economic mobility is the ability to
improve economic status by having equal opportunity. Economic mobility is
supposed to be provided or controlled by the government. Most of the studies
show us that in most of the countries, economic mobility grows unequally and
the biggest reason is the rich get richer.
We will be focusing on United States and
Economic mobility comparing with other countries and looking to the history.
Have you heard anything about American dream? If I ask to a kid or a young
person today, they will not probably know what it is. It was existed. People in
USA used to believe to American dream. For those does not know what it is
American dream, it is a national ethos of the United States; every US citizen
should have an equal opportunity to achieve success.
However, researches find out (unearth) that the United
State may not be as mobile as Americans believe. A journalist and staff writer
at the New Yorker, James Surowiecki, in his article The Mobility Myth,
pinpoints that “United State has lower
economic mobility than most of the European countries”(345). Comparing with
the other countries, Even though United States is one of the most improved
country, but why does USA have lower economic mobility than other countries?
Even though it is not appropriate, according to most
of the studies show us that for those born into rich is easier to improve
economic status than those born into poor. In a study called U.S Economic mobility:
The dream and the Data written by Leila Bengali and Mary Daly indicates, “Those born into the bottom quintile are more
likely to stay there. Similarly, those born into the top income quintile are
relatively likely to remain in the top.”(3) .
According to statistical data, United States’ economy
grows and getting better. However, unfortunately, economic growing of United
State is not being fair and helps more likely to rich people. Barrack Obama,
The forty fourth president of the United State, in his article A Fundamental
Threat to the American Dream, verifies that “the top 10 percent consistently took home about one-third of United
States’ national income”(341)
After all, can we still believe that there is a
economic mobility in United State ? Nevertheless, if you study hard and get
your degree, you might have a chance to get better opportunity to achieve
success. However, Bengali and Daly, based on their research in their article, proves
and documents that “child born to a
bottom quintile family who graduated from college has similar mobility to a
child born to a top quintile family who does not finish college.”(3)
If we look at the big picture, it is not the only USA.
All around the world, even the most socialist countries, the economy grows and
gets better. Nevertheless, the rich get richer. In that case, if this problem
keeps happening, all money going to be collected in one hand and the others
will be left to get by. Because the rich never stop getting richer.
Surowiecki, in his article The Mobility Myth, considers
that “most people who are poor are poor
because they made the mistake of being born to the wrong parents”(345). We
cannot judge people because of they are born into the poor family and it will
not be fair to keep someone from education because they cannot afford. It is
not about only education. We cannot keep people away from medicine, social
life, food, etc...
Government’s goal should be providing to every single
person a peaceful and equal life, and they should be able to tax fairly, and in
the case of need, transfer the money from rich to poor people. However,
according to proven track history, it is harder to take rich's money. Because
the rich have power over the government and they can force the government to
make the law that helps them to get richer, and naturally, the poor will get
poorer.
In this case, moreover than government' duties, as
citizens, we should be more considering about equality and economic mobility as
a social community. As citizens, every single person has social duties, such as
being helpful for society or understanding that every single person deserves a
good life. Surowiecki, in his article, mentions, "Americans are less concerned than Europeans about inequality and more
confident that society is meritocratic"(345).
In conclusion, being aware of how important equality is
and being helpful for society helps to us and others to have a better life. We
can start to donate more for students or homeless or charity. The world has the
capability to take care of four times more population. When we learn how to
share as a citizen, we will not need the government work for economic mobility.
Works Cited
Obama,
Barrack. “A
Fundamental Threat to the American Dream.” [From a speech delivered on December
4, 2013] Amerika Now edited by Robert Awan 11th Ed.
Surowiecki,
James. “The Mobility Myth.” [The New Yorker, March 3, 2014] Amerika Now edited
by Robert Awan 11th Ed. [The New Yorker, March 3, 2014]
Bengali,
Leila and Daly, Mary. “U.S. Economic Mobility: The Dream and the Data. 2013-06
FRBSF Economic Letter
Ridvan Raphael Kol
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