Preface and Introduction (xviii-14), Chapter 19 opening, (539-541)
Krugman “Confronting Inequality” (561-580)
King, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” (610-617)
Roemer, “America Remains the World’s Beacon of Success” (618-622)
|
Blog post by Tuesday 9 AM.
Write a 3-5 paragraph response to the readings:
1) Summarize both sides of the argument, Does the American Dream still exist? as presented by Krugman, King and Roemer
2) What is the strongest argument and why?
3)What is your personal response/thought to the argument
 
Post your response as a COMMENT
|
Sunday, September 11, 2016
9/13 - American Dream
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The American Dream is still alive and heavily established by perception as shown by King’s, “The American Dream:Dead,Alive or on Hold?” The Great Recession has made it seemingly impossible for the lower and middle classes to achieve stability. The American Dream is now to strive to “… work for an honest,secure way of life and save for the future.” Focusing on the idea that the gap between classes may or may not be the economies biggest problem. Some economists argue it is causing the American Dream to be insurmountable since economic growth is staying within the upperclass causing economists to propose raising their taxes. Others argue it will cause the upperclass to spend less, in consequence, stunting the stimulation they bring to the economy. In short, Americans are beginning to opt for a middle class living ,in hand ,changing the definition of the original “American Dream.”
ReplyDeleteAccording to Krugman’s ,”Confronting Inequality,” the American Dream isn’t alive and kicking, it is shattered. Income inequality goes hand in hand with social inequality creating more problems than just the American Dream’s validity.The middle class racks up debt in order to help their children compete for chances in top schools; thus thrusting their children into the same playing fields as the wealthy at their own expense… literally. Social class matters because although the ability to succeed may be there in forms of intelligence or creativity it isn't there in terms of money and support. This makes it increasingly difficult to shift from lower or middle class to upper class. The upperclass also holds the upper hand in politics, they have a higher income which means they have enough to give to political parties and campaigns. Politicians use this as an incentive to favor policies beneficial to the upperclass since the upper class keeps them running. Krugman gives a couple ways to help change the income inequalities amongst Americans. Raising taxes on the wealthy to implement universal healthcare. Raising the minimum wage and creating more unions to help create less of a wage inequality.Taxing capital gains to close loopholes would create more profit that can be used to help the lower and middle classes. Essentially the American Dream has been put to rest and now America must deal with the problems at hand.
Americans may not feel the U.S is at its prime but other countries still see its shine.
Roemer states the U.S is the “…largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world,” in “America Remains the World’s Beacon of Success.” Basing his article on the fact that every economic power is struggling as well. Although American’s feel things aren’t the greatest because in reality they aren’t on a national level. But, on an international level the U.S is still an enormous world power.
DeleteKrugman’s idea that the American Dream isn’t alive and won’t ever be is the strongest overall argument, it is the most well developed and defended. Krugman addressed the question saying the dream isn’t alive because the U.S is effected on many levels by income inequality. King’s article gave a solid stance on the American Dream and compared certain economic viewpoints but it had more of a casual feel and gave the reader a platform to choose a side. As opposed to Krugman who gave a solid argument that left little to no room for a choice. He basically says, “This is how I think and how you should think as well.” Giving options on how to address the circumstances that the other two articles did not give. For example he gives the problem of Bush’s tax cuts and then gives the solution on how to fix it which was to increase taxes on the wealthy to help support the lower classes. Roemer’s article was more of an informative piece, he didn’t take a stance on the American Dream on a national level but on an international level which wasn’t as effective as Krugman’s but makes the reader zoom out of just the American viewpoint and realize the power the U.S holds.
Morally, I believe the American Dream is alive because I do believe it is routed in stability and is possible. But it is extremely hard to achieve. Class mobility is possible because it can happen but it is made impossible for just one generation to achieve. Most low income families don’t have much money to put into an education that could essentially land them jobs that could catapult them into the middle or even the upper class. Most parents give all they can to at least help their children achieve that dream. The American Dream is feasible but its become more of a prolonged experience.
The American Dream according to Paul Krugman is dead due to the growing inequality between the social classes. The rich are getting richer at the expense of the average man. The top .01% garner the majority of the nation’s wealth and in turn leave the poor man to pick up the leftovers. Krugman states, with statistical facts, that increasing taxes for the wealthy elite will help bridge the gap between the social classes and in turn revive the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteBrandon King, on the other hand, believes that the American Dream is not dead, rather it has been reinvented to fit the current era. The American Dream implied that hard work will allow you to buy expensive things and live a luxurious life, however, it changed to: hard work will allow you to live a comfortable life. This distinction between the two perspectives of the Dream correlates with the era’s economic conditions. King also disagrees with Krugman’s argument about the growing inequality. Whereas, Krugman believes it would close by punishing the rich, King believes that by helping the rich stimulate the economy the gap will be closed.
Finally, Tim Roemer lends his own opinion about the Dream. Living outside of the U.S has given him a different point of view towards the issue of whether the American Dream is alive, or not, or in limbo. He praises the American economy deeming it to be the “largest and most technologically powerful” in the world and compared it with nations such as India, China, Britain, etc etc. He acknowledges the various problems that the U.S face, however, he believes that these challenges are crucial in order to become a better country.
The strongest argument is Krugman’s “Confronting Inequality”. He implements a research-styled argument complete with information and statistics backed by valid sources. By including various sources of information, Krugman creates a solid foundation for his argument and makes it harder to refute. Krugman, however, fails to include other perspectives other than his own, which weakens the article by being too narrow. Roemer also gives a strong argument, but not as strong as Krugman’s. Roemer gives the reader a whole new perspective; one that is not looking from the inside, but from the outside. Yes, we do have a lot of problems in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean there’s no solution. America has survived as a union for two centuries, and in those years, it’s been through the Civil War, the Great Depression, two world wars and many others. This is no different from all those times. In order to move forward, we must be as resilient as those in the past and keep believing in the Dream.
Paul Krugman believes the American Dream no longer exists, whereas King and Roemer have more optimistic views on this matter. Krugman's argument states that the large income gap between the wealthy and the poor in our nation is a major factor of why the American dream is dead. The wealth gap also leads to social inequality among people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, thus not allowing for equal opportunity to succeed and achieve the American Dream. Middle class families are going into copious amount of debt trying to buy homes near good school districts to give their children the best possible education in order for future success. Politics are also affected by the wealth gap. Policies are made to favor the wealthy since they are the ones who fund most of the political campaigns. Krugman believes we need to take action to fix the widening wealth gap by taxing the wealthy to fund health care and by raising minimum wages.
ReplyDeleteKing argues that the American Dream hasn’t died, it’s just been redefined. Previously, it referred to making a lot of money in order to buy as many material things as possible. Now, however, he believes the American Dream is more just about succeeding and being able to live comfortably. Success has a different meaning to different people and doesn’t require large paychecks to be achieved. Unlike Krugman, King believes we should actually be funding large corporations in order to create more jobs and expand our economy.
Roemer, on the other hand, believes the American dream is in fact alive and well. Upon visiting India, he realizes that the standard of living is far better in the U.S. and our nation has many great accomplishments to show for it, including many nobel prizes and advancements in technology. America is seen as a place of opportunity for people all over the world and despite recent setbacks, he believes these issues are necessary for our country to make changes and continue expanding.
I believe King’s argument is the strongest because the American Dream does not have a concrete definition. Everyone views it differently and there are still many people who are able to achieve their own version of the American Dream despite how it seems. The standard of living for the poor in America is still far better than it is for those in third world countries. People move to America just to escape those terrible conditions, not just to become extremely wealthy. The American Dream for some is just to get a stable job and home, not become the next Bill Gates. Therefore, the American Dream is not dead, it just doesn't have the same connotations it used to have and is different for each person.
The American Dream as indicated by Paul Krugman is dead because of the developing disparity between the social classes. Meanwhile, according to King’s "The American Dream: Dead,Alive or on Hold?”, The American Dream is still alive and intensely settled by discernment. Some financial specialists contend it is bringing on the American Dream to be unconquerable due to the fact that monetary development is staying inside the upperclass making market analysts propose raising their charges.
ReplyDeleteTo put it in simpler terms, Americans are starting to pick a white collar class living by changing the meaning of the first "American Dream." Income imbalance runs as one with social disparity making a larger number of issues than simply the American Dream's validity.The working class racks up obligation keeping in mind the end goal to help their kids go after chances in top schools; accordingly pushing their youngsters into the same playing fields as the wealthy at their own cost.
King's article gave a strong position on the American Dream and thought about certain monetary perspectives yet it had to a greater degree an easygoing vibe and gave the reader a stage to pick a side.
For instance, he gives an issue and after that, he gives the order on the best way to settle it which was to increment charges on the well off to help the lower classes.
Although he gives valid points, I have stopped believing in the concept of the American Dream. There are many perspectives that give everyone some type of hope. But due to personal experience, the American Dream is nonsense. My family and I have worked very hard, and as time has progressed, life seems to be no different than when we first started.
My mother, who is from Ecuador, left her country in order to pursue the American Dream. Instead, she faced many hardships. She had hoped to have a house but then reality hit and she was stuck in a small studio apartment with very little space. There was also the aspect of getting a good education. She also struggled with getting a college education due to the costs. Of course she couldn’t cover the costs because of the job factor of the American dream. She had expected a 9-5 schedule, but instead got stuck working at McDonald’s and stressing herself over nothing.
Many people have high hopes and expectations of the American Dream but in the end, it is all a dream. You have to wake up to reality and realize that America no longer has the idea of the “American Dream”.
Paul Krugman mainly targets the well-known topic of the economic divide between the upper-class and the middle class and lower class of modern-day America as his example of why the American Dream can’t exist today, but how with some effort and collaboration, it could exist in the future. This idea is something that I have definitely heard of before, but Krugman does a great job of writing about it. First, he goes into great detail on the aspects of how this divide negatively affects (and has for quite some time,) the lower and middle-class Americans and then uses this undeniable evidence to propel us to the second-half of his piece: where he describes the well-researched solutions that could help us to become more economically equal and in the process, allow the American Dream to be an actual reality. In order to do this, he tells us that eliminating the tax breaks for the upper class, continuing to support the rise of the minimum-wage, supporting the rejuvenation of unions, and acting now are all aspects that will likely help to bridge this gap in our society. His writing is persuasive, greatly supported by research and by claims of others, and eloquently stated. After having read this, I feel more educated and infinitely more passionate about this subject than I have ever before.
ReplyDeleteBrandon King writes about the “American Dream” and how he believes that it is still alive and well today. I myself would love to believe in this idea, but I am skeptical on how realistic (and how believable) it really is in modern-day USA. At the start of his piece, he states this and then argues that people often think it has died, when really, it has just morphed from “expensive houses and cars” to a more modest: “Stable, comfortable and safe” vision. Through this point, I was completely on board and actually thought about adopting this new idea. But then he began talking about the gap between the poor and the wealthy and making arguments as to how this is ultimately good for everyone: by safeguarding the welfare system, increasing work opportunities for the poor and sustaining the economy. Ideas that I am not at all on-board with. So ultimately I found that his piece didn’t agree with me, and I ended the reading feeling very unconvinced of any of his claims. Another aspect that put me off was his constant use of quotes and references to opposing ideas… probably in an attempt to address and undermine the opposing thoughts, but in reality I found the opposing quotes more convincing, and so I found that it ended up having the opposite effect.
In a very short piece, Roemer describes many examples as to why he believes that America is still a “beacon of success”. Through experience overseas, research on successful Americans and a positive outlook on even the “tea party” and “occupy wall street”, he believes that these things are all additional proof as to why america is such an incredible country, both in itself and in the world. I appreciate and enjoyed reading such an unfailingly positive outlook on many aspects of America and it’s relationship to other countries, but at the end of the day it felt like this piece was based solely on a personal opinion and personal experiences… Two things that are very emotional and lacking any real “factual” evidence. So, while this was enjoyable to read, I am skeptical about how universally legitimate any of his claims really are.
While all readings were fascinating and I was happy to hear the different points of view, at the end of the day I definitely feel that I am going to take the most from Krugman's piece. It has made me even more conscious of the social divide between the lower/middle-class and the upper class, and it has enlightened me on some of the possible solutions to this problem.
To generalize the concept of the “American Dream” it is the pursuit of happiness, equality and riches in a new land and that land is the United States. Many come to the United States to leave behind the economic,social or political chaos of their native country in the pursuit of finding a better place to settle and give their future generations a better chance at living. Tim Roemer and Brandon King see the glass half full while Paul Krugman sees the glass half empty regarding the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteBrandon King’s “The American Dream : Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” speaks about his optimistic perspective on the “American Dream”. He still believes that the “American Dream” is still alive but one has to modernize it to a more realistic “American Dream” rather than the lavish lifestyle many dream of. King states “majority naming things such as a steady job, financial security of the future , being able to retire without struggling, and having a secure place of residence.”(King) show’s the modernizing and changing of the “American Dream” to fit realistic expectations of a modern person. Overall, the “American Dream” to King is very much alive but has been redefined for every individual person to fit their expectations. Every person has their own opinion thus they have their own version of their “American Dream”. Majority want to live and retire comfortably while others may want that lavish lifestyle.
Tim Roemer believes the “American Dream” is still alive due to his experiences outside the United States. He gained some comfort knowing his country is still seen as number 1 in the eastern side of the world. He became more aware of what was outside the boundaries of the United States. Roemer saw that the United States was not the only country that was going through turmoil. Roemer states negative aspects about the United States such as “millions of Americans are out of work” to “Congress is paralyzed by partisanship” (Roemer, 3) His conversation with the Indian students who said they’re place of interest to study was the Americas, making him strengthen the concept that living and being in the United States is better than anywhere else. Our many accomplishments from 333 Americans winning Nobel Peace Prizes to U.S companies being advanced in technology, bioscience, nanotechnology and aerospace back up his opinion. He believes that despite the setbacks, the U.S is the best place of opportunity for anyone.
Paul Krugman believes that the “American Dream” cannot exist alongside the increasingly large “gap between the economic elite and the typical citizen” (Krugman, 587). Krugman states that along with the increasing economic gap coming the social inequality aspect of it. As many Americans try to spend the money they don’t have to live the “American Dream”, the more debt they’re putting themselves by doing so. The increasing of filling of bankruptcies is due to American middle class parents wanting to wedge their children in good schools and try to fit them in an uneven society. Krugman’s argument is that hackwork and dedication have no affect on achieving the “American Dream”. To Krugman you either are born into the “accepted” class or you’re not. To be born into the “accepted” class you have a higher chance of achieving the “American Dream” than of one who isn’t.
I side with Brandon King and his argument stating that the “American Dream” depends on the dreamer and his/her expectations. One has to set realistic expectations for themselves. Having unrealistic expectations sets a person up for disappointment for failing to reach it. Everyone does have their own opinions on the “American Dream” but its just a matter of how to reach it and if its within our own capabilities to do so.
The argument over the idea of whether the American Dream exists in contemporary America is one that is subjective. According to Brandon King, "the American Dream is a trimmed down version of its former self. " The old definition of the American Dream focused on owning expensive items and acquiring material wealth. In today's society the American Dream no longer implied the transition from poor to rich, instead the the new dream calls for a stable and secure life that extends into the future. Tim Roemer extends Kings idea that the American Dream is up for interpretation through his experience traveling to other countries. The perspectives of others outside the US is one that places America on a pedestal. The opportunities that are tied with America is the single factor that attracts so many to still believe in the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Paul Krugman argues that the American Dream is no longer existent due to the economic inequality between the rich and the poor. This economic inequality also leads to social inequality that creates many problems that only benefit the rich. Krugman argues that the rich use their influence that directly and indirectly widens the gap.
Although the idea of the American Dream is dependent upon the individual, Krugman presents a stronger argument. Krugman shows how the rich do truly have an advantage through money that creates inequality. Krugman's argument was more concrete because of all the examples he presented. After showing off the gap between the rich and the poor, Krugman does try to give a solution in trying to fix the problem.
Wei Pan
ReplyDeleteAmerican Dream
What is the American dream? For many it means being able to go from poor to rich if worked hard enough. So is this concept dead? Krugman believes it is, the main reason being the wide gap between the rich and the poor. This , in his words, creates another level where only the rich are measured. Krugman states that this is caused by the global economic development and government policies. This means there needs to be changes, ways reduce inequality to make America a middle class country again. Brandon King has a different opinion, he believes the dream is still alive, and that 72% also still believes in it. He states as long as people still believe in it it will not die. He said the American dream has changed it's not to shift from rag to rich, but instead having the opportunity to work, save and be in the stable middle class. As King and Tim Roemer state that the dream is alive because many migrated from somewhere where there is no dream whatsoever and some achieve it while other lived better than before, their own personal dream. King also states the situation with inequality is needed and that further support to wall street would actually help more. Roemer also further show the dream is alive with his experiences outside of America and how lucky we are than other countries, many envy to come and make it big. From the vast amounts of new jobs, wage increases, even laissez-faire it does seem like a step up from where they are from.
My opinion on this situation is more on the side where it does still exist, though hard to obtain it still there. The reason is like King and Roemer said many countries aren't as lucky as America. This is since there are many benefits ranging from free health care, many services which help the less fortunate. Even though there is a huge inequality between the groups most people don’t strive to be that rich, many come hoping to be stable or give opportunities to their kids. But even though I agree that The dream isn’t dead it is still almost too hard to obtain. This is since even those who work super hard they are not given the same opportunity to someone in a better financial situation. Overall hard work doesn’t guarantee success it only allows a chance in a raffle to make it big, the harder you work the higher the chance, but the rich can also buy tickets for the raffle giving them an edge too. The other thing to remember is “A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it. The truth is the truth even if nobody believes it”- David Stevens, meaning even though if 72% believes in the American dream doesn’t mean it's real, they might choose not to listen to the truth.
In the end though Krugman makes a strong argument, and I still believe the inequality is too wide I too believe in the American dream. Maybe it's because like the 72% I want to believe but the evidences seems to show that it still lingers, though I might not agree with King about support to Wall Street I do agree the dream has changed, we aim not to be rich but to be stable and also Roemer’s experience in the other states and interviews also shed a light on my decision, many praise our country for the being the land of opportunity, many flock for a chance to come and make it somewhere. As the video shown during class, many immigrants come not for themselves but for their kids, for them to reach somewhere, they don’t want to be rich, but instead for their kids not to face the hardships they have faced. That is why I believe the dream is alive and is more alive than ever, it's a competition and though the rich have a handicap the poor are not out of the race, there is still a chance, and that chance is the dream.
Any discussion of the american dream needs to attempt to define it at some point. A high school wimp may dream of a day he chose whether to hire the same jocks who just gave him a wedgie. A mother immigrating from a harsh past, may have a similar dream, but to her it is simply to raise her children in peace and to grow old in comfort. What they both want is freedom, economic and from oppression. I cannot define the american dream, but those two elements are essential to all arguments made.
ReplyDeleteBrandon King both redefines and goes back to the origin of the american dream. The original definition was not a dream of an individual but a dream for america to be a country in which those who achieve the highest honours are those that deserve them, where ability and determination are reflected in social and economic standing. Originally spoken by James Truslow Adams during the Great depression, it is easy to see how one could yearn for a more fair country. King redefines the american dream thusly "I would redefine the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future." He later mentions that liberal economists, such as Krugman, and activists say the american dream is dead and that he disagrees with the statement. However it is his own wording that is his undoing, not only is his idea of an american dream much more modest than the original, but the dream is not the ability to work an honest and secure way of life but only the potential of it. When the aspirations and hopes of people are not guaranteed in dreams, the dream doesn't seem worth much.
Krugman on the other hand uses a very data driven argument to convince the reader of his point, and presents an economical theory entertainingly. While Roemer uses how highly viewed the U.S economic machine is abroad and King attempts to make the american dream more realistic, Krugman presents the likelihood of someone with few means succeeding on a large scale. With the most successful of less means performing worse in education than the worst of those with many means, or RDK's as Krugman calls them, belief in a dream for those participating isn't likely.
I don't believe in the american dream, and believe in it less so every time it is utter by politicians glorifying this country when this country is struggling. The american dream is fantastic fiction but i think to many it is starting to seem like santa claus or the tooth fairy. Clearly a myth, but why ruin the magic for someone else.
Sometimes the magic needs to be ruined so people can stop "sipping the Kool-aid" and not knowing the flavor
DeleteLove the introduction. It's true that while each "American Dream" may look very different in detail, there are wishes that the dream seeks to fulfill that are nationwide (and worldwide).
DeleteAll of the arguments presented in the assigned readings on the state of the American dream contain good points and strong evidence and there is no clear answer regarding the state of the American dream. Each of the 3 documents addresses multiple points about the topic with an overarching theme to summarize their points. The article by Krugman addressed the fact that the American dream is dying, claiming that there is almost no way for a poor American to become rich and successful through hard work alone due to the tax systems in place that favor the rich. King addresses in his article that while the American dream is dying, there is still hope that with a few simple changes, the American dream can become reality once more. Lastly Roemer references international opinion and statistics that show America being a highly favorable country for our economy and education opportunities when compared to countries worldwide.
ReplyDeleteOf the three arguments presented above, the argument that seems to be the strongest is sadly the one written by Krugman. The reason it is bad that this argument seems the most logical is that it supports the idea that the American dream is dying. In his article Krugman acknowledges the wealth gap between the richest 0.1% and the poorest Americans; this gap is extremely large and it has grown since this article was written which does not bode well for the American dream. Krugman shows us how the government is unfairly benefitting the rich with tax breaks and loopholes that result in the profits of these top 0.1% people rising significantly. America’s economy benefits greatly from a strong middle class, but when a large portion of the available income is being taken by the extremely rich, we see a fall in the middle class. Due to the extreme wage gap we see a large portion of middle class households with more debt than they can deal with from a combination of housing and education debts and because of that we see a large number of households filing for bankruptcy. It is easy to see the logic in the points made by Krugman when in the America we live in it is clear to see the disparity in the idea of the American dream.
My personal opinion on the arguments presented it these readings mostly agree with the points provided by Krugman however, there is one clear difference in our beliefs, I choose to take the wording of King and say the American dream is “on hold.” My reasoning for saying the American dream is on hold rather than its dying is simple; even though most of the points Krugman addresses are true they can be easily fixed with a few changes that benefit the middle class, reigniting the American dream. Something simple like undoing the tax cuts for the rich that Krugman mentioned would go a long way in strengthening the middle class and slowly returning the wealth gap to a manageable level. There is no need for perfect economic equality in America, but the simple idea of having a secure economic future is the current embodiment of the current American dream, and that is totally achievable.
The American Dream has been a topic of discussion in recent years. It seems that the definition of the American changes through each new era. Many Americans however, do not believe in the American dream anymore. Some argue that it is nearly impossible to achieve because of the wealthy aristocracy maintaining the majority of wealth. While some Americans believe that it is still possible through hard work and tenacity.
ReplyDeleteThe green light across the bay has been diminished in Paul Krugman’s eyes. Krugman argues that the American Dream does not exist anymore because of increases in social status. While the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. While the one percent is seeing increase in wealth, the middle class has arguably remained the same. This means it’s becoming harder and harder for middle class families to reach for the American dream. Mr. King takes a different look at the American dream. King argues that since many people still want to come to America for opportunity, then the American Dream is still alive.
The strongest argument is Krugman’s data. Krugman takes a logical approach to his argument by discussing the increase in the one percent wealth. King’s argument has a emotional response but in terms of arguments Krugman’s approach works better. In my personal experience the American Dream is alive and well. I came to this country when I was four years old with empty arms other than my mother, father, and sister. Life was hard in the beginning but as my parents worked hard, life became easier. The American dream is hard to attain but through determination anything is possible.
Playing on people's emotions is sometimes more effective than logic, look at Donald Trump's campaign.
DeleteThat said, do you think it makes a difference WHAT emotion the person is playing on? King tries to inspire us and pride us with stories of how others view America and how 'great' it still is. Trump bullies and terrifies and angers as his way of influence. Does the effectiveness of playing on people's emotions maybe differ with the emotional state they are targeting?
DeleteThere is a very distinct dichotomy present within the arguments presented by Kruger, King, and Roemer. Paul Krugman primarily focuses on the subject of financial inequality between the rich and the working class. He feels this is a large part of why the American Dream can't exist today, yet the potential is still there. This thought is similar to my own, having researched this topic for quite some time, but Krugman delves into it fairly well. I noticed that in particular, he seems in favor of having the rich Keeping in mind the end goal to do this, he lets us know that disposing of the tax reductions for the high society, keeping on supporting the ascent of the lowest pay permitted by law, supporting the restoration of unions,
ReplyDeleteBrandon King is quite different from Kruger in that his faith in the American Dream seems far more intact, but he does make the important distinction that it has been changed over time to become more modest, which does go hand in hand with the disparity Americans face economically. While the change is logical, I do think that he’s not taking the factors of struggle into consideration, at least, not enough. King also has a lot of controversial views, like giving more money to corporations in order to expand the economy. It does really have a stark contrast to the ideas of Kruger.
Roemer has an optimistic view on American, as he recognizes the issues we face, but despite being cognizant of it, he still holds fast in his idea that America is the success that the world looks up to. It’s quite interesting to note though, that a lot of his views seem anecdotal, considering he speaks about his travels and the views people outside the country have of it. It does give a bit of perspective, but without empirical evidence, it doesn’t have a lot.
When all's said and done, I firmly believe that Kruger has the most coherent and rational outlook on the subject, not because King and Roemer are necessarily wrong, but because Kruger backs his views with strong evidence, whereas the other two seemingly have mostly opinionated answers. While my own beliefs may lie squarely in the realm of Krugers, I still can understand why others may hold the beliefs that are contrary to those of my own and Krugers. After all, the American Dream is a fluid concept, and it means different things to us all.
Do you believe his background in economics is the reason he chose to base the entire section on the economy in relation to the American Dream?
DeleteWhen it comes to the American Dream, opinions will always be split between two sides: those who believe and those who don’t. When it comes to the people who do believe in the American Dream, such as former U.S. Representative Tim Roemer, the argument is the fact that the American Dream is subject to not only change based on the times, but also a person’s personal idea of it. On the opposing side, non-believers will say that you can’t achieve the American Dream as the top 1% will use their wealth and power to make sure your voice isn’t heard. Now obviously, as with all arguments, both sides have their flawed and flawless points, but when it comes to the three people in question, Roemer, Kruger, and King, their different perspectives will cover all angles of the debate. Kruger has the perspective of its death; King is basically neutral, while Roemer is all about how alive and well it is.
ReplyDeleteAll three of the writers present the argument in different ways each time. Beginning with Kruger who is an economics teacher, he speaks about it as an almost entirely economic entity. He came to the conclusion that with the continuous separation of wealth between the top %1 and the rest of America, the American dream is dying slowly as people are unable to achieve the modern, modest goals they set for themselves, such as economic stability. This same economic gap and instability has led to Kruger also stating that with this also comes social inequality which leads to unhappiness among the classes. But the issue with his argument is that some of him information is dated and therefore you can’t go off of numbers that aren’t nearly current. He also never checked on his own theory of people being unable to achieve their own modified versions of the American Dream.
On the flip side of what was referenced by Kruger, Roemer came in with an argument completely against Kruger. As an American ambassador to India, he visited the country in 2009 to learn how people felt about America. What he took from his experience was that America was seen as an admired country that people still believed they could be successful in. He continues his spurt of almost braggadocio by preaching about how successful America has been with its advancements in fields that have won a combined 333 Nobel prizes so the American dream is still very much alive. Out of all three arguments, Roemer’s seems to be the weakest based on the fact that he’s not even in America in the first place. This comes coupled with the fact that countries outside of our own don’t know of all our internalized issues, especially the major class division.
In between both of these arguments is Brandon King who went off a few different statistics to back up his argument. One that’s very important is the study in 2009 showing that of Americans still believed in the American Dream. The importance of it lies in the year as 2009 was the year of the Great Recession. He also pointed to the fact that most people no longer want to live lavish and would rather live comfortably. People’s alteration of the American Dream has led to them learning that saving money is the way to achieve this own personal of their. I agree completely with King which is why I believe his essay is the strongest out of all three people. The American Dream is tailored to each person so I believe it being achievable varies among American citizens.
Great conclusion. I agree that an attainable American Dream depends on whether it is a set of actual career and life goals, or whether it's the idea of a perfect world of luck and fortune and unwavering happiness.
DeleteThese three authors: Krugman, King and Roemer, share their opinions on whether it exists and what factors it may contribute to. One of Krugman’s arguments was that our country tax rates is too low for the elite top paid Americans, compared to other countries like Canada and France. With taxes it would help generate enough revenue for universal healthcare and more. Roemer uses her own experiences around the world to prove the American dream still exists. He lived overseas and met Indian students at schools or living in slums that dreamed to study in America. King on the contrary believes the American dream is still alive today. He claims although that there is a slight difference between the distinction of the American dream of the past compared to the more modest American dream today.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Krugman’s arguments were the strongest because of the evidence of corporate greed and Inequality. He states that the richer elite business men be taxed a higher rate. He also connect social inequality to income inequality. It isn't even about affording to stay in eleven thousand dollar night hotels, but the fact the middle class-men struggle to pay mortgage and are in debt. With additional stress of sending their children off to a good school. His ideas are straight forward and persuasive. With just slightly higher tax rates on the rich could make a large difference and would help bolster the middle class.
In reflection to these three author’s pieces of work, I find that the American dream is no longer the same compared to the past and seems to out of reach. Corporate greed has created a market controlled country. Our countries decision are heavily influenced by individual businesses. The number of lobbyist is DC has greatly increased over the years. Krugman quotes the book Richistan by Robert Frank, “today’s rich had formed their own virtual country…They had built a self- contained world unto themselves, complete with their own health care system(concierge doctors), …separate economy” The rich are only getting richer and its prevents necessary prosperity and chances of greater standards of living for many Americans. Krugman also quotes Thomas Jefferson, “The small landholders are the most precious part of a state.” I strongly agree with this statement it correlates to protecting small businesses for larger corporations.
Sumaiya Sayef
ReplyDeleteWhat is exactly “The American Dream?” The American Dream is the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work, success and determination. Many individuals leave their economic and political struggles back in their native country and come to America with the belief of starting a new life .
According to Paul Krugman, The American Dream no longer exists. Meanwhile, Roemer and King have a more optimistic view on the American Dream.
For instance, According to Paul Krugman’s “Confronting Inequality” he mentions how the growing inequality between the social classes is what is causing the American Dream to die because of the growing inequality between the social classes. “Why should we care about high and rising inequality?” Krugman stated. Krugman believes that one reason to care about inequality is because it is the straightforward matter of living standards. Furthermore, Paul Krugman also states how the economic inequality also leads to social inequality which means only the rich will benefit from this. This means the “rich gets richer” and the “poor gets poorer”. Paul Krugman’s article gave solid reasons how the Upper class is more stable than the middle class. He proves this by mentioning how the the upperclass holds the upper hand in politics due to the fact of having a higher income (meaning they have enough money to participate and donate to campaigns.
Paul Krugman also provides solutions that will improve the growing inequality between social classes. He does this by stating that increasing taxes for the wealthy will help the social classes and this will cause the American Dream to be alive again.
Meanwhile, According to Brandon King’s “ The American Dream: Dead ,Alive or on Hold?” , King believes that the American Dream is still alive.For instance, King mentions that how he would redefine the “American Dream” today as a way to work for an honest and secure way of life for an outstanding future. He also mentions “Many liberal economists and activists say that the American Dream is dead, but I say that it’s more alive and important than ever— and that it is the key to climbing out of the Great Recession, overcoming inequality, and achieving true prosperity”. In other words, Brandon King believes that The Great Recession has made it impossible for the middle class and the lower class to be stable.
According to Tim Roemer’s “ America remains the world’s beacon of success’’ (the title of the article already proves that Roemer believes the American Dream is alive Roemer living outside of the US (had to serve as as U.S. ambassador to India in 2009). One part which I thought was very important was when Roemer mentioned that, after living outside the country ,he hoped to learn more about that country’s democracy. Instead Roemer learned that America is still deeply admired around the world. America is still a place where many people still go to still achieve their dreams and hoping for a successful future.
Overall, Paul Krugman had the strongest argument. He included statistics and valid/ accurate sources as well. All the examples that Krugman have provided was concrete. The way that Paul Krugman expresses his idea is very straightforward and is also quite convincing as well.
Honestly, I still believe that The American Dream surely still exists. I can connect to this because my father and his family came to America from Bangladesh, but after working hard for many years and doing construction,my uncle now has his very own construction company. In Addition, My father now owns his very own house and a car. Many people still come to America hoping for a change and hoping to achieve their dreams.