What?s the new American Dream?

Nest CL · October 2008

Has the definition of the American Dream changed? What does the American Dream mean to you?[Poll]

Eating-Butter · October 2008

How about a combination of not being owned by your possessions, environmentally conscious living and financial freedom? That's our dream.

mrs.vanessa0605 · October 2008

My idea of an American Dream is having all of the above and each person living with a sense of personal responsibility. I think we've really lost that over the years. I'm a 1st generation American and was raised to take care of myself and be compassionate toward others. I think we've acquired a sesne of entitlement that's weakened our society. ((steps off soapbox))

BarrysBride05 · October 2008

Ditto, Eating--Butter. And content at whatever stage you are in life.

PenaWife · October 2008

I second that!!

losocute · October 2008

Eating-Butter:
How about a combination of not being owned by your possessions, environmentally conscious living and financial freedom? That's our dream.

yep.

CarrieB. · October 2008

actually i think my DH and i are living my parents original dream of owning a smaller charming home in the city (where i was born).

also our dream includes not being tied to your car and chain stores and fast food... being a part of a cultural, diverse, artistic and vibrant city, while living in a home that is beautiful and welcoming to our friends and family.

GnomeSweetGnome · October 2008

CarrieB.:

also our dream includes not being tied to your car and chain stores and fast food... being a part of a cultural, diverse, artistic and vibrant city, while living in a home that is beautiful and welcoming to our friends and family.

I think this is awesome! And a lot of the reason we are planning to move back to our college town (15 miles from here), because it's a real community with diversity, local places, nature, culture and art, unlike the suburban town we moved to in June. I think once our lease is up we'll be moving back!!

StVincentGrad · October 2008

Actually, my idea of the American Dream is none of these. My idea of the dream is the opportunity to work towards something about which you feel passionately.

Chad Stewart · October 2008

I'll take "A Balanced Mix of all the Options" for 1000, Caitlin.

IrishBrideND · October 2008

none of the above. I don't see the american dream as being tied to assets. it makes me really reallly sad that those were the options picked. It says A LOT about our generation/society as awhole.

AlisaS · October 2008

Stupid poll

Pescalita · October 2008

The new American Dream is the same as it's always been - that everyone has the opportunity to chase their own version.

Lika · October 2008

I'm not sure how I fit in with those options... The American Dream, to me, anyway, means to be free and happy. Free to pursue my own dreams and passions, and happy enough to be content with what I currently have while still having the desire and motivation to aspire for more. I think it's sad that a lot of people still harbor the materialistic belief that the American Dream is as simple as popping out 2.5 kids and living in a big house with a white picket fence. No offense to anyone who has that dream, but the point I'm trying to make is that the American Dream means different things to different people. Personally, I think the American Dream is a state of mind, and not how much property/possessions/kids you can rack up.

aHm08 · October 2008

I think, above all, I just want stability. I want to know that I have a place to go home to where there is food on the table and a husband who loves me. I want to be happy with what I have and wish for a lifetime of love and good health along with the will power to keep going when those things might get scarce.

DH and I bought a smaller house. We don't drive new cars. We have nice things, but we don't have the best things. And I'm content with that because we're able to enjoy life instead of struggling each day to make sure the bills are paid. We don't fight about money, and we actually save toward big expenses rather than doing into credit card debt.

I am concerned about the environment, and I try to do what little things I know to make a difference. I don't know that environmental concerns are part of my American Dream, persay, but the health of our planet does have an affect on the other things encompassed in my dream.

atrefney · October 2008

I agree that it's very difficult to lump the "American Dream" into these few choices.

For a good portion of my life, my American Dream was to go to the best college of my choosing, and obtain a good job afterwards. I was lucky enough to do that. However, the cost of my American Dream will follow my husband and I for 28 years from today. So my dream is to eliminate that debt while ensuring my children do not have to endure the same circumstance. Living within our means is key because of that. Being environmentally friendly is a way we have both always lived and will continue to. We don't need a big house, but we just want to do what we dream of. He wants to be a basketball coach. I want to continue teaching and have a family and be with him. Pretty simple in the grand scheme of things. But with over 90 grand in student loans, it may be impossible for quite a while.

mefindlay · October 2008

What an inane question. And who says that my parents' dream was to have a white picket fence? That's so outdated and cliche. Could we please recognize more than one family structure and way of life?

My dream is to live my life with people I love, doing things I love, and finding opportunities with anything that doesn't fall into those categories. I'd like to find meaning in all aspects of life, positive or negative.

Pippi Langstrump · October 2008

My parent's American dream was providing a better life for their kids than they had: home ownership, opportunities to travel, being able to pay for college. My dreams are actually pretty similar, although they differ in specifics.

mjbustamante · October 2008

My American dream is to live live in freedom. Being content with what God has given me and managing it appropriately. I also want to enjoy life to the fullest which does not take a lot of money but lots of love.

rhetta09 · November 2008

My parents' dreams were very similar to yours. They were all about us kids. Well, we turned out great (two doctors--haha), but I worry that they did not spend a lot of time building their marriage while we were growing up. My American Dream involves raising confident, independent, self-reliant, smart kids, but also putting time into my marriage. After all, it is our foundation, and I want it to be a strong one!

Mandalynn252 · November 2008

Our American Dream is to provide enough for our family and create a safe, loving environment to raise our kid in. We don't want to become slaves to our jobs, but we want to be able to enjoy life with mild travel and a comfortable home.

Our folks worked hard so we could have more options and we hope to make the most of those.

Becca Bear · November 2009

My soon to be husband and I agree in our dream of comprise we have found. He always wanted to live in the city, and I always wanted somewhere with a fenced yard, where I could have my kids and dog. He grew up in the same neighborhoods his entire life, and my family moved around way too much. After the last four years we have spent together, he has helped me to enjoy the city and concerts and such, and he has grown a great appreciation for my views on raising a family. We plan on moving to an area close enough to the city that we can have our fun, but far enough that we can have a yard. We even got a dog this year to fill it with.

CecilyJordan · May 2010

My idea of the American Dream is the same as my parents' with the added bonus of also living within my means and having a good work/home life balance.

What?s the new American Dream?

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