‘Real News’ War Room: The ‘American Dream’ in the Age of Obama
- Posted on July 16, 2012 at 8:56pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama made his mark as a noted orator that many Americans saw as a political Rorschach to project their ideals of a post-partisan politico that would bring a positive “change” to the system. Nearly four years later, there is much gloomier mood amongst Americans in regards to politics and the American Dream.
A new poll from The Hill released Monday shows that nearly half of likely voters believe it is impossible for them to become wealthy in the course of their lifetime. In the cover story for TIME’s annual “Making of America Issue” this year, Jon Meacham examines the history and current struggle of the American dream; writing:
The perennial conviction that those who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded with a more comfortable present and a stronger future for their children faces assault from just about every direction. That great enemy of democratic capitalism, economic inequality, is real and growing. The unemployment rate is dispiritingly high. The nation’s long-term fiscal health is at risk, and the American political system, the engine of what Thomas Jefferson called “the world’s best hope,” shows no sign of reaching solutions commensurate with the problems of the day.
On Friday President Obama echoed Democratic Massachusetts Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren‘s controversial ’There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own” remarks, telling a crowd in Roanoke, Virginia:
There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me — because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t — look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. [Emphasis added]
Going on to say:
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.
With this kind of rhetoric in the current economic and social climate, is there any chance for the survival and tolerance of an American Dream to achieve success and prosperity built on individual responsibility and perseverance? Or will conservatives have to give in to the ‘we’re all in it together’ and ‘fairness’ according to Barack Obama ideology that many allege smells of Statism and a form of class warfare?
Joined by special guest Matt Welch of Reason Magazine, the “Real News” panel Monday discussed the president’s recent comments and the growlingly divergent views between conservatives and liberals on the American Dream.
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tommyg524
Posted on July 17, 2012 at 8:10amhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/money-power-wall-street/#b
Report Post »Carp_resident
Posted on July 17, 2012 at 6:51amIn this country nothing is impossible as long as you don‘t listen to those that say it can’t be done.
I WILL NOT COMPLY!!!
TEA
Report Post »Talafofotom2
Posted on July 17, 2012 at 3:08amLet’s take the two statments one by The“One”& the one by the “Cherokee” princess.Let us go way back.Was it then the Grand Designner who has given us the ground work for all this? If so then the two spouting such profundetties have to admit they owe God for their own succeses..
Report Post »ThorLoser
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 10:36pmWhy in the world do people who claim to be conservative keep saying that wealth or posessions is the american dream?
The true american dream is nothing more than self-determination through self-govornment. Our “govornment” consists of all legal civillians who are in the age of majority. Self-govornment does not mean we elect leaders, it means that each of us are our own leader; we elect representatives.
Report Post »voodoolife
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 11:17pmWhy in the world do people who claim to be conservative keep saying that wealth or posessions is the american dream?
That is easy, because a King will come and take it away. Achieving in all aspects of life is good, and what I gather in that journey is not yours, the governments, or anyone else to simply take. It’s NOT your right to TAKE what I have earned. It should be a simple concept. Yes, we should be represented, but we recycle politicians that have no interest in your life or mine. They pass more and more laws to keep us down and NOT be successful. The ability to dream and imagine is very American. We kick the worlds ass on that, we should continue it!
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 9:25pmI dont know about you, but my dream is to get out from under the thumb of the government….Thats all
Report Post »intercepter
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 9:14pmI think that had to be one of the dumbest things this out of touch no idea down in the mouth liar in chief has said to date ,he really has no idea what it takes to start up or run a business or even why most people do ,in my case it wasn’t because of my teachers ,it was more in spite of them ,and it wasn’t big govt. cause I am the wrong color ,always was always will be
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 9:04pmComrades what American Dream?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on July 16, 2012 at 9:00pmAmerican Dream? You mean the one we’re herding into small inner city slums to foster sustainable development? I’m sure Bilderberg Romney has that same dream in mind.
Report Post »overthecliff
Posted on July 17, 2012 at 8:29amIf elected Romney will hide his (identical crony fascism) much better than Obama does.
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