Issues Related to The American Dream
You must use three sources for your essay. One of the sources should be the article I’ve provided on Blackboard. You will need to find two other credible sources that support your argument.
Assignment Description:
The topic for this paper is “The American Dream.” Using the article I have provided as a basis, you will determine a specific issue to focus on that is related to the American Dream. Then, you will research your chosen issue using credible sources, choose a stance/position related to the issue, organize your ideas according to one or a combination of the rhetorical patterns we’ll study in class, and incorporate outside information to support your ideas.
In order to give your paper a strong purpose and focus, choose a stance or position that you believe in or feel is important. You might ask questions like:
- What did the American Dream originally look like, and what does it mean today?
- Can anyone achieve the American Dream?
- Is the American Dream a valuable and achievable goal?
- What does the American Dream mean to different groups of people? (Think about groups like immigrants, women, people of color, people with disabilities, religious groups, etc.).
- Does the American Dream need a new definition?
Your essay should include all the elements of the essay structure we will define in class (introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic sentences and integrated evidence, a compelling conclusion, and a reference page).
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The American Dream
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The American Dream
The American dream is one of the fundamental elements of the United States that makes it a force to reckon with in the entire world. The American dream encompasses a wide array of concepts, but it concisely refers to the collective aspiration of Americans to prosper and improve their lives (Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, 2022). To a considerable extent, the American dream is enshrined in the European Enlightenment. This philosophical movement began in the 17th century and ended in the late 18th century. Enlightenment proponents placed profound value on individual liberty as opposed to aristocracy. Even though the term "American dream'' did not gain popularity until the 20th century, its sentiments tremendously inspired most of the founders of the United States. The tenets of the idea became integral to the national consciousness and earned an elevated spot in the Declaration of Independence. One significant tenet of the American dream is the achievement of material success. Many observers contend that the same is achievable through hard work. By extension, it means that the U.S. economic system is fair and that people's rewards depend on their efforts and individual merit. That notwithstanding, the idea continues to generate heated debate revolving around its viability and whether it requires a new definition.
One contention that continues to rage on regarding the American dream, especially the achievement of material success, is whether anyone is capable of achieving it. Before embarking on ventilating whether material success is feasible for everyone in the United States, it would be prudent to look at what material success implies. In layman’s language, material success refers to the accumulation of possessions, wealth, and other external markers of prominence. That said, the question of whether everyone can achieve the same in the United States comes to the fore. Perhaps one can conclusively answer the question by outlining the outstanding factors that can influence material success among the United States’s citizens.
One such factor is government policies, such as taxes, employment opportunities, and laws. Just like any other government, the United States government uses the tax system to raise revenue to fund its undertakings. Additionally, it uses taxation as a vital tool for reducing poverty, cushioning citizens against risks, and offsetting the escalation of market-driven wealth inequality (Looney, 2021). Over the years, the federal government has initiated several programs that have substantially enhanced the incomes and well-being of low and middle-income families. They include the Earned Income Credit Tax (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). However, contentions still abound that changes in tax policy incline advantageously toward high-income taxpayers. To be precise, the government has reduced tax rates on assets and income that are seemingly critical to the wealthy. This has effectively escalated inequality by widening the chasm between the poor and the wealthy, which, by extension, has diluted the efficacy of taxation.
Regarding employment, the government has, over the years, demonstrated its commitment to achieving full employment. As such, it has crafted and implemented several policies to address the stagnation of job opportunities and achieve full employment. The policies include minimum wage laws, Medicare and Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, among others. Concerning laws that influence wealth creation in the United States, the government has legislated several crucial statutes over time. For instance, in the 1950s, Congress accented to several laws that approved federal funds to develop the national highway system (Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, 2022). By extension, the highway system paved the way for suburban communities, making the American dream synonymous with home ownership. Moreover, the government has endeavored to relax laws to ensure that citizens do business or work in a friendly environment. However, despite all these efforts, there have been several significant setbacks. For example, the government failed to fo...