Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?" , Part 5

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 5 of Several

       For instance, layoffs, so-called Golden Parachutes, firings, hostile corporate takeovers, union busting, etc. cause thousands of peoples' American Dreams to be instantly jeopardized or destroyed. Whenever a wealthy individual or corporation uses his money or clout to get around rules or laws, fulfillment of the American Dream for the poor or the less-fortunate is often impeded or sabotaged.

       Most, if not all of America's problems are epitomized by the Seven Deadly Sins: For instance, the pursuit of the superficial American Dream involves: Lust, Sloth, Avarice, Pride, and Gluttony, in its various manifestations. Racism and crime, which can also potentially jeopardize the American Dream of those victimized by it, is often due to the other two Deadly Sins: Anger and Envy. The material Lust, Avarice and Gluttony of the very rich often tends to destroy the American Dream of the very poor or less-fortunate. Sloth causes certain people to do very little work, but the American Dream is sometimes attained by lazy people by crime or con artistry. Lies and deceit, and similar means of duplicity, which ought to be added as the Eighth Deadly Sin, are a means by which politicians and other dishonest people cheat their way into fulfilling their concept of the American Dream; while cheating honest or powerless people out of theirs. (to be cont'd)

[The original version of this essay first appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays]

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?" , Part 4

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 4 of Several

       Although the American Dream inspires many people to succeed who otherwise might fail, there is certainly a dark side to the American Dream. As those Robber Barons of the past and present manipulate(d) the system to their own advantage, thousands and perhaps millions of peoples' American Dreams were and are left shattered in their pompous wake. In fact, more often than not, Americans who inherit vast sums of money relied on ancestors who looted from or exploited or manipulated or sabotaged the American Dream of overworked, underpaid employees and others. As Isaac Newton said, "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." also is valid as far as fulfillment or not of the American Dream. (to be cont'd) 

[The original version of this essay originally appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays]

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 3

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 3 of Several

       Just as often though, the American Dream of unsuccessful people is sabotaged by the successful, especially by those who abuse the power which comes with success (i.e. CEOs, employers who discriminate against certain people). Due to such factors as racism, societal rules which discriminate against the poor or the less-fortunate, a contemporary society which tolerates a mediocre education and health-care system, lousy leaders, candidates who deny problems until they become insurmountable, and on and on; for the poor, the unaffluent, and the Middle Class, our nation is starting to become an Abattoir (slaughterhouse) of Broken Dreams. (to be cont'd)  

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 2

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 2 of Several

       Although it seems that many people's American Dreams have been fulfilled, there are untold thousands of people who never even have a chance of ever achieving their individual concept of the American Dream. For example, over 60% of working Americans are dissatisfied with their current profession. The main reason that thousands of Americans never have a chance of ever fulfilling their concept of the American Dream is that the Dream is largely a flawed concept. Those people who believe that the fruition of the American Dream is equally possible for everyone erroneously assume that life is fair. For instance, people born below the poverty line, inner-city youth, indigenous Indians born on reservations, many of those educated in public schools, and numerous others seldom achieve the American Dream. Sometimes people fail to fulfill their concept of the American Dream due to their own actions. For example, if someone becomes addicted to alcohol or drugs then their potential to succeed in life is highly at risk. (to be cont'd)

[The original version of this essay appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and as part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays]

       

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?"

Essay: "Whatever Happened To The American Dream?", Part 1 of Several

       The American Dream is an ideal which many Americans possess, in which theoretically anyone who is either ambitious enough or at least willing to work hard, can prosper financially and materially. This dream involves a belief that each generation will have a better life than the previous one had. Under the myth known as the American Dream, anyone in America can get a high paying job or career, have access to an enormous bank account through their own efforts, be able to afford a luxurious house, have a home filled with the latest and most desirable luxuries and material goods, own one or more cars, and perhaps have a spouse and family if they so desire. Unfortunately, although the American Dream exists as a concept, the fruition of the American Dream does not always occur in American reality, especially as we may be teetering on the possibility of another Depression or similar large-scale economic crisis. I heard Geoff Charles, a Providence, Rhode Island area disk jockey once say: "The American Dream only truly exists when you're dreaming." (to be cont'd)

 [The original version of this essay appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus  Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays]

Essay: "The Decline and Fall of Music" Part 6 of 6

Essay: "The Decline & Fall of Music", Part 6 of 6

       Another disturbing musical trend is the excessive prices of concert tickets and souvenirs. Certain ticket agencies (legal scalpers)  currently have the legal right to buy the bulk of good tickets, and turn around and sell those tix with a nonrefundable service charge; which sometimes at least doubles the normal ticket price. Also, thanks to the greed of the older, wiser Rolling Stones, concert shirts worth about $10 cost at least $20. At a Fleetwood Mac show I attended, I was shocked to see a sweatshirt worth no more than $25 selling for $50.

       Hopefully, there will eventually be a legal crackdown on the highly unethical practices of these so-called ticket agencies, but, in the meantime; if concertgoers willingly pay exorbitant fees for choice tickets then every aspect of paying for concerts will likely be priced out of control.

[Originally appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper and part of my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays]

Essay: "The Decline and Fall of Music" Part 5

Essay: "The Decline & Fall of Music", Part 5

       With no racial bias implied or intended, rap music at its worst is merely the semi-creative process of making up juvenile, simplistic rhymes or limericks and then recording portions of past or present hit songs (sampling) over the 'raps', which frankly anyone can do. Rap/hip-hop music has been around long enough that there is great rap music, good rap music, mediocre rap music, and terrible rap music. Most rap is neither great nor terrible, but somewhere between the two extremes.

       Thankfully, not all of today's music is awful. Sometimes good or even great music is still recorded. It would seem though, that the eighties and nineties have yet to produce singer-songwriters on a par with Billy Joel, Jackson Brown, Stevie Nicks and several other talents from the recent past; although Tracy Chapman and a handful of others come close. If the trend toward awful music , like that of the New Kids On The Block, expands or gets worse, then luckily there are thousands of oldies to choose from. A lot of the time, I would rather hear such great tunes from the past like "Heat Wave" (Martha and the Vandellas), "Shot Gun"(Junior Walker and the All-Stars), "Born To Be Wild" (Steppenwolf), "Wipe Out" (The Ventures), and "White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane), among others, than most of the so-called music released on the radio and in record/CD stores today. Unfortunately though, when a record label folds, the music on that label is often also difficult or impossible to find except for extremely popular artists. (to be cont'd)

 [Originally appeared in Eastern Connecticut State University's Campus Lantern student newspaper in the early '90s and part of my unpublished (until now) manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays]