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I think the idea centered around the notion that compared to many countries (especially prior to this century) the US had a very high degree of upward mobility and no legal barriers to lifestyle (with the notable exception of race based laws).
It didn't mean that anyone could manifest the lifestyle they wanted by sheer will. Hard work was considered part of the equation unless one was fortunate enough to be an heir to a fortune.
Of course, the US is not exceptional in this regard anymore. Slipped a few in the rankings, in fact. But it is still a country that many come to in order to convert their drive and effort into something greater than they could have accomplished in their home country.
Why do Americans say that in the US you have the freedom to live any type of life you want to live? Do you really think this is true? In my opinion only the wealthy in the US really get to live the way they want, everyone else is just trying to follow some script.
Yeah, I see a lot of people with this mindset that they will be wealthy someday. Ask them are they personally a millionaire yet, or if not when do intend to be one, what’s there 5 Year plan to achieve that - At which point they will say they are happy with there current Job and having lots of money is not important to them.
There was once what was called the American Dream but for all practical purposes it's died as the premise used to be that if you found a job opportunity where you worked hard and exceeded expectations that those talents would be recognized and rewarded as you climbed the career ladder. The incentive isn't there anymore for many as they watch their hard work and superior job performance exceeded by nepotism, corporate politics rewarding the lazy and/or devious as well as the younger and less skilled who willingly work for 2/3 the salary.
That's defeatist and its not really true. Those things happen sometimes, surely, but they aren't pervasive.
Lots of people realize their goals and objectives of success. The American people created the most upwardly mobile society on the planet, and the recent apparent declines in that metric are all due to the impacts of incompatible and unnecessary immigration and the overpopulation crisis that has created.
Importing the worlds poor has sullied the reputation of the US as an upwardly mobile society because when you import poor unskilled, illiterate, uneducated people from the Third World who have already gotten an enormous boost in living standards just from being in the US, (and thus less likely to strive much further, any further gains requiring immense actual effort, that tends to depress your mobility scores.)
Why do Americans say that in the US you have the freedom to live any type of life you want to live? Do you really think this is true? In my opinion only the wealthy in the US really get to live the way they want, everyone else is just trying to follow some script.
There Are few laws or customs preventing your rise.
I do think that for MOST people in the U.S., it is possible to be wealthy IF you are smart and want it badly enough to continue to have the drive to succeed no matter what obstacles you encounter.
However, although this does not have to do with wealth, the subject of this thread touches on one of my pet peeves going WAY back to my childhood -- and that was being told that I could be anything I wanted to be.
Oh, yeah? Well, how could I ever hope to be a high fashion model with my 5'4" frame and my congenitally thick legs? (Thank goodness I never actually had that ambition, lol.) I truly do think that is very wrong to say "you can be anything you want to be" to ANYONE unless the person is very artistic, athletic, intelligent, ambitious AND physically very attractive. And, of course, it certainly does not hurt to be born to wealthy parents!
Why do Americans say that in the US you have the freedom to live any type of life you want to live? Do you really think this is true? In my opinion only the wealthy in the US really get to live the way they want, everyone else is just trying to follow some script.
I think you are a bit off the mark.. maybe you meant the oft-repeated hackneyed, feel-good, bs phrase 'You can be ANYTHING you want to be'!.
It is supposed to offer hope to those who feel hopeless, but everyone sees through it.
And of course, by extension, you can't live any lifestyle you desire.
Only the lifestyle you can afford.
Well, to be honest, only the extremely wealthy by birth, luck, or homemakers can live any type of life ...
Most of the homemakers I know are well-educated women who are actually sacrificing their ability to earn above average incomes & future social security, for the purposes of providing uncompensated caregiving.
Not just “staying home with the kids” for a few years but actual caregiving for elderly or disabled family members.
Given that the household “standards for self-sufficiency” are based on a two-adult household having two incomes; either the one employed adult is making well over double the average income ... or neither of them will be “living the dream”.
That's defeatist and its not really true. Those things happen sometimes, surely, but they aren't pervasive.
Lots of people realize their goals and objectives of success. The American people created the most upwardly mobile society on the planet, and the recent apparent declines in that metric are all due to the impacts of incompatible and unnecessary immigration and the overpopulation crisis that has created.
Importing the worlds poor has sullied the reputation of the US as an upwardly mobile society because when you import poor unskilled, illiterate, uneducated people from the Third World who have already gotten an enormous boost in living standards just from being in the US, (and thus less likely to strive much further, any further gains requiring immense actual effort, that tends to depress your mobility scores.)
In all fairness in my experience many multi-generational Americans I have met seem to not really try also, maybe even more so than the immigrants that I know.
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