The American Dream: A Delusion? By Laurie A Johnson

American Dream Junior Theme Essay
The American Dream is attainable for all americans. Just like Chris Gardner switched from being homeless to being a multi millionaire. You just gotta want it and work hard. “The American Dream is a delusion, an illusion meant to keep people dissatisfied and hungering to spend more money, in the hopes that the next purchase will be the one that buys them the happiness they are promised” (Obama). “Traditionally, Americans have sought to realize the American dream of success, fame and wealth through thrift and hard work. ”(Warshauer). The obstacles that have to be hurdled while trying to attain the American Dream are: getting a decent income, finding a lover and finding a home. Although it might be true that

minimum wage helps some people with attainment of the American Dream. For others minimum wage creates a cycle of struggle to get a good salary and a steady income.

Laurie A Johnson author of “The ‘American Dream’: A Delusion?” believes the American Dream is not attainable because it is a delusion and won’t satisfy.

Many people in America cannot afford to buy a home, and most families do not fit the fifties-era ideal. Nonetheless, the media and advertisers continue to promote the delusion of the American dream, and consumers continue to spend their money in hope of achieving it. However, in order to be truly happy, Americans need to reject the false American dream and create their own vision of happiness. The author is trying to say. Stop trying to attain everyone's dream, make your own dream and try to chase that not the American Dream. While it is true not everyone can attain the American Dream and people should follow their own dreams and be themselves. But the American Dream can be attained through minimum wage and hard work. Although it might be true that minimum wage helps some people with attainment of the American Dream. For others minimum wage creates a cycle of struggle to get a good salary and a steady

income.

Opposing Viewpoints In Context the Library Journal’s Best for Reports 2013 says: “Under the FLSA, if a state’s minimum wage is lower than the federal minimum wage, then the federal minimum wage must be paid to workers in that state. If a state’s minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage, then the state rate applies”. The author is talking about the certain rules and regulations minimum wage attains. But the author’s claim and argument is similar to mine because he said the minimum wage is too low. I’m saying the same thing and also how minimum wage you need to work harder and more to be successful.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context provides us with a minimum wage in 2009 graph.

A lot of the states didn’t even have over 8 dollars for minimum wage. An awful lot of 7 dollars and some change. An only whopping six states have an 8 dollar minimum wage, Illinois being one of the six states. Showing this graph people can actually see how little the pay is. A lot of people are probably wondering “How could you attain the American Dream only getting paid 7 dollars an hour and only getting 30 hours per week?”. That is very true, how could people attain the American Dream with minimum wage? There’s no correct answer for this question but the only answer there is right now is just work hard and create your own dream to

chase.

Chris Gardner never stopped believing in what he was doing. Then he became a millionaire instead of living on the street. Chris Garner was a father and a husband while being homeless. He even won an award because he took such good care of his kid in the circumstances he was in. Chris Gardner attained the American Dream by working hard and not stop. He had 3 jobs at the time he was homeless, but still was able to support his kid. The future was uncertain, absolutely, and there were many hurdles, twists, and turns to come, but as long as I kept moving forward, one foot in front of the other, the voices of fear and shame, the messages from those who wanted me to believe that I wasn’t good enough, would be stilled”(Chris Gardner).
All in all minimum wage can bee seen as both a positive and a negative influence on achieving the American Dream. Although it might be true that minimum wage helps some people with attainment of the American Dream. For others minimum wage creates a cycle of struggle to get a good salary and a steady income.American Dream can be seen as many different things. If you have a dream chase it. Don’t go for a dream everyone wants. Be yourself. The research matters because it is good information for someone who wants to attain a dream while having a minimum wage job. The argument of minimum wage being to low to help people with the attainment of the American Dream matters because people need to know even the minimum is too low nowadays.