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The american dream seems to have changed more towards taking from others to give to ones self. I notice a difference in "safety nets" now compared to say end of

The american dream seems to have changed more towards taking from others to give to ones self. I notice a difference in "safety nets" now compared to say end of ww1. Very different times, and it affects many things.

joshkpeterson 10y ago
"Safety nets" is an unfortunate term. It's pejorative in an American sort of way because it implies that you screwed up. We should instead think of these things as a platform that everyone deserves, and everyone gets.
chris_va 10y ago
Don't conflate political rhetoric with quality of life. Quality of life has never been higher for any social class, even with unfortunate income inequality.
- gr3yh47 10y ago
  >Quality of life has never been higher for any social class even if this were true (source?) it doesnt matter when there is a steady move toward lower social class on average for the overwhelming majority of Americans
  - fleitz 10y ago
    Yes, the middle class IS shrinking, but the amazing thing is people are leaving to the upper classes at a 2:1 ratio. > The study shows that as the number of middle-class Americans fell (from 61 percent of the population to 51 percent of the population), the percentage of Americans who are upper income surged from 14 percent of the population to 20 percent of the population. http://www.cnbc.com/id/48754974 http://www.cnbc.com/id/48754974 71% of Americans are middle class or better, amazing. Most of those in the lower classes are those who decided not to get any skills.
    - hrehhf 10y ago
      Notice how that link is not specific about what counts as upper class and middle class. It is not the case that people in the "lower" classes decided not to get any skills. It is that the economy changes over time and their skills are no longer compensated well and, in general, US society is not good at accommodating people to change their skill-sets to move into a new career. You might have anecdotes about people who made such a career change, but for society as a whole, it is too difficult.
- gech 10y ago
  HD TVs and cell phones, rent to own

joshkpeterson 10y ago

"Safety nets" is an unfortunate term. It's pejorative in an American sort of way because it implies that you screwed up. We should instead think of these things as a platform that everyone deserves, and everyone gets.

chris_va 10y ago

Don't conflate political rhetoric with quality of life. Quality of life has never been higher for any social class, even with unfortunate income inequality.

gr3yh47 10y ago
>Quality of life has never been higher for any social class even if this were true (source?) it doesnt matter when there is a steady move toward lower social class on average for the overwhelming majority of Americans
- fleitz 10y ago
  Yes, the middle class IS shrinking, but the amazing thing is people are leaving to the upper classes at a 2:1 ratio. > The study shows that as the number of middle-class Americans fell (from 61 percent of the population to 51 percent of the population), the percentage of Americans who are upper income surged from 14 percent of the population to 20 percent of the population. http://www.cnbc.com/id/48754974 http://www.cnbc.com/id/48754974 71% of Americans are middle class or better, amazing. Most of those in the lower classes are those who decided not to get any skills.
  - hrehhf 10y ago
    Notice how that link is not specific about what counts as upper class and middle class. It is not the case that people in the "lower" classes decided not to get any skills. It is that the economy changes over time and their skills are no longer compensated well and, in general, US society is not good at accommodating people to change their skill-sets to move into a new career. You might have anecdotes about people who made such a career change, but for society as a whole, it is too difficult.
gech 10y ago
HD TVs and cell phones, rent to own