Yes this is trading an anecdote. It is also sharing his own experience and perspective. And his hopes and dreams. Which differ from the journalist's take. The

Yes this is trading an anecdote. It is also sharing his own experience and perspective. And his hopes and dreams. Which differ from the journalist's take. The American Dream not so much fading as changing. Reciting the same grim statistics about unemployment and falling wages yet again is what "isn't going to get anyone anywhere." But this sort of conversation? Quite the opposite.