The New American Dream(ers)

When I opened up The American Dream in the 21st Century by Sandra L. Hanson and John Kenneth White, I flipped to the Table of Contents page in search of an intriguing chapter based on its title. Usually, I am one to not judge a book by it’s cover, or an article by its title in this case, but the article titled “Want Meets Necessity in the New American Dream” written by John Zogby grasped my attention.

Firstly, the contrasting demands of want versus need within the American Dream is a concept that is interesting to me. Over generations, this idea has developed in several ways, creating a balance of moralistic and materialistic dreams within the whole American Dream. Since this is a topic I continue to explore, I decided to read over this article. Another part of the title that captured my attention was the word “new” and following with “American Dream.” This title provides insight into the article. I know that Zogby will be addressing the development of the American Dream and how it has changed, which is another interesting topic.

Within the article, Zogby claims that the American Dream is indeed alive; however, it has changed since our ancestors arrived to America and again in recent years. In the past, the American Dream was focused on materialistic values and the betterment of oneself, but Zogby argues that “[i]f the American Dream was all about money and material goods, then it should have been in trouble in Utica,” his hometown, “twenty years ago and wilting everywhere in the recession-cum-depression of 2008-2009” (106). In Utica, New York, hard times prospered early amongst the citizens, and people fled. The population suffered severe drops as thousands of citizens adopted new cities to live in. In the 1980s, Zogby conducted hunger studies and concluded that middle-class people were clinging onto their houses and cars rather than ensuring that food was provided each and every day. During this time, people ate less than in the past, and the American Dream developed. Zogby claims that it was no longer about goals of money and endless products, but about survival. Utica was a source of the start of the changing American Dream. It adapts to situations and to individuals in different circumstances and provides the dreamers with motivation to keep moving forwards.

When moving further into the article, Zogby argues that there are four categories in which people fall into in regard to levels of belief in the American Dream: Traditional Materialist (achievement through material success), Secular Spiritualists (achievement through spiritual fulfillment), Deferred Dreamers (possible achievement through material success by future generations), and Dreamless Dead (achievement not attainable). Zogby claims that with time, people have begun to categorize themselves as Secular Spiritualists rather than Traditional Materialists. Zogby includes an interactive poll from 2008 to back up his argument. However, many questions remain as to why this occurred: what factors in recent years has sparked this transition? What aspects of the American Dream are being given up by focusing on “longing for a simpler life” (108)? How large of an influence between both gender and profession play in this switch of belief? This transition took place directly after the 2008 election, what specific factors within the 2008 election took a direct part in this shift? In this moment, these questions remain unanswered, but what we can take from this is that the American Dream is not a static concept, nor will it ever be.