Nantucket’s Brant Point Lighthouse

LinkedIn Group Chatter 5

Michael A. – Technology Account Executive and UMass Boston alumnus

I looked and read some of the comments here and reflected for a moment. So much talk about that person is wrong, President Bush was wrong, Wall Street Greed, much amateur rancor. Its one of the things that is currently wrong about the US. When we see a problem we must immediately think of who to blame and then demonize to justify our views.

I was watching the news on several channels tonight. In several segments there I saw Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi demonizing the Republican Tax Plan. This plan was on the agenda since February of 2010 while she was Speaker of the House. The United States is faced with mounting debt, hard choices must be made. But former Speaker Pelosi can think of nothing better than to attempt to vilify and belittle a plan.

You see I believe that the American Dream is about self reliance. It’s about taking responsibility for your actions. When I was growing up having to take Food Stamps and Section 8 Housing were things to be ashamed of. Now it is a badge of courage. We have teenage mothers who have babies for no better purpose than to escape the confines of their home and in turn parental constraints.

I see families who have been on welfare for generations with no inclination to rise above it. This even though they have been afforded that opportunity, but they chose not to take it.

When elected politicians decide that they will circumvent the over riding principles of our laws and moral obligations that is owed to each citizen of this great country in allowing illegal aliens to take full advantage of the system and many times displace a US citizen of their rightful benefit.

You see, I do not believe much of the hype about Wall Street, large homes, corporate profit etc. I believe the American Dream rest with each individual to be the best person, father, mother, son, daughter, uncle, aunt they can be. To rise above the challenges of their everyday lives and make this country what it was and still can be.

LinkedIn Group Chatter 4

Mark O – MD from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and a BS from the University of Alberta

I'm not American except North American i.e. a Cannuck and have for 30+ years followed American domestic and foreign policy and recently the economic decline (actually median wages have stagnated since the 1970s) and am happily surprised to see people waking up and starting to ask this question about the American Dream. Wisconsin is interesting and what about Ohio and the Californian debt?

The only thing I see missing is a statement blaming business for off-shoring and Wall Street for blowing up bubbles like the housing and tech bubble beforehand. All the big economists at the Fed, Academia, writing for newspapers etc. missed it. I didn't because I was reading non-mainstream economist (lefties!). Easy to blame government and it's correct to do so as they are in bed with big business but why no statement saying I blame Big Business? Strange!

As I read about retirees who lost all their pensions (401k's?) and those who lost so much equity in their houses if not outright foreclosed, I feel great pity. Proximity and similar lifestyle (Canada) and desires breeds a certain sense of empathy. Also US consumption if perhaps overdone is a big driving force in much of the world's (export) economies. I suppose there is a lot of hidden shame as people don't like to admit unemployment, foreclosure etc. seeing it as personal failings rather than of the system. That was part of the 'dream': if you worked hard you could make it and if you didn't make it you were lazy or personally deficient

LinkedIn Group Chatter 3

Bob M. – Entrepreneur with an MBA degree from University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School and a BA from Lafayette College

I think some of your facts are wrong.  Over 100 banks have failed.  The unemployment rate reached 10% and then declined only because those who ran out of support - 99 weeks - are no longer counted.  If you add the unemployed and the underemployed the true figure is probably 20-25%.  One out of every six people in this country is experiencing a problem in getting food.  One of every 4 mothers with infants is having a problem affording diapers.

At the same time the situation is not as severe as it was in the Great Depression, when we were still moving from an agricultural society to an industrial one.  The movement today is from an industrial society to a service society, which again calls for dislocation and different skill sets.

LinkedIn Group Chatter 2

Janet L. – Retired with BA degree from University of Massachusetts

You're optimism is showing. I don't think we're ignorant, perhaps naive. And not apathetic, although I do think that as we get older we tend put aside our activist-youth persona and become part of the 'silent majority'.

LinkedIn Group Chatter

Individuals provided comments through LinkedIn groups. Here are some of the LinkedIn comments:

Harry T. – Sales executive with BA degree from University of Maine

The thought that our American Government can decree that the Recession ended some 14 months before their pronouncement is laughable especially with unemployment still near double digits and countries around the world still struggling. How is it that Ireland needed a bailout if the Global Recession ended in 2009?

Title for Book

Book titles are short and punchy. Check out the NY Times Weekly Best Seller list.

What's your idea for a book title?

How does this sound?

Freedom or Wealth. 
Do we really know what the American Dream means to us?

Love to hear your thoughts.

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Question 9 Comments

My commission based income dwindled to virtually nothing, although I was still technically employed.

I am self-employed and my revenues are down 45%.  There is no safety net for the self-employed, such as unemployment benefits.  All we have are our savings and the equity in our homes.  Both of mine are depleted.  I will not be able to retire and hope to die young.

There is plenty of work if you are willing to change. There is only the promise of opportunity

I have had various immediate family members unemployed, working part-time jobs (sometimes more than one at a time), or consulting on their own during 2007-2010

As I was forced to close a business, no unemployment benefits were available

We gave up on "employment" after the recession post 9/11 and became self-employed 10 years ago. Been struggling but are making it narrowly, ever since.

You really ought to have some sort of explanation on what you refer to as 'the American dream'. It's a pretty vague concept. Also ask for comments at the end.

Family suffered a significant reduction in income -- although everyone remained employed --- mostly.

I have been out of work for 2 1/2 years despite dozens of interviews

I was involved in Work-Share, a one day a week lay-off / unemployment program

Retired/Self employed

I have been seriously under-employed, though

I became unemployed on 1 January 2008 and received my first decent contract just this month.  I cannot find a salaried position.  I'd just like to add that I have a Ph.D. from an elite, Eastern university minted in 1989, am a prize-winning author, and am reasonably well connected.  I have worked at some of the country's most prestigious institutions (Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCSF) and still cannot find a job--not a teaching job, mind you, but an administrative position.  Most recently, in September, I had nine (9) separate interviews for a position in the Executive Vice Chancellor's office at UCSF.  Nine interviews, including a meeting with the chancellor herself (with whom I worked 15 years ago at Genentech).  How could I possibly believe in the so-called American Dream?  I thought this was going to be a survey about the DREAM Act, which is why I clicked on it in the first place.

I have been unemployed since November 2008.

I have been technically unemployed since Oct '07, working odd jobs & temp positions since then.

My first unemployment was 2001, along with someone in my immediate family. It has been a financial rollercoaster.

Presently unemployed for over a year and a half

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