Question 3 Comments

I wrote a paper in 1996 that said that The American Dream, as we define/live it now, will inevitably play itself out this way because it is built on an ideal of social inequity.  The natural result is a "trickle-up" effect of misery.

Yes and no, I still think education is the key to the American  Dream but don't think the dream of making it big is that big

Things are cyclical, people have no memory and are mostly not well read and plan for nothing.

Excessive government spending and over taxation is killing the American Dream

Lost that belief some time ago.

National identities are slowly becoming less relevant, as the Global community grows in connectivity.

Government should not get involved in setting loan limits

The A typical American Dream is a thing of the past.

I think that the American dream was more a myth than a dream.

I never really bought into that concept of owning a house, 2 cars, 2.3 kids and a wallet full of credit cards

Politicians need to take economics classes

Made it more attainable as housing prices decreased.

Not sure I ever believed in it.  Certainly most Americans have at one time or another, but it's not real.  A poll just before the recession showed that most Americans believed they were in the top 20% of earners, which is impossible, but it's what makes people so anti-progressive.   We all believe we'll be wealthy some day, so we don't want to tax the wealthy!

I never believed in the American dream; it is a fantasy of a bygone era and the most privileged classes.  It is also serves as justification for blaming the victims of a class stratified, racist society.

The recession exposed our nation’s insatiable sense of entitlement and its citizens’ resolve to remain unaccountable for personal decisions and behavior. Our nation will become a banana republic unless its citizens enact term limits for all elected State and Federal offices; establish a publicly funded campaign program available to all certified primary winners; audit all private campaign contributions of any type via the IRS; end earmarks all together; and stop publicly funded pension benefits of any kind paid to any term-expired elected office holder.

My belief in the American Dream ended long before this recession began.

It has changed my plans for retirement.

I believe it is a factor of nepotism for most of us. If your parents have wealth and connections than it will be easier for you to spring board to a higher income. I think the poor or lower middle class are finding more opportunities closing on them.

I've always believed the "American Dream" is BS; this has just confirmed my already-held beliefs.

Question 3

More Comments on Question 2

Only when there is genuine MIDDLE CLASS recovery in the US.  That requires educational innovation, infrastructure improvement, renovation of our productive economy. US is still the largest economy in the world and there can be no global recovery until we fundamentally restructure our economy.

I have my doubts that it will end, but, if it does, I don't believe things will be tough in the U.S. and probably in other countries, such as many in Europe.  I believe that other countries like South Africa, India, and China will have their day.  The U.S. will not longer be an economic power; perhaps, it no longer is one now.

When governments finally realize there need to be strict bank reforms, enact them and fair lending practices resume.

I answered in question number 1....it ended in 2009. That does not mean that I believe we can all get back to being heavily in debt and sucked into mortgages and car payments that we cannot afford. Nor do I believe that we will start earning more money.

While the recession did end technically in 2009, the reality for millions is that the recession is still with us.

Having just read an ad for subprime mortgages in a local minority newspaper, it's sad to say that we may have not seen the end of many dips in the coming years.  Additionally, if we continue to restrict immigration and refuse to fund education adequately, we'll face global competition like we've never seen before.

Maybe it will end by late 2011, but the jobs outlook is still bleak and until that improves and the credit markets rebound I do not think we can say we are out of the woods despite revisionist Government proclamations.

It will never be as it was 6 years ago in regards to making a living. Housing will never be as lopsided as it was.in some ways it was a very good thing, in other ways horrible. I believe we have been more of a depression. I need to alter my reality to survive. I am not sure of when it will end. Hopefully within 5 yrs.

Once the private sector starts to expand to create jobs, less corruption in both public and private sector enough for an agreement can be met in our political parties for our economy issues to be dealt with

I'm not sure it will ever 'end' -- life will just be different and we'll learn to live more cautiously.

I guess it depends on who is defining recession. While it may have ended in some way, the economy certainly still lags – flattened and plateaued. Another year till it feels different, longer perhaps.

Will not end until the Fed and its fraudulent currency are replaced with gold and/or silver backed currency.

Question 2 comments

It will end for some countries, not for others, unless some governments do an overhaul of their economic processes and systems.  Those countries that subscribe to a "Yertle the Turtle" economic infrastructure (e.g., the USA) will only survive if they have enough muscle to protect the status quo.

Sometime in 2011 when companies start to hire again for growth.  Presently they are hording cash and not investing for the future.

I believe the first wave of the Global Recession probably ended in 2009, but reports have shown that there may be a second wave coming in the spring of 2011. I'm not sure when I think that wave will end.

I don't know what technically defines "recession", but with the number of people out of work across the country, and related stresses on the middle class, it surely does not feel over to me.

When real unemployment is under 15%

Not until jobs have started to return in numbers beyond just the status quo.

Business models are changing radically as it moves more and more into the common person's reach. It may take a while... but then, everything is moving so quickly now. Dec. 2012, maybe?

When the majority of displaced workers return to full time work with benefits, at a salary/wages w/in 12% of their last earnings.

Question 2

It's now the middle of 2012. Do you believe the recession is ended?

Question 1 Graph

Question 1

American Dream 2010
Do you believe the Global Recession ended in 2009?
Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes	8.5%	15
No	91.5%	161
answered question		176
skipped question		0