What does the American dream mean to you? This question has been answered by numerous American (and non-American) thinkers, writers, and historians for decades. None of the answers are the same because the American dream has changed over time.
David Kamp's article, "Rethinking the American Dream," which was published in Vanity Fair in April of 2009, offers brilliant analysis about this concept. It should come as no surprise to most of my readers that my understanding of this unique American ideal derives, at least in good measure, from the writings and speeches of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. Roosevelt's ambitious New Deal sought to turn this dream into a reality for millions of Americans. Kamp adds, "The Social Security Act of 1935 put this theory into practice." I think it's quite clear what MLK Jr.'s beliefs were when it came to the American Dream. Sadly, the notion has become corrupted, just as the operators of the machinery behind financing higher education have seized these systems for their own selfish gains. The operators are tucked away in so many nooks and crannies of this rusty old system, and some of them have even fooled themselves that they are doing good things for students, when in reality they are only providing oil for the worst of the machine runners. Not only are the machine operators destroying the entire higher education factory, they are eroding and devastating the dream of a proper education. Students who were once vital parts in this system have since become cogs. Until we band together and smash its structural flaws, more students will be crushed by it.
Mr. J. is one of those students who was treated like a cog. Here's what he had to say about education and the American dream.
CCJ: Where did you go to school? Why did you want to go to school?
Mr. J: I went for undergrad to Florida International University and received my B.S. in Psychology. I wanted to go to school because I thought that I would never be able to make anything of my life without an education. After I graduated, I went on to get my Master’s in counseling at St. Thomas University. If I knew then what I know now, I might have become a plumber or something more practical. I had no idea that all of that education would be a ticket to debt, misery and uncertainty. I am VERY disillusioned, and in so many ways.
CCJ: Are you the first person in your family who went to school? Tell us about your family's education background.
Mr. J: No. My father is an attorney and my siblings are all college graduates.
CCJ: How much did you originally take out in loans? Do you only have federal loans?
Mr. J: Over the course of seven years, I took out a total of approximately $189,000. I went to a private graduate school, so it cost a lot more, and I thought it would mean something. As far as I know, I have only subsidized and unsubsidized student loans. I believe they are all federal. Honestly, I do not even remember who the original lenders were, as the banks have changed so many times. Moreover, I graduated with my Master's in 1995. I cannot seem to find an accurate, accountable paper trail going back to the original loans I took out. The loans have more than doubled due to interest and my inability to pay them. Thank God, I am not in default.
CCJ: What is your profession? Do you regret going to school to become what you are today?
Mr. J: I am a licensed psychotherapist. I do not regret being what I am, as I do good work and help a lot of people. But it has become increasingly difficult to make a decent living due to the recession. If I could go back in time, I would make different choices. Life has simply become too hard and burdensome.
CCJ: How does this debt affect your mood on a daily basis?
Mr. J: I am not sure. I have become very adept at being in denial, but the human brain is a funny thing. I cannot allow myself to really grasp the enormity of the amount I owe at this point. The way I cope with it is staying in deferment or forbearance for as long as possible and LOTS OF DENIAL!
CCJ: I think it's a shame that you have to rely upon the powerful tool of denial, just because you wished to pursue a degree to help others. That said, why do we need professionals like you?
Mr. J: Americans are hurting. Life has become increasingly complex, and substance abuse rates are skyrocketing as a result of that. Therapists, in general, are caring, nurturing people who want to make a difference. We did not get into this field to become rich. We also did not get into this profession to become poverty-stricken and riddled with student loan debt.
CCJ: I am intrigued by this comment you made about education. You said to me, 'it's like I bought a house but never moved in,' could you elaborate on this point? I think you're alluding to the American Dream, correct?
Mr. J: Well, with the amount that my loans have ballooned into, I could have bought a large home- perhaps a mansion. All I got was a piece of paper that allows me to say: 'I have a graduate degree.' The American dream is a fallacy and has become a nightmare. That ship has sailed. We cannot, uh, let's say, 'un-ring' the bell. I think the American dream was a nice concept in theory but most people that I know have no idea what it really means now.
CCJ: That's a great point, and that's why I think we must reclaim the term, American dream, and define it according to a different set of principles. To dig deeper on this point, what is the meaning of the American Dream to you, and how is it connected to education?
Mr. J: The American Dream is an old concept that no longer applies to things as they are today. Clearly, the old adage that 'an education is your ticket to a happy life' was not only a lie, but a complete distortion of reality. I suppose this is more of a subjective idea-given one’s background and history.
Mr. J. and others deserve to achieve the American Dream, and that's why we must radically restructure the way in which higher education is financed. Moreover, we must help those who are burdened with debt today. We are through waiting. If we wait, all of America will lose out.
A prosperous America, means that people are living and growing, loving and nurturing one another within the walls of American homes. Without inhabitants in homes, the American Dream will dissolve, as will the hallowed ideals of the United States of America.
What does the American dream mean to you? This question has been answered by numerous American (and non-American) thinkers, writers, and historians for decades. None of the answers are the same because the American dream has changed over time.
David Kamp's article, "Rethinking the American Dream," which was published in Vanity Fair in April of 2009, offers brilliant analysis about this concept. It should come as no surprise to most of my readers that my understanding of this unique American ideal derives, at least in good measure, from the writings and speeches of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. Roosevelt's ambitious New Deal sought to turn this dream into a reality for millions of Americans. Kamp adds, "The Social Security Act of 1935 put this theory into practice." I think it's quite clear what MLK Jr.'s beliefs were when it came to the American Dream. Sadly, the notion has become corrupted, just as the operators of the machinery behind financing higher education have seized these systems for their own selfish gains. The operators are tucked away in so many nooks and crannies of this rusty old system, and some of them have even fooled themselves that they are doing good things for students, when in reality they are only providing oil for the worst of the machine runners. Not only are the machine operators destroying the entire higher education factory, they are eroding and devastating the dream of a proper education. Students who were once vital parts in this system have since become cogs. Until we band together and smash its structural flaws, more students will be crushed by it.
Mr. J. is one of those students who was treated like a cog. Here's what he had to say about education and the American dream.
CCJ: Where did you go to school? Why did you want to go to school?
Mr. J: I went for undergrad to Florida International University and received my B.S. in Psychology. I wanted to go to school because I thought that I would never be able to make anything of my life without an education. After I graduated, I went on to get my Master’s in counseling at St. Thomas University. If I knew then what I know now, I might have become a plumber or something more practical. I had no idea that all of that education would be a ticket to debt, misery and uncertainty. I am VERY disillusioned, and in so many ways.
CCJ: Are you the first person in your family who went to school? Tell us about your family's education background.
Mr. J: No. My father is an attorney and my siblings are all college graduates.
CCJ: How much did you originally take out in loans? Do you only have federal loans?
Mr. J: Over the course of seven years, I took out a total of approximately $189,000. I went to a private graduate school, so it cost a lot more, and I thought it would mean something. As far as I know, I have only subsidized and unsubsidized student loans. I believe they are all federal. Honestly, I do not even remember who the original lenders were, as the banks have changed so many times. Moreover, I graduated with my Master's in 1995. I cannot seem to find an accurate, accountable paper trail going back to the original loans I took out. The loans have more than doubled due to interest and my inability to pay them. Thank God, I am not in default.
CCJ: What is your profession? Do you regret going to school to become what you are today?
Mr. J: I am a licensed psychotherapist. I do not regret being what I am, as I do good work and help a lot of people. But it has become increasingly difficult to make a decent living due to the recession. If I could go back in time, I would make different choices. Life has simply become too hard and burdensome.
CCJ: How does this debt affect your mood on a daily basis?
Mr. J: I am not sure. I have become very adept at being in denial, but the human brain is a funny thing. I cannot allow myself to really grasp the enormity of the amount I owe at this point. The way I cope with it is staying in deferment or forbearance for as long as possible and LOTS OF DENIAL!
CCJ: I think it's a shame that you have to rely upon the powerful tool of denial, just because you wished to pursue a degree to help others. That said, why do we need professionals like you?
Mr. J: Americans are hurting. Life has become increasingly complex, and substance abuse rates are skyrocketing as a result of that. Therapists, in general, are caring, nurturing people who want to make a difference. We did not get into this field to become rich. We also did not get into this profession to become poverty-stricken and riddled with student loan debt.
CCJ: I am intrigued by this comment you made about education. You said to me, 'it's like I bought a house but never moved in,' could you elaborate on this point? I think you're alluding to the American Dream, correct?
Mr. J: Well, with the amount that my loans have ballooned into, I could have bought a large home- perhaps a mansion. All I got was a piece of paper that allows me to say: 'I have a graduate degree.' The American dream is a fallacy and has become a nightmare. That ship has sailed. We cannot, uh, let's say, 'un-ring' the bell. I think the American dream was a nice concept in theory but most people that I know have no idea what it really means now.
CCJ: That's a great point, and that's why I think we must reclaim the term, American dream, and define it according to a different set of principles. To dig deeper on this point, what is the meaning of the American Dream to you, and how is it connected to education?
Mr. J: The American Dream is an old concept that no longer applies to things as they are today. Clearly, the old adage that 'an education is your ticket to a happy life' was not only a lie, but a complete distortion of reality. I suppose this is more of a subjective idea-given one’s background and history.
Mr. J. and others deserve to achieve the American Dream, and that's why we must radically restructure the way in which higher education is financed. Moreover, we must help those who are burdened with debt today. We are through waiting. If we wait, all of America will lose out.
A prosperous America, means that people are living and growing, loving and nurturing one another within the walls of American homes. Without inhabitants in homes, the American Dream will dissolve, as will the hallowed ideals of the United States of America.
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