AMERICAN DREAM

The American Dream is more and more difficult for more and more people. But then again… what is the American Dream? That is tough to answer in a line or two because the answer depends completely upon who one may ask. If you ask me its Biscuits and Gravy (white of course), Merle Haggard, lots of solitude, a good dog, a good library and a good wife.

Much of the American life is filled with getting material goods and being right, instead of pursuing good and doing right. With a life full of the ‘American Dream’ there is little time for any other dream especially the dream of changing the world by doing good and right things. As long as we are trapped by this “American Dream’ model there is no time, money, energy or interest for anyone except ourselves. But there are justifiable reasons for this.

The average home in America now costs $360,000 according to the US Census Bureau… and in California where I live it is $448,000…plus another $1204 a month for taxes, fees, insurance, repairs and such. The average auto in the US now costs $33,560 according to USA Today and the average income in the US is $51,000. It is easy to instantly see some problems shaping up here.

We have to decide if the American Dream is a dream or a Nightmare. We then have to decide what we will do about it for our own sanity and survival.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Jesus