Dreaming in the most American Fashion Possible. Also Abdominally fit gentlemen.

(OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER)

       The American Dream, the driving force behind all our anxiety filled, sleepless nights. The golden hand that tirelessly motivates us to keep us working like massive fleshy cogs. The dream, dreamt by Europeans causing them to migrate West to this sweet succulent land of oppurtunity. Wait shouldnt it be the European dream then? I feel like everyones going to have a problem with that rather loose statement. ANYWAY. The American dream is described by Wikipedia members as:

a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.

       I would agree with this large wall of pasted text, that the American dream is traditionally about working hard towards the golden gates of prosperity. The idea that any poor, potato peddling, ginger-nut (Irish stereotypes) can come to America, and literally work until his hands are just blunt nubs and he will strike it gold and live happily ever after.

Unfortunately, I dont think this is possible to the degree that it was in the "Good ol' days" (Im actually also skeptical of the whole legitimacy of the "American dream" idea even in the good ol' days but ill get to that later. Or maybe not if I dont remember) The reason?

After recently applying for college, looking at the bill (gasping) and having the student loans talk with my parents,(Arguably more uncomfortable than the Birds and the bees talk) I realize now that my generation is most likely going to be held down for years by the crushing weight of these student loans. Once we leave college, instead of having a fresh start and able to enter society with a financial blank slate (One of the requirements in order to qualify for beginning the process of the "American Dream") We will have to rush to whatever job is offered and spend all of our time earning money working in a Home Depot instead of putting our freshly-educationized(?)-juice-filled brains towards coming up with the next greatest piece of Software or inventing a new way to be more social while at the same time becoming less social (Im talking to you Zuck). For fear of the crippling credit repercussions that could arise from paying late bills/ not paying any bills at all.

      This fear, I think is strangling the minds, and abilitys of the selfie generation, and bottle necking the innovation process for the future. I could offer a solution by saying "look how great Europe is they pay for your University, Europes going to lead the world in innovation and Americas just going to be a bunch of middle aged Chipotle taco makers with master degrees. Why dont we follow that educational model??"

But due to my lack of knowledge on this well known and highly thought about subject, I am going to refrain from any statements such as this. also IRONY.

ANYWAY

MOVING ON..... Next question hmmmm (scrolls up) oooh Wealth!

Wealth in this day and age. From my teenage skeptical/vain perspective: A look at anyones Twitter feed will quickly clue you in to the typical teenage opinion of wealth. You see pictures of massive houses overlooking a stunning display of rolling waves with sweet boiling rays of sunlight caressing half naked, well shaven, abdominally fit gentleman relaxing with their well bosomed, toothpick, bronzed blonde female companion. There will probably also be a stereotypical rich guy car in the background.. Mercedes or Ferrari.. . . (whatever the kids are into these days) All this with the caption "#goals or (EMOJI FACE) "WANT" (EMOJI FACE)"

My point being is that a majority of teenagers my age, idolize wealth and have this unreal romanticized image  in their head and the mindset that they are just going to wake up rich one day in their Twenties. Now im about to step into uncharted territory here (meaning I have little knowledge, and its all based off of observation)

but these dreams are drastically unobtainable for a majority of the people who have them, especially the ones that get "turnt up" every weekend, and have their lives comepletely turned upside down over the fact that Jennifer is totally cheating on Brad with James.

    The funny thing about this is, that people can become rich by exploiting this romanticized image in order to promote their product (heres to you, Aber-Iamaslavetoyour Pitch) all in the name of marketing.

People are buying Jeans to look rich, when they actually make minimum wage at the local Best Buy. YOU ARE PAYING PEOPLE TO PRETEND TO BE RICH.

  

(Phwoo what a statement, got a little Fight Clubby back there.) (Also, before you write me off and dismiss me/ write a rap about big headed blonde hypocrites, I would like to add that yes, I am very much a part of the system, and I too have dreams)

All this aside, A majority of the people who are consuming these things, and posting these images to Twitter from their jewel encrusted IPhones are probably far wealthier than a majority of the human population already. (Pause)

    Ultimately, the point I have been trying to get to is that we have an unhealthy image of what "wealth" and by having these unrealistic images/dreams, we may never be contempt with and take for granted what we have currently. Unless you have nothing. Then maybe you can dream big. but not if your like sorta poor sorta rich. in the grey area. There should be a name for that, maybe grey group? grey tier? oh I got it! Grey class. 

Yeah,

In the Grey Class.