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Why the American Dream Is Bigger than Palin or McCain
Below is a guest blog entry by economist and MoJo author Nomi Prins:
At some point today, (around the time I noticed Lindsay Lohan weighing in), I got hit with Sarah Palin overload.
Then, I realized that Palin's omnipresence isn't about
">John McCain or Barack Obama, or even this week's RNC. It's not about her experience or stance on issues. It's about the "Pop" American Dream.
The old American Dream is dying. Rampant economic inequality makes the cost of working hard to achieve prohibitive. In a culture where more people vote for the next American Idol than for the next president, no wonder Sarah Palin is the top story: She defines the new American Dream, where leaping to the top against all odds is the end goal in itself. Of course there are voters appalled that someone 'like her' can be a 'heartbeat away from the presidency.' But there are also plenty of voters delighted that someone 'like her' has a shot at the ultimate American Dream—a spot in the White House.
Beneath the Palin hue and cry lie issues that will determine the next American Dream for 99 percent of America.
Those issues include the housing foreclosure and default crisis and the exponential growth in credit card debt. And they include a need to shift the tax burden, health care costs, and retirement risk away from the middle and poorer classes—so that they can afford an American Dream built on dedicated hard work.
That's why it's so important we get back to debating the issues, rather than Sarah Palin's personal life.
—Nomi Prins
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Legitimate questions are being drowned out. And all the noise is being generated by McCain's people!
I think your thesis has merit but it's a test for the press to see if they can focus on the valued story rather than the fluff.
Shoooot, why don't we just do it reality show-style then? "America's Next President"! This is what we've devolved into...
Hard work, hard shmerk. What country have you been living in?
I agree her personal life is of no interest to me. But the Republicans don't seem to eager to talk about issues. Also, I do think vetting Palin by the press and campaigns is fair game. Hillary, Obama and McCain have been vetted by the press and the public during the primaries, so they are not a blank slate. We know all and then some. Palin should not get a pass. We should be digging in deep to try to find out about what she has done, I am for one, am not going to take the Republicans word for Palin's experience. I dig around the Alaska blogs to find out information about her character, her governing, her executive experience. Then I make my vote!
One target. It's all image over content. American's political idol season 1.
American Dream, only a dream?
The real American Dream was conceptualized by historian James Truslow Adams in 1931 which he refer to as the dream land which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement. But this could be impossible right now because of the simultaneous crisis happening in our country. Almost every megalith of business had its roots as a start up business at one point, and people were there at the ground floor. However, it's getting harder to do so. John Taylor, VP of research for the National Venture Capitalists Association reports that ventures are down, because people are far choosier about who'll they'll financially back with installment loans to start a company. The number of investments has dropped over 50% since last year. Venture capitalists have been hit hard by the recession, and it makes it harder for people with a start up business to get the installment loans they need to realize their dream.