The American Dream meme does more harm that good.

[milestogo]

It promotes a universal sense of entitlement. Its mostly about ownership. Realizing the American Dream is about having certain things.

It does nothing to promote the common good, or a sense of community. It is not about being a good citizen and respecting the laws.

And now we can see the results of that: A totally divided country.

MLKjr had a different kind of dream, a dream of equality among people - but most people are still pursing the acquisitive dream.

[Solomon]

1. Whoever dies with the most toys wins.

Unlimited greed.

[harumph]

2. I'm not so sure it's much different from

any "dream" for any western democracy - that is, it represents the possibility of wealth acquisition. Because with
wealth comes opportunity, ability to provide materially for your children, etc...

I'm not arguing for it mind you - but just stating facts.
For example, the "American Dream" is often thought of as home ownership. Home ownership
appears to separate those who are afterward (due to the ownership of a major asset)
capable of accruing even more wealth from those lower on the
economic rungs.

How do you define "equality" among people. Is it equal opportunity for advancement?
Does a person suffering from a schizoid personality have equal opportunity. How about those with
learning differences? Do you mean simply that all people should be accorded the same rights enumerated in
the Bill of Rights? Or, are we talking about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? I'm
not trying to be obtuse. I just think we ought to define some terms.

[PlanetBev]

3. George Carlin made it plain

“There’s a reason they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

[harumph]

4. George Carlin - a great social commentator in his last years.

He's one of my favorites. I do think he's correct, if one interprets the "American Dream" as being equally accessible
by all. I'm lucky. My wife and I own our home and have managed to put some retirement away. But, I had
overall, more advantages than disadvantages (I'm white, male and have some marketable skills). That said, we aren't in
the 1% wealth wise and probably never will be. But I know I've been lucky and was maybe born in the right locale
at the right time. Accordingly, I don't attribute our success to just hard work. Hard work was part of it - but
I've been so lucky in many respects. I believe what the OP is getting at
is that the level of income inequality is unsustainable - that the American Dream being sold as accessible by all is at
its core "fraudulent" and they would be correct.