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gifted students and the state offers grants. o The American Dream is an ideal to encourage people to give their best. o The ideal never dies. o Everybody has the same opportunities to achieve their goals. This doesn't mean that everybody will succeed. con o Those people who made their dream come true, make headlines. The thousands who don't succeed go unnoticed. o Statistics show that compared to other countries social mobility in the US is rather limited. o Mobility actually lower than in Europe o The US has an aristocracy of sorts. It's the families with new money, hereditary dynasties all the same. o If you are not able to work hard (e.g. handicapped) you will not receive as much financial help as you would in Europe. There is a welfare system for the handicapped and elderly which is called social security and Medicaid. o However, if you are poor, it is seen as your own fault. "Just get another job!" o Emphasis on individual responsibility can lead to isolation and insecurity or indifference from other people. o Recent developments -> The rich become richer, the poor stay poor, the middle class decreases in size. (cf. "Occupy Wall Street" protests) o It's not possible to do every job you want -> no job, no money. o Examples are not the rule and real success is rare. o High quality schools or universities are very expensive. virtually impossible to pay them off and make ends meet at Many people rack up high debts for tuition and find it the same time. o The ideal has changed from something tangible to a vague idea that seems to become increasingly harder to reach these days. o limited chances to climb the career ladder o There are not enough well-paid jobs (e.g. due to outsourcing) to get ahead. Many Americans have to work two or even more jobs to make ends meet. o The American Dream means that children will do better o Parents today are less optimistic because of the economic than their parents. crisis, too many temporary jobs, the cost of education etc.