The American Dream

| by Victor Cherubim

( August 15, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The idea of the American dream is rooted in the US Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” and that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” have to be shared by all.

Paul Ryan

The definition of the American Dream by James T. Adams in 1931 states: “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability, or achievement regardless of social class or circumstance of birth.”

With the selection of Rep. Paul Ryan, the seventh term Wisconsin fiscally conservative, Vice Presidential candidate as Gov. Mitt Romney’s running mate, it is exciting to see Republicans across the country fired up to support the American Comeback Team.

With the budget deficit in the US running at near $ 4 trillion it is small wonder that Republicans are claiming to cut it by at least half if they are elected. They plan to revamp President Obama’s Medicare and Medicaid programme for elderly and people with disabilities and educational spending, to get the economy back on track.

To be elected as President a candidate requires 270 out of a total of 538 Electoral College votes.

At the last election in 2008 President Obama obtained 365 electoral votes.

What are the elements that can make the dream into a nightmare?

At the moment activists on both sides of the political divide are ecstatic. Some observers think it will be a dream for the Democrats and a nightmare for the Republicans. “Laying off workers, cutting benefits, pioneering outsourcing, possibly bankrupting companies,” could all be on the cards. Other commentators feel that balancing the budget is a dicey prospect, which may take us not earlier than 2040.

The last thing that President Obama needs before the November election is a Greek exit from the Euro, which in turn will roll the global financial dice. Yet evidence coming out of Athens suggests such an event could be possible with adverse consequences.

Belief and mindset play an enormous part in any election, whether it is a US Presidential or a Provincial Council election in Sri Lanka

Further there is the undecided voter. Whether we like it or not, decisions in USA or Sri Lanka, will be taken by the young, the disillusioned, those who are in unemployment, or under- employed or by those not wanting employment. Those born before 1948 are termed as the silent generation. Those born between 1946 and 1964 are the “baby boomers.” Those born between 1980 and 2010 are called the “Y” generation.

In this generation gap, the ”Y” generation maintain :”why should I get a job; why should I leave home and find my own place, why should I own a car when I can borrow yours; why should I clean my room, buy any food, wash and iron my clothes.” This is the dream generation. They are the undecided voter.

In the United States, the “Y” generation voters have their own vision of the American dream. A new dream is unfolding before our eyes. Over the past thirty years we have stripped away the support mechanisms. We have left the young without an identity. We have built houses farther away from jobs. This has led to longer commuting, which in turn has led to more traffic. In response we have built more highways, increasing fuel consumption, but doing little, if any to reduce traffic. It seems a vicious circle.

In Sri Lanka, we are having big brother neighbour telling us: "All that Sri Lanka needs today is a government with committed and dedicated leadership qualities that is capable of creating the right climate for growth, asking our President to take a conciliatory tone."

Sweeping changes have and are taking place in U.S. and Sri Lanka, both in demography as well as in our mindset. Our dream is to live our life as our ancestors did, a healthy life, eating our healthy foods, with a relaxed lifestyle, without being told by others how to live our life. We are a small nation in Sri Lanka and what we do is in proportionate to our size, status and our culture and not to live America in Sri Lanka.

We are also told that it is no longer the American dream to own a plot of land with a house on it and two cars in the driveway. People are looking for an alternative, the market and the culture is committed to it and the future President of the US should respect that wish.