29: The Evolution of the American Dream: How Has It Changed and Is It Still Attainable?

Current statistics show that there are approximately 330 million people living in the United States, and according to our national ethos, we each live by the ideals that our freedom as American citizens includes the opportunity for prosperity and success. As well, it includes an upward social mobility for our family and our children achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. However, what if all of this is out of reach for a large part of our population? In this episode, we want to explore the concept of The American Dream, and talk about if it is truly something that is offered to all of our citizens. 

How could you be getting a little more involved in helping people? Today we’ll be providing examples of what we could, and should, be doing to help as many of those around us in need achieve The American Dream as possible. Start with one small step, and see the magic that happens for those who need a lift and a little bit of help, because it could be any of us, at any time, in that same situation. 

As always, we love to hear your feedback.  If you have a question or topic that you’d like us to discuss in a future episode, please go to https://www.respectcircles.com/voicemail/ to leave us a message. 

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In this episode you’ll hear: 

• Where the term “The American Dream” came from originally [1:46]
  
  
• What the restaurant industry is doing to help its workers get closer to realizing this dream [6:41]
  
  
• How the poverty measure for the United States is calculated, and what’s been happening to average salaries in this country [9:00]
  
  
•  What living in poverty really means [10:16]
  
  
• Important things that have been overlooked about poverty for too long [11:49]
  
  
• Why the topic of poverty can be so controversial [13:28]
  
  
• The impact that Stephanie has seen from pandemic stimulus given to Americans the last few years [15:02]
  
  
• What changes need to be done at the political, and business level, to lift Amercians out of poverty [15:36]
  
  
• Actions steps that each of us can take as individuals to help those in need [22:43] 

Links & Resources: 

Current Population Survey (CPS)