Don't talk to me about the "American Dream"

    When people bring up a tiresome anecdote about how their single mother worked hard, got a job, did night school and was able to obtain a good job or how their father rose through the ranks, explaining the prosperity they enjoy now I typically want to gag. Not because these stories aren't inspiring or heart warming. Mostly because these people typically end the story with a "and that's why the poor need to stop complaining" bit at the end. It's honestly the most disrespectful and ignorant statement to make. My parents are similar to all of these stories. Teenage drop outs, who worked hard and helped raise a family of currently 2 college students (one of them soon to be a college graduate) and the other still in high school. My father has a great drop with one of the most prestigious real estate companies in NYC and my mom has quickly worked her way from a gate agent to the administrative assistant of Terminal 5. The point is that their stories are pretty remarkable, yet I never heard my parents once take it as a sign that they were more deserving of success than anyone else. The reality is that often our success is a result of luck just as much as it a result of hard work. If you are under the delusion that people don't work hard enough, then think again. There is always someone out there who is working hard, if not harder than you are. Yet you're knowledge of what fields are growing or perhaps you happen to pick a company while they are expanding may have been the difference between you getting a great job and the other person remaining stagnant. Furthermore, for those of you who think that working through college entitles you the right to belittle those who cannot make it through college need to grow up. Working through college is difficult and I have so much respect for people who work tons of hours, but that doesn't make you better than those who don't work. Honestly, I can't stand it. I can't stand the hubris and I can't stand the fantasy people live in. Here's a hint for you all.

The American Dream is dead (it's always been dead)

The stories we like to tell ourselves at night  about the poor rising up the ranks are just anecdotes, which represent a minority of the population. While the majority of poor Americans struggle and see the window of opportunity sealed shut. The rich board these windows up with wood and then claim the hurricane known as recession, globalization, government and so on are keeping it closed. I think I know what's going on: old fashion greed. So if you want to argue with someone's socio economic plight by talking about your hard work or even worse (your parents), then shut it. I don't care and you're not helping anyone.