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As people of the United States, Americans are fortunate and fondly unique enough to have such a thing called "The American Dream." There is no other Official National Dream as such in other places around the world - there is no Bulgarian Dream or Chilean Dream as examples. It is what has attracted so many people from foreign lands to our country and way of life like a magnet. It is part of our character, found in our very own Declaration of Independence.

You know the famous tidbit about our certain "rights" that include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

- The Declaration of Independence​
 
 

The reality is the term "The American Dream" is a fairly young coinage popularized by a book published in the early 1930's - "The Epic Of America," by James Truslow Adams. One would wager that the term could be linked back to writings by our early founders such as Jefferson or Franklin, but peculiarly it isn't. ​​

 
 

Although the term itself is fairly new in comparison to America's history, the Declaration of Independence sets the path that the well to do upper elites place the common man and woman on an equal or "fair" playing field - at least in terms of human rights and self-governance are concerned. Over time it seems America's society has expanded beyond just human rights and self-governance to a more social stance by taxation (outright theft in my opinion) and redistributing to the so-called "less fortunate" or unlucky American Dreamers among others.
 
 

What James would establish is that the American Dream is of a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank in our society. A seemingly very socialist construct of the American Dream which has seemed to progress more into today's version of the American Dream. The recent popularity of Bernie Sanders may attest to where today's American Dream may populate. ​​

 
 

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America was a new world .... back then

"Back then" America really was a new world, the true wild west. A place where a man could lay stake. A place where one could live life, pursue goals unburdened by societies idea of class, social hierarchy, and government. America back then offered personal liberties and opportunities to those who wanted them and worked hard to make it happen.

Adams would write -

 
 

"that a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability and achievements."
 
 

"according to his ability and achievements" is the key takeaway.​

 
 

Looking at this construct of the American Dream we can perceive and safely conclude that a "better and richer" life is to be had in America and is open and obtainable to all, however for most people this doesn't mean a rich person's life. The opportunity is guaranteed for each but it resides within the confines of each individual's ability and achievements. To simplify - The reality is not every person will experience the American Dream as wondrous and substantially as others.
 
 

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Reversal of the American Dream

Today in 2016 as I write this it seems to be a hard time for the "American Dream." You probably don't have to look very far to see a reversal for yourself or others you may know. You probably have seen a family member or friend get laid off, lose their home, or forcibly give up non-neccessaties that they have become accustomed to such as cable television, movie nights, guys or girls night out etc.
 
 

The deflating optimism that the future is full of limitless possibilities has ushered in an even more socialist movement than America has seen before I believe. Some fear the American Dream is over and dead and we are living in the time of those who will witness the beginning of the withering of this great country.
 
 

This doesn't mean we need to turn into a socialist nation, take from them to give to those to make everything equal and fair on equal grounds for all. Or turn everyone's dream into a shared dream. It simply means we might need to readjust our expectations of what the American Dream promises - as the term is a loosely used vague term in its own right. ​In recent years the term has taken on a meaning of making it big or getting rich and the accumulation of great wealth, as to link success to overall wealth instead of happiness.
 
 

Forget The American Dream - I Want The Steem Dream

I joined Steemit a little over a month ago, since then I have had many internal conversations with myself. From my core life long beliefs, values, morals and aspirations.
 
 
One of the inspirations for this post I am writing now comes from this author and his post found here about Capitalism vs Communism​.
 
 
Before reading his post I adamantly believed there was something wrong with Steemit and it's reward system. I thought there had to be a more "fair" way to reward authors, I even made several comments in posts discussing the issue.
 
 
Like him, I too came to Steemit to make money, I am not going to lie or sugarcoat it here. ​But after reading his post and getting the bitchslap in the face I needed I realized I needed to work for it like I have for the "American Dream" I have luckily been able to enjoy my entire life. There is no fair, equal or balanced needed. To quote James Adams again ...
 
 

"that a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability and achievements."

The same idea applies to Steemit as well!

 
 
I want to earn my place here, I also want to be rewarded when it justifies it, I will allow my peers and the community here do the judging.
 
 
I want to see Steemit remain an open and free uncensored platform for authors, creators and anyone else come be part of. We don't need governance, rules or equality here - this just leads to stagnating production with no incentive to improve. Just basic guidelines will suffice.
 
 
​ We need people here who want to make a "Steem Dream" based on their own abilities and achievements. For some, it may take some time, for others it may be instant because of past achievements and sadly for others they may never see the same dream as others.
 
 
Like the American Dream, Steemit doesn't guarantee you the same dream as others, it just allows you the same opportunities but not all are equally obtainable or met with similar successes.

I wish you all success in obtaining your goals, dreams and ambitions.

​ 
 

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If you enjoyed this post fat-like-buddha

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"I drink because I eat 🍴, and I eat because I drink 🍷."

Fat-Like-Buddha (James)

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