Source #5

Summary:

         In Christopher Jencks’ Reinventing the American Dream originally printed in the newspaper The Chronicle of Higher Education, Jencks portrays his image of what the American dream is and its need to adapt to economic change in order to survive.  Jencks imagines there being two different types of the American dream; the Republican version and the Democrat version.  The Republican version Jencks describes as “a place where anyone who builds a better mousetrap can get rich” (Jencks, 1) put in simpler terms, the creation of one’s own business.  This requires workers, salespeople, security, and the realization of just how much is needed to create such a business.  The second is Jencks’ “Democrat” version of the American dream.  The idea that any person who works hard and is responsible; will attain a decent standard of living.  This “democrat” version is the common idea of a steady job, a home in a nice neighborhood, and believing your children will be more successful than yourself.  Both of these American dreams have been used in our past, first the democratic approach, but when this failed the United States moved to the Republican approach which is where we stand today. 
            Once these two approaches have been defined, Jencks shows both their faults in today’s society.  Those adaptations of when to spend, and when pennies need to be pinched need to be realized by both sides.  If they would attempt to merge some policies of each, they would be far more compatible with the future generations in the United States.  Hopefully, the combination of both Republican and Democratic ideas, will allow for each generations future to be a little brighter than the last.

Response:

         Jencks wrote a great article for the explanation of the American dream; he not only defined it well, but also clarified how different views of how the economy should run stemmed two separate dreams.  This really was not my first thought when thinking of the American dream, usually only the dream home and better future Democratic dream comes to mind.  Jencks goes into great depths about a “solution” to our failing American dream.  His solution of weaning ourselves from the need of material goods, and the feeling of entitlement for constant better things should not be the dream; instead a dream of good health, security, individual freedom, and time to love your family should become the dream.  This in a way relates more to the democratic dream, but it has taken a turn from the necessity for material goods, which is a much needed process.  Although Jencks does a great job of defining the American dream, and gives a great alternative to the current though process of the American dream, he lacks explanation of how this new mindset can succeed.  In order for the American dream to succeed whether it be Jencks alternative, the democratic, or republican American dreams a secure job with steady income may still be something which cannot be attained and is still necessary to have time for family, while good health may require health insurance.  Really the only easily attainable aspect of his proposed dream reform would be to change the mindset of the people, to seek less material goods, and seek a more emotional gain.  Overall Jencks’ article explored a lot of information that would otherwise go unnoticed such as how even ideas of the American dream can be split by political views, for this, and his inclusion of a possible way of reform Jencks’ article gave the most useful information and possibilities for change of the five articles.