Why a “new” American Dream?
For past generations of Americans, the American dream stood for opportunity—a promise of attainable comfort and security. More recently, however, the traditional dream has been displaced by a much crasser version. Relentless marketing and an exclusive, myopic focus on growth have created a “more is better” dream that promotes, not comfort and security, but rather the unbridled production and consumption of stuff. By shifting the prize from well-being to stuff, the “more is better” version actually harms the very things we cherish. It is unsustainable personally, as it draws American families into a work and spend treadmill that clutters our lives and depletes our savings. It is also unsustainable for the planet and its people, as it requires an endless churning out of cheap goods, with little regard for who made them and how, the strain on precious natural resources, or where it all goes in the end. The Center for a New American Dream is dedicated to helping support and nurture an Amer
