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In Tales of a New America by Robert Reich, the American society is broken down into four myths. The four myths are The Mob at the Gates, The Triumphant Individual, The Benevolent Community, and The Rot at the Top. The myths can be used to help us understand our past and help us predict our future. They also show us how our lives are controlled by politics. These myths break us down as individuals, our community, our leaders, and America as a whole. There are three different views to interpret each of these myths generic, liberal, and conservative.

The Mob at the Gates depicts America as the greatest society in the world. It states that we are surrounded by evil and that there is no better than us. It points out the problems with other countries and civilizations around the world and then compares them to us. It is stated in the book that The Mob at the Gates “depicts America as a beacon of light and virtue in a world of darkness, a small island of freedom and democracy in a perilous sea”. This states we are the only good in the world and we are surrounded by bad.

The Triumphant Individual shows that anyone can accomplish anything if they put their mind too it. This is an example of a self made man. This shows that someone that starts from nothing can make something out of himself or herself just as long as they are not afraid to work hard take the risks required. This method should lead a person to







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wealth, fame, and honor. It states that most of the honorable people from our past followed this route using Benjamin Franklin and Abe Lincoln as examples can prove that you are only what you make of yourself.

The Benevolent Community is a representation of the people of America working together for one common cause. “It is about Americans’ essential generosity and compassion toward those in need”. Without working...