New American Dream

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English 121 12 Sept 2013 The New Version of the American Dream Several decades ago, the stereotypical American dream was obtained through being a loyal employee and working hard for a company that would reward you with job security and pay increases. These things would allow you to achieve the American dream of owning a three-bedroom home with a white picket fence, have two children, and live at a higher standard than your parents did. This version of the dream was once available to everyone. In today’ society that version of the American does not exist. The new American dream cannot be achieved through company loyalty and hard work alone, in today’s society you need to know someone for this new American…show more content…
This is also the view of John Podesta in an article written by Forbes. John Podesta’s version of the American Dream is, “one part opportunity, one part family, one part hard work and one part dumb luck.” This is true in the case of my sister-in-law, Dianne Charles and her husband Bob Jr. His parents Bob Sr and Judy Charles started their McDonald’s franchises this way. It all began because Judy’s family lived next door to Ray Kroc in Illinois. At that time, they were just married and they were beginning to live the average American working class life. One day their parent’s neighbor, Ray Kroc approached them about opening and starting a McDonald’s franchise in Boulder, Colorado. Bob Sr. and Judy then decided to move to Colorado and open their first store in 1968 on 28th Street. Bob Sr. and his wife Judy went on to own over a dozen other McDonald stores along the Front Range. It all started with Judy’s parents living next door to Ray Kroc. If this had not been the case, chances are they would not be living this version of the American Dream today and they would not have the comfort of knowing that they will be financially secure for the rest of their lives. This paved the way for Bob Sr.’s son Bob Jr. and his wife Dianne to take over the stores in 1994 and run six McDonald stores that were once owned by Bob Sr. in Longmont, Colorado. Dianne and Bob Jr., like his father have made great business decisions and the stores continue to be successful. Now they are living the new American Dream of being financially secure. This will continue onto their children and other family members, and to think it all started with dumb luck and simplicity of knowing someone. This was also the case for Dave Feamster who was born and raised in the working class neighborhoods of Detroit. He started out his adult life playing
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