Throughout the article, the author researches the behavior of American consumption pattern and the fundamental reasons that persuade society to buy. Moreover, Twitchell provided readers with examples and various authors’ works to support his claims, which portrayed him as a credible author. The author helped the readers realize that a controlled materialism can be a positive contributor to society with his article, so his work was successful in reaching the readers through his main point. Twitchell opens his claim by recognizing American culture as a powerful force that is continually fastening its pace towards an increasingly capitalist society. He refers to American material culture as a mallcondo culture; a culture that is trying to be avoided by some hopeful nations and sought after by other willing and expanding nations (28).
In “America,” Hoagland uses metaphors to illustrate the growing influence of consumerism, capitalism, and most of all the greed that rules the modern American society. Consumerism is a modern day blessing and a curse for America. Consumerism is the theory of society’s preoccupation with consumer goods. This is evident in the beginning of “America.” Hoagland writes, “Then one of the students with blue hair and a tongue stud/ Says that America for him is a maximum-security prison/ Whose walls are made of RadioShack’s and Burger King’s, and MTV episodes/ Where you can’t tell the show from the commercials.” Here, Hoagland lists the details of American “trendiness” by mentioning hair color and body piercings. Also, Hoagland describes modern day businesses like Radio Shack, which market and sell consumer based goods, and fast food restaurants like Burger King that gives super-sized food portions.
7.) 8.) Two logos Lou Gehrig used to support his thesis was to have known the builder of baseball's greatest empire and to have New York Giants send him a gift. 9.) The assumption Lou Gehrig had about bad breaks us that even with it, he still has an awful lot to live for.
Author Gayle Bessenoff has an interesting view on American society today. In her article “Southern Connecticut State University Professor: Americans Overconsume, Overdo Everything”, she states that we as Americans do everything too much. The American dream right now is to own a big house, drive nice cars, and have the latest equipment. The American Dream has transformed from being happy to being rich. We are so absorbed in this materialistic idea of the American Dream that we do not know when to stop buying and eating.
Horatio Alger’s myth developed through many of his stories, such as having his protagonists struggle through poverty and misfortune, and then becoming wealthy by the end of the story. In such a way this meant that they were fulfilling the American dream. An author named Harlon L. Dalton points out to readers that Horatio Alger’s myth is actually a myth. He explains to his readers that it is impossible to be underprivileged and become wealthy in an instant without any of the society’s problems conflicting. America has been through much discrimination throughout the years, and some of it still continues today.
Traditionally, most people believe that in order to be successful they must work hard, and once they are successful, they will be happy. Today we have the beliefs that if we can just find that great job or win that promotion, happiness will follow. This theory may be the cause of many people leading unhappy lives. The Happiness Advantage: the Seven Principles of Positive Psychology to Fuel Success at Work by Shawn Achor a psychologist and former professor at Harvard shows how positive psychology research has proven the complete opposite. Achor provides stories and case studies from his research among many Fortune 500 companies and executives in 42 different countries, to explain how we can reprogram our brains to become more positive to gain a competitive edge at work.
Obamas running mate Governor Mitt Romney brings his experience in business to convince voters he will deliver the change they need. During the debates, each candidate made their appeal towards the middle class voters. The future for those unemployed looks bright, as each party would like to boost manufacturing
The author portrays the future as being a world that will only have good jobs for those that have the right knowledge, expertise, mind set, and enthusiasm. He explains to adjust to a future that survives in a global environment all Americans must “think of himself or herself as competing against every young Chinese, Indian, and Brazilian”(Friedman 239). In order to be successful prospectors in this future environment, Americans must obtain a higher level of knowledge than their competing counterparts. With this knowledge they must also strive to remain flexible and motivated in their endeavors. Along with maintaining the right physiological mind set, they must constantly be proving that they are indispensable assets who are ready to set the pace and keep the working standards high.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me." The United States of America was settled, colonized, and industrialized by immigrants from numerous countries all over the world. Whether these people sought freedom of religion, an escape from poverty, a chance for education, or simply adventure, the United States was here to welcome them to a fresh start. Built from the ground up by revolutionaries and molded by countless cultures, the United States is now one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world. However this affluent country, which once welcomed the tired, the poor, and the homeless with open arms,
As described by the Economist, an English weekly, the American Dream has always been a belief and a conviction which offered equality, success and equal opportunities to its citizens. However, Alexander Stille, a professor in journalism, described that “the United States has gone from being a comparatively egalitarian society to one of the most unequal democracies in the world”. Indeed, as depicted in the Economist, some people face social inequality which holds them back in their social class (The Economist, “Upper Bound”). Martin Luther King Jr., who is known for his famous public speech “I have a dream”" transcribed by Michael E. Eidenmuller, professor of speech, said that he hoped people “(would) one day live in a nation where they (would) not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”. Indeed, Lee Price, a research director at the Economic Policy Institute, said that ethnic minorities and lower class people are affected in their jobs and above all in the way they succeed in life.