Effects on the American Dream, Both Positive and Negative...

Effects on the American Dream, Both Positive and Negative The editors of Forbes called on these writers: James Q. Wilson, Katherine Newman, Robert Reich, Gertrude Himmelfarb, Natwar M. Gandhi, and Charles Derber. To answer this following question: If things are so good, why do we feel so bad? The American Dream has both positive and negative effects on the country, but in the end people will ultimately create their own fates. There are many positive effects that the American Dream has such immigrant origins, to the United States. Americans have a higher standard of living, that’s why immigrants come to the United States to have freedom, self-expression, and also to have a better standard of living as well (Wilson 437). Wilson†¦show more content†¦One negative effect on the American Dream is freedom; freedom reduced authority in the United States, freedom also caused crime to spread way out of proportion. Wilson acknowledges that freedom leads to a lack of order, havi ng the power of freedom made people bring out their self- expression which made them lose their self-control to stop the bad things they were doing. Wilson states that â€Å"the expansion in personal freedom has been accompanied by a deep distrust† (Wilson 434). Wilson mentions an example of personal freedom which is: mentally ill people having freedom meant that they could not be forced to go to a clinic if they didn’t want to, which lead the mentally ill to be homeless. Derber proclaims that Americans twisted the American Dream as in using it to act selfish and commit heinous crimes. â€Å"The readings of history and anthropology†¦ give us no reason to believe that societies have built in self-preservative systems.† - Margaret Mead (Derber 411). The crimes of freedom caused â€Å"wilding† this is the word that describes the behavior Americans were showing. Derber observes that â€Å"the fear of wilding became fear of the other: those locked outsid e of the American Dream. They had not yet invaded the world most Americans felt part of, but they menaced it† (Derber 412). Wilding infected corporations and the government also to individuals of every race, class, and gender. Derbers examplesShow MoreRelatedThe Reality of Reality Television1699 Words   |  7 PagesFussell February 2, 2013 The Reality of Reality Television Have you ever set there watching your favorite reality television show and wondered what effects it could have on you, your family or your friends? Truth is most people do not think about the effects television shows can have before watching them or allowing their children to watch them. 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