As an immigrant, I define the "American Dream" as "opportunity regardless of social class". I think Atwood also hints at this in his blog post (as this is the reason he called out his upbringing and family).

This is in contrast to the system of nobility and "old money" in Europe and why many immigrants sought to find their way to the New World.

The idea of public education started in the US and for a long time has been one of the key public services that enabled this social mobility. In the US, historically, there were opportunities even for immigrants to become self-made men and women and their children would be better off than they were.

It's still possible, but it feels as if the cards are stacked higher and higher towards those that are already coming from some wealth. I increasingly feel like the chances that my kids are going to be better off than me are decreasing every year.

America has a long history of promoting “rugged individualism.” Community is hardly ever part of the conversation, unfortunately.

It's getting worse as time goes on, too. Things like Cooperation, "Common Good" and Community are not merely ignored. More and more they're being actively opposed. Individualism is no longer: "I don't need community and society." It's become: "I don't need community and society, and you shouldn't have it either!" Rugged Individualism has become Toxic Individualism.

Pretty much yes!

Just fifty years ago you could buy a home by swinging a hammer for a few years. No degree needed. So it was a thing.

When you made it you would pay taxes, giving back to others. Not selfish.

That's still possible (and in some cases, plumber/carpenter/contractor is perhaps the best option still available).

What we're seeing is at least partially the result of everyone going to college for something like a few decades.

Deciding to be apprentice to a plumber at 17 is much different than having to do the same at 21/23 because the degree you went into debt for isn't panning out the way you wanted.

You're 4+ years behind, you're some amount of debt in the hole, and you're having to work hard.

(Average student loan debt is something like $37k, which isn't the cost of a house, but is certainly close to a down payment.)

You're right, my nephew bought a shack to fix up in Montana a few years back. But, I don't think that's what most people think of when they say the dream is alive.

You can still get an FHA loan and put 3.5% down.

> Just fifty years ago you could buy a home by swinging a hammer for a few years. No degree needed. So it was a thing.

Not even that far back.

I can't even match the standard of living my parents (and friends' parents) raised us in in the 90s/2000s. Exactly 0 of the people I'm thinking of were "professionals" or had any high-quality rigorous education at all.

All had condos/SFH with (gasp) a garage very close to where I still live.

Many of the wives didn't work at all, other than perhaps retail type jobs once we were old enough to be self-sufficient.