Not the Dream of Dr. King

April 2, 2009 by David Eggleton

I'm in Washington, DC, based in a hotel and reading news in USA Today.  Today's Snapshot lists the top four ideas of the American Dream, according to adults surveyed by Pew Charitable Trusts between 1/27 and 2/8 of this year:

1. 74% | Free to accomplish anything
2. 68% | Free to say/do what they want
3. 64% | Children financially better off
4. 61% | Being financially secure

With percentages like that, I'd guess that respondants were given choices.  I cannot imagine so many coming up with these phrases on their own, but suppose Pew staff may have interpreted and rounded off what people actually said.
 
Either way, it is clear that healthy interdependence is not widely understood as true, attainable and sustainable wealth and security.  In spite of everything that has fallen, broken and vanished, not to mention everything yet uncertain, riches-for-me-and-mine is fixed as THE ANSWER in the imaginations of most of our fellow citizens. That makes each day another round of King On the Mountain (won by pushing people away). 
 
They forgot that it's lonely at the top.  It's up to us to awaken and inspire them by proving the value of local/regional give-and-take that can work for all, indefinitely.  If we build it, they will come, because it is attractive!
 
I'll try to learn more about the survey.  If I succeed, I'll add a comment to this post.