Summary of “ What Happens to the American Dream in a recession”

Summary of “ What Happens to the American Dream in a recession”
By Katharina Q.Seelye

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/us/08dreampoll.html

According to Q.Seelye’s article “What Happens to the American Dream in a recession” in the New York Times (May 7, 2009), pollsters tried to explain and understand how the American public define the “American dream” today considering the increase in unemployment and the worst economic situation since the Great Depression of the mid-30.
72% of the respondents answered that if people in America work hard they can become rich. 44% said they already achieved the American Dream, 31% believe that they will achieve it in their lifetime and 20% gave up on reaching the dream. Despite of the present difficult economical situation more people think they will achieve the dream than 4 years ago when the economy was good.
Professor Glassner from University of Southern California explanation was that when people continue holding to a dream in hard times they change its' definition.
A later research that was made on the phrase "American Dream" by CBS News and The New York Time presented that 4 years ago 19% related the dream to a stable economic situation and 20% to freedom of opportunity. Nowadays at the present economical situation less people relate the dream to material success and more people, 27%, relate the dream to freedom of opportunity.
According to Professor Glassner, when looking at the history of America the prospect of achieving the American dream was slim but the promise was huge. Although, not all Americans achieved the dream they always believed that the possibilities are there. People can start poor, work hard and become rich regardless the recession and economical situation. The number of people who support this is less than in 2007 but still very high when considering the present economical situation. This is hard to find in other countries.
Other results of the survey show that only low percentage say that the American Dream is only an illusion. The percentage increased from 2% to 3% but it is still very low. The "American Dream" is still here.