Irony Alert: The American Dream is Only Affordable Overseas

December 07, 2023

by Charles Hugh Smith Of Two Minds

This is not to suggest living/working overseas is a panacea or easy–it isn’t.

There is an inescapable irony in The American Dream no longer being affordable in America for the majority of Americans. Definitions vary, of course, but The American Dream typically includes being able to obtain higher education, a home, a family, a family enterprise and some measure of ownership of assets that provide financial security, on wages / salaries that are within reach of the bottom 80% of workers.

Put another way: if The American Dream is only affordable to those earning $250,000 a year and up or those who inherit family wealth, it isn’t The American Dream. The American Dream is defined as starting with nothing but ambition and a willingness to work hard and save money and acquire all of the good things listed above without borrowing a small fortune for each one.