Liberty, democracy, community, and the American dream

Thesis (M.A., Government) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2010.American politics is ultimately driven by American culture and the values that it seeks to promote. These values are largely defined by American history and different goals for the future- goals that are often defined by the American Dream. This essay seeks to analyze the foundations of the American Dream, and to analyze the claim that through perseverance, virtue, and a little luck, every American has the opportunity to improve their socioeconomic position in society. I present a new historical narrative that explains that with the bureaucratization of labor and decreasing opportunities for social mobility, Americans have turned inward, and become almost exclusively focused on their private interests. As a result, the modern, middle class conception of the American Dream emphasizes private, individual liberties, and is largely apolitical. I conclude that the American Dream is only likely to be significantly redefined if Americans reclaim their collective power through the formation of groups and the creation of community interests.Governmen