The American dream now a recurring nightmare

For centuries, the world has looked upon America with envy. It was an oasis where the individual was judged not by his or her parents, but by his or her willingness to succeed. Freedom, democracy, and the ‘American dream’ were alive and well. Yet over the last several decades, that dream has become a recurring nightmare. Will Americans ever wake up?

Citizens are bogged down by social stagnation reminiscent of medieval feudalism. The top 1% controls a majority of the country’s wealth and resources. They concentrate power within their families, passing it down from silver spoon to silver spoon. So why do the other 99% continue to oppose tax increases on the top tier?

Because everyone wants to be rich! In fact, most people expect it. The American dream basically culminates with entry into the 1%, and who would want to pay a higher tax rate then?

Nobody.

So although raising taxes on the wealthiest few could create breathing room for the majority fighting to stay afloat, world leaders have turned a blind eye and succumb to the will of their constituents.

Call it forward-thinking. Call it ambition. Call it what you will. But in reality, the American dream has glorified greed on an epic scale. Instead of telling people to explore what makes them happy, what gives them a sense of fulfillment and pride, the government preached free-market capitalism and buy, buy, BUY! Sell, sell, SELL!

Because THINGS will make you happy, people were told. Possessions = stature. Stature = power. Power = more possessions. Americans were sold on this viscous cycle. They ignored the toll on the environment and the rest of the world and took pride in simply being American. The title was enough.

But that shouldn’t be the case. Where you live shouldn’t dictate who you are, nor should your family’s bank account. True democracy is the freedom to have your voice heard. To wake up each morning not having to fear for your life. That’s freedom. Not a shopping or shooting-spree.

How can Americans wake up from this nightmare?

First, they need to realize that happiness is the ultimate goal, and that happiness is relative. One must learn to be happy with what they have – plain and simple. Material possessions fade with time. They break. The human spirit doesn’t have to.

Second, Americans must remember that societies are judged by how they treat the least of their people. And just as everyone sees themselves becoming rich, anyone – with one wrong turn – can end up living on the streets.

Think of citizens like cells in the body. Each one different. Some aggressive. Some passive. Some more prone to cooperate than others. But each cell serves a distinct purpose, and only by working in harmony do they survive.

Lastly, making the wealthy pay more than their fair share sets a shining example for the rest of the population. Yes, success is good – but reaching out to others to elevate them is by far nobler. What good is success if everyone else fails?

NRGLab believes happiness means living relatively stress-free. With the SH-Box, a portable generator that produces low-cost electricity for your home, office, or industrial facility, you can forget about that monthly utility bill. You can forget about your carbon footprint, too. The SH-Box is emission-free, powered by an all-natural polycrystalline core.

To learn more about how you, your friends, and family can achieve energy independence and take the next step towards stress-free living, check us out on YouTube, or visit nrglab.asia.