Synthesis Paper on They Say I Say American Dream Section

Annamarie Prevatte

Dr. Gamble

ENGL 1013 003

March 19, 2014

Discussion concerning the “American Dream”

Bob Herbert, Cal Thomas and Brandon King are all writers that share, and debate ideas that either support, or discredit the notion that the “American Dream” is still alive and well in America. The articles Herbert, Thomas and King produced, all relate to points that define the “American Dream”, suggesting the government’s role and the social policies concerned with supporting their opinion of whether or not the American Dream is attainable for citizens today.

Each author, to begin his argument, explains to the reader what he believes the American dream consists of. Bob Herbert argues that it does not matter how the American dream is defined, or what factors are included, according to his article, “Hiding from reality”, the possibilities are dismal. He states, “Economy and jobs, the public schools, the budget deficits, the nonstop warfare overseas- you’ll see a country in sad shape”(564). Cal Thomas, whose column, “is the American Dream Over?”, is in direct response to “Hiding from reality”, criticizes Herbert, expressing his discontent with what he calls “liberalism’s American dream”. Thomas’ response essentially claims that it is no wonder Herbert’s version of the American dream is fading, caused by “expanding, encroaching, over-taxing, over-spending, and over-regulating government”(569), unlike what he calls the “original American dream” which according to him, is still available “for those who would embrace it”(569). King, however, from the very beginning of, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on hold?” sets a standard of what he expects his audience to use as a reference for the American dream. First explaining for the reader the description of the American dream, given by the man who coined the term, he then continues to “redefine the American dream” as “the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future”(573), which...