I couldn't remember his name. But his books came to mind.

is a long time American myth and ideal. It's not supposed to be logical or make sense. So although red necks might have some sort of public assistance, they still adhere to the myth of the rugged individualist. Rags to riches is the myth of America. People with nothing can come here and carve out a better life through hard work and perseverance. It is the American dream.

Way back in the 1960s, I had a college professor, Dr. Gerry O'Grady, who frequently lectured on the death of the American dream as a new theme that was popping up in American literature and films.

With a poor grasp of reality, but a great appreciation for reality television.

jobs. Union membership began to decline as soon as Unions where shamed into giving African Americans decent shots at good jobs.

They long for the days when there were no dark skinned immigrants gaining skills for the highest paying jobs. The long for the day when they could barely graduate high school, but get a job that lasted their working career, and even advance to jobs like foremen or a high paying white collar job.

Teddy Roosevelt made a xenophobic distinction based on a mythology of "America" and the romantic myths surrounding white north American settlers.

It's romantic and self aggrandizing ideal that has been perpetuated by selective presentation of US recorded history, which conveniently glorifies and elevates white settlers and founders. It's a narrative that supposedly reflects our "heritage" and cultural values.

It's like a resume. Think of how all the padding stories and buzz words. An industrious self starter who overcame adversity, etc. Everyone wants to be a person who built the house they grew up in and survived a terrible illness or tragedy, so they scrub their history to find something to make it true.

Daring to suggest that people didn't pave the streets in their towns themselves spurs outrage. Given the fact that it's a narrative that elects our policy makers and average citizens repeat about themselves daily, it's actually how the US presents globally.

The join mega churches because they need strength in numbers.

Fraternities and Sororities, same case.

Think of every backstabbing fucking asshole you ever worked with, republicans. Never the guts to go straight at anyone, always the ones who manipulate and lie. They are just bad people.