..

about this since OWS brought it front and center, but what are they going to do about it? What plans do the candidates have?

Just saying 'we need to (fill in the blank) isn't going to convince voters that it means anything, we ALL KNOW what we need.

And one of the most important things we need is a President who actually believes what they are saying and has a plan to put those beliefs into action.

And who's willing to debate anyone, anywhere on this and so many other issues, in real debates, not controlled debates which most people simply won't watch.

I think the American Dream is a mistake, a wrong turn.

Basically it is based on greed, selfishness and materialism, on the idea of "getting ahead".

When are these glory days of the American dream? Consider the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1968, the bottom 20% had 4.2% of the national income and the next 20% had 11.1%. This held pretty consistent throughout the 1970s, in 1978 the bottom 20% had 4.3% and the next 20% had 10.3%.

That's supposed to be some kind of ideal?

Granted, it does seem like a fair amount better than 2005 when the bottom 20% only had 3.4% and the next 20% had 8.6%.

But if you look at it another way, things were better in 2005. US GDP was $13 trillion in 2005 and the real value was only $5.3 trillion in 1968. There were 12.44 million households in each quintile in 1968 and 23 million in 2005. That's $18,319 for the bottom 20% in 1968 and $19,217 for them in 2005. $43,882 for the next 20% in 1968 and $48,608 for them in 2005.

Considering the awesomeness of the new technology - we now have the internet, ipods, DVDs, and even the damned cell phones. Shoot, materially we ought to be happier than ever - even the bottom 20% collectively has more money (and cooler stuff) than they did back in the 1970s.

Much as I support increasing the minimum wage and reducing inequality, I don't think "the American Dream" should be our ideal.

Here's a more original American Dream - "His [Winthrop's] thinking was illuminated by a desire to construct freshly, on distant shores, a society reformed, not merely in religion but also in human relations, relieved not only of ecclesiastical tyranny but also of the hurt and grief of everyday conflicts. He yearned for wholeness, for a peaceful, unconflicted life in godly communities whose people were bound together in mutual support and obligation, and where the abrasions of competition and clashing desires would be softened and one could hope for generosity of spirit and goodwill from one's neighbors." (TBY p 399)

THAT should be our ideal
"mutual support and obligation"
"generosity of spirit and goodwill from one's neighbors"

The materialistic American Dream goes against that - it's all about "more for me and mine" and about either "getting ahead" or "keeping up with" one's neighbors. There's no mutual support or goodwill in a rat race.