The poll seems to define the American dream as “the idea that anyone can get ahead through hard work and determination,” which is one of the vaguer things I’ve read today.

Trying not to take it literally (there’s no way “anyone” can get ahead…) and responding to the general spirit of the idea:

Anecdotally speaking, I’m very fortunate to have a well-paid, air-conditioned job and own my own house not in the middle of nowhere. Even though I like to imagine much of that was due to hard work in school and not bombing interviews, I reckon it must be at least 90% due to what skin color I am, where I was born, how my family dynamic was growing up, how much money my parents made, and if I had an “in” at a potential job (i.e. a connection or friend there). And that 90% out-of-my-ass statistic is probably conservative. It’s an ugly truth that I think not many people want to admit to themselves, especially those in my demographic. I know whatever options I have will be more easily attained by someone in my situation, versus others out there. It’s a no-brainer.

That said, everything that makes up my relatively fortunate individual life still does not feel like it adds up to any sort of dream, simply because I live in the context of those around me, those in my community, and those who could not possibly get close to “the American dream” no matter how much they try. I cannot isolate my life from others in some sort of bubble. It feels to me as if the American dream should act as a kind of AND logic gate; until everyone can realize the American dream, no one can.

So, with the way things work here, I’d say it’s impossible and never was possible at any point in time. The American dream is not based in any kind of reality and is just a tool used by the ruling class to keep our heads down.

I don’t really see how it didn’t end well for the writer, just based on this article. Am I missing something besides like four tweets?

Every single time dude. Every time I see what a politician was paid to worsen their constituents’ lives, the dollar amount tied to it is just never that remarkable, especially in the context of a world where Elon Musk gets a $56bn pay package for nothing in return.

Fuck this stupid world we’ve built.

Many thanks!

I don’t have a single DLC, the reviews always seem to be mixed at best. Are there any good ones?

Similar to, but not quite the same as the kind of man-child that buys an F-150 on the off chance they need to haul a dresser once every 4 years. Seriously though, if each one of these buyers keeping US truck bloat in style bought a motorcycle instead to cement their self-worth, traffic would be eliminated in most US cities. That’s not possible due to many factors, I know, but it must be said motorcycles are just way cooler.

That’s one dumb mom. Didn’t fall far from the tree I guess

I imagine they’re really itching to torpedo it somehow. Surprisingly long time for them not to do so.

This sounds like a shower thought I would have but when someone else says it, it just seems reductive and incorrect. The Germans probably have a word for this phenomenon.

Sorry, what other conspiracy theories are you referring to? It was a joke made in bad taste.

That $35 “Wacky Seagull” the day beforehand is pretty sus

I’m appalled. More than one house? In this economy?

Recently, 3M settled the lawsuit filed by cities and towns with polluted water. It will pay up to $12.5 billion to cover the costs of filtering out PFAS, depending on how many water systems need the chemicals removed. The settlement, however, doesn’t approach the scale of the problem. At least 45% of U.S. tap water is estimated to contain one or more forever chemicals, and one drinking water expert told me that the cost of removing them all would likely reach $100 billion.

$100 billion? Seems low. That’s only five renovations to JFK.

Thanks for the push, well worth it. Solid investigative journalism. The Jim Johnson section did make my blood pressure rise, let’s be honest though: it’s probably just my PFAS.

Bless you

That dirty watah

Like kudzu

Seems like Israel is plowing the lands, cultivating, and sowing the seeds for a perky field of new Hamas converts to fight against. Familiar…

The daddy issues and fireballs are very on point actually, a lot of those boys have really vacant, mean, or just plain generic dads, and then the kids end up working for them the rest of their life. Thankfully I just visited a few times.