24 Million Go From 'Thriving' To 'Struggling'

[Purveyor]

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

EXTON, Pa. — Casualties of the economic downturn include easy credit, rising home values, stable retirement investment accounts and 4.4 million jobs.

Some fear that the American dream may be in peril as well.

The aspirations that have defined the American experience — that those who work hard and play by the rules can get ahead, and that the next generation will have a better life than this one — have been battered by a devastating recession that shows few signs of having hit bottom.

"Maybe we were dreaming the American dream, you know what I mean?" says David McLimans, a steelworker. The mill he works for in suburban Philadelphia temporarily shut down last week amid the credit crunch. "I'm 63, so I'm not dreaming it anymore. I have what I have and I hope I can keep what I have, but my kids, I worry about. They're struggling."

His four grown children have a lot of company. More than 24 million Americans shifted in 2008 from lives that were "thriving" to ones that were "struggling," according to a massive study by Gallup and Healthways, a Tennessee health management company. Results from its Well-Being Index — including physical and mental health as well as personal finances and job satisfaction — are being released Tuesday.

MORE...

USA TODAY: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-03-09-americandream_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[notesdev]

1. Spending money you don't have

isn't "thriving". It only appears to be that, until the bottom falls out.

[Skittles]

4. not so fast

I have never spent money I didn't have but even people like me, who have always lived within our means, are being impacted by this economic disaster

[jwirr]

2. One of the reasons the American Dream is no longer available to

most people is because that dream has changed. We now need McMansions, 3 car garages, a sail boat, etc. to think of ourselves as succeeding. I would be happy to have what my parents had. A home I could afford, enough food to stay healthy, one car that set outside in the winter, a public education for their children and decent jobs. The one thing I would add to that list would be universal medical health care. The greed that has brought us down is what changed this American Dream into a nightmare.

[natrat]

3. the bust happens quickly-we could be back to your parents dream soon enough