How to Revive the American Dream: More Subsidies

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I have a very high tech 55 year old friend(computer programmer/expert in medical systems) has been out of work for months.
The American Dream as I understood it 55 years ago when I started working: Work hard, frugality, create a good savings, retire in safety and security. I am now retired and doing volunteer work and find that my savings investments are tanked, everthing now costs 2 to 5 times what it did when I retired in 2001. How can anyone make headway against that? Fixed income, assets dropping fast, costs spiraling.

Ray of TX 10:14PM July 31, 2008

I realize this is supposed to be satire, but just for the record, the American Dream is not dead, but one MUST SAVE and do thrift as there are various risks in life (death, disability, poor health) that one cannot predict but one can prepare for. The American Dream is alive & well! Tough it out, people; stiff upper lip! Keep on plugging and save, save, save!

SPM of NJ 2:33PM July 31, 2008

The "new" American dream is citizens rising up to reclaim their government from being bought and paid for by corporations and marketers 24/7/365. So far, it's still a dream because most of us are too busy gawking at the marketing to step back and see what has happened.
My granddad was one of those bootstrappers celebrated above.
High school. Then railroad work. Then sweeping out at the local small town bank. Then bank cashier during the depression. President of that little independent bank 1951-1980--even though others owned it. Pillar of the community. Helped A LOT of people. Steady as a rock.
Granddad's career path possible today? With high school?
With corporate consolidation of banks? No, and no.

Daniel David of NM 11:22AM July 31, 2008

this article is just sarcastically complaining without a point. it doesn't even give me a sense of what you're really complaining about.
For the record: THE American Dream is not dead at all, it has simply morphed into the next stage, as is to be expected with the life-cycle of any society or civilization. Funny, people are always so surprised when history repeats itself.

chronic.individuality of SC 11:03AM July 31, 2008

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2123
Sigh.

Max of NY 10:16AM July 31, 2008

It sounds like your sentiment is with the middle class. There's nothing wrong with that do not get me wrong, but the problem is the middle class is retiring. That term came to be when Baby Boomers came of age. There was the working class and the rich prior to that. So your sentiments could be phrased as innefectual in that the middle class is becoming extinct. The dialogue is unclear because us Gen Y'ers have yet to define a standard of living that could be viewed as a model lifestyle. When that model presents itself, there won't be a need for government subsidy, "the model" will instruct government on how to behave rather than take what worked for a previous generation, which is how present govenmental systems are operating. Have you not noticed that Baby Boomers are pretty much set if they participated in the "model Baby boomer lifestyle" which included investing in retirement plans. Gen Y'ers have their Baby Boomer parents wealth to manage and retire with. Gen Y'ers are not interested in retirement plans. We are interested in wealth creation while we can enjoy it. The goverment needs to "Subsidize That".

of TX 10:06AM July 31, 2008