The American dream used to be hard work and making a better life
for your children. Now, it’s to get rich quick.
The absolute worst Democratic attack line in 2016 focused on
Donald Trump starting his business thanks to millions of dollars from
his Dad. During the debate, Hillary tried to make the argument that Donald
was only rich because of who his father is. In attempt to make the son look
bad, she only made the father look like an American hero.
More importantly, the attack failed so badly because many
voters did not care how Donald Trump
ended up rich. They just knew that he was rich and they want to be rich too.
There has always been a “get rich quick” mentality lurking
underneath the surface in America. It’s a feature of capitalism; not a bug. In
recent years and due in large part to social media, the excesses of the rich
and famous are constantly being presented to America. Our television, our news,
our shows – there is a common theme of being rich.
To the majority of Americans, both Hillary and Donald were
“rich” people. The means for getting there didn’t really matter.
And it made Hillary, as a “rich” person, look like a snob
for demeaning another “rich” person for their means of wealth. It made Donald
Trump look sympathetic. And it’s really, really had to turn a billionaire
racist into a sympathetic figure.
The desire to be rich has no party affiliation. I work
in Northern Virginia, in an office building full of people that voted for
Hillary. It didn’t mean they were happy with life under President Obama because
every single person walking into that building every day wishes that they
didn’t have to.
I heard a story from a co-worker about a moment when there were six women in an
elevator, when it suddenly stopped between floors. After an awkward moment of
silence, one woman sighed and said, “Another day. I’m just waiting for my
ticket out.”
After she said that, the other women in the elevator laughed
and agreed. “Yeah, me too!” one said. “I think that every day,” said another.
The most important word there is “waiting” because that
woman wasn’t actively seeking a ticket out. She was waiting for it, as if she’ll arrive at work one day and there’ll be
a million dollar check sitting on her desk.
It reminded me of a Kevin Hart comedy special, in which he
pumps his crew up before a show by saying, “Everyone wants to be famous but no
one wants to work for it.”
That, my friends, is America in a nutshell right. We don’t
want to work for the American Dream; we want the American Dream handed to us.
We don’t want to work at a company for 20 years to move up the ranks; we wanted
to be given the keys to The Kingdom on Day 3.
This mentality has infected America to the point that far
too many looked at Donald Trump, at his ridiculous opulence, and wanted his
life. People can talk about him winning over the country as a populist, but
there was something more significant driving his popularity beyond the misogyny
and racism that fueled his hardcore, extremist supporters.
It was the notion that Donald Trump was America’s lottery
ticket. Think about what he said during the campaign – they were outlandish,
ridiculous fantasies that captivated rural America.
Yes, the Mexicans are the reason I’m not rich!
Yes, better health care at lower prices!
Yes, bring back
the coal jobs!
Yes, make American great again!
Yes, he will save
my job at Carrier!
It was a steady diet of this for 18 months and it worked
because his supporters truly and sincerely believed that a vote for Trump was their lottery
ticket out. Once Trump delivered on all of his promises, the voters would be
rich and happy and America would be in a better place, finally.
Instead, the
cruel reality is that no politician is a lottery ticket for America.
Success takes patience, struggle and dedication – three qualities that our
country seems to have forgotten about.
My greatest fear is that we have not learned our lesson. Too
many are still waiting on their ticket out.
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