Redefining the American Dream

An article in today’s New York Times, Still on the Job But at Half the Pay, is about a guy whose job was downgraded and whose salary was cut. Here’s a sentence from it: "The demotion, the loss of command, the cut in pay to less than his wife, Tracy, makes as a fourth-grade teacher, have diminished Mr. Lawlor, 34, in his own eyes."

It seems that one main theme that ran throughout the article can be described as follows:

status level + income amount = self worth.

I feel so sorry for people who believe that having more money or "stuff" makes them better, worthier people. But that’s are the message we get, isn’t it? The great American dream is about continually having more and always moving up. What if we could redefine the American dream? What if having worth as a person is judged only in the way we behave towards ourselves and others?

What do you think?