I don’t know the origin of the concept called “the American dream” but I’ve heard as well that it involved something like:

3 bedroom house

White picket fence

2.2 kids

1 dog

2 cars in the driveway

2 weeks of family vacation

One breadwinner and one homemaker

Available to anyone who can work at the factory 40 hours a week. Basically “The Wonder Years” TV series in a nutshell.

But the idea that if you work hard you’ll get ahead is ultimately the core of it. Some measurable, definable “hard work output” equals some obtainable reward, and harder work means even more reward. And really smart plus really hard work means even more opportunities are unlocked.

A lot of countries can’t offer this or don’t have a system of advancing through social glass ceilings or “castes”.

So in that way it at least seems like the US still offers this although more and more difficult to achieve, connections are more crucial, or figuring out some trick (a side gig) is needed.

I know way too many people with a college degree that can hardly afford the rent.