Slavery Repackaged

Same old scheme, different label.

I published an article on July 4th weekend titled, What is the American Dream? At first I was thinking more along the lines of — is the American Dream still alive, or is it just a matter of perspective? But the essay quickly turned into an article that took a more journalistic approach. The article came to focus on the immigrant perspective of achieving the American Dream.

But I found myself asking that question again this morning in my journal. Could the current American Dream that’s being sold to our citizens, really just be Slavery Repackaged?

We see rebranding constantly as corporations try to keep up with ‘the times’. They change their image or shift ad campaigns to something more popular, but make no changes to the product. More often than not, the ‘New & Improved’ version is the same thing as before in a snazzier package — or products are simply rebranded for a new audience.

Take BC Powders for instance. I am quite healthy compared to many, but I still have ailments that require constant attention. Now over the past decade I’ve learned how to manage my pain in a more holistic manner — I relied on narcotics to get by earlier in life. But today, if the pain gets to be unmanageable through yoga or rest — I may take a BC, Tylenol, or ibuprofen. Thankfully it’s not all that often, if I do what I’m supposed to…

Okay, so back to BC Powders — looking at the shelf in the local market(Dollar General), you’d think that there are multiple versions of this medicine to choose from. Well, you’d be wrong. If you compare the ingredients and dosage of the regular BC Powders, with the one in the green box that says ‘Arthritis Relief’, you’d see that the color of the box is the only difference between them. They both have the exact same ingredients and dosage.😒 It’s just a marketing ploy, and it’s one of the most common.

I feel as if that’s what’s happened to the American Dream for many citizens — it’s just modern day Slavery Repackaged as something better. It’s all just a scam. And it doesn’t matter if you’re making minimum wage or millions, you are just a cog in the machine of consumerism.

A friend of mine has recently, “came up in the world,” as many would say. She’s what I would consider an average American. She is around thirty years old, married and has children. She worked part-time for most of her twenties, finding odd jobs here and there to help supplement her husband’s meager income. Her husband works hard, and is a good father and husband when he is not working to support them. He’s advanced within the company he works for, and now serves in a supervisor role. My friend is now working for the same company full time, and they have just purchased a new home — sounds like the American Dream is alive and well right?

But at what cost?

• First off, now that both parents are full time workers there is no one there with the kids when they get home from school. And I can imagine what the few hours they are all home together in the evening are like — I’m sure those hours are spent cooking, cleaning, and making sure homework is done, ect. I seriously doubt that anyone is stopping to take the time to breathe — I know, because I lived that life in the time before.

• Secondly, my friend has been inundated with physical ailments since she started this new career. The warehouse job requires loads of repetitive physical labor that has forced her to have surgery. I often see her arm in a sling, and she must continue to take pain medication daily in order to continue working.

• Thirdly, I fear that both of them being dependent on a single employer is dangerous. Especially being the owners of a new home, with the massive new 30 year mortgage that comes along with it. This reminds me of the company-owned Coal Towns of the Appalachian Mountains, or the auto industry in Detroit.

Please keep in mind that I am not judging my friend. We each have our own paths and crosses to bear. I’m merely making an observation based on my own experiences. And I realize that there will always be additional factors influencing others’ lives, that we aren’t privy too.

Again, it’s not like the rich have it any better — it’s just on a larger scale. I’m afraid that this is what the American Dream has become, and that breaks my heart.

So this leads me to ask myself, “What can I do to help?” And not just for her, or Americans — but all peoples.

As always, the best way to teach is to lead by example. The more present I am in my own existence, the more others will start to notice that happiness is not obtained by procuring things. But it doesn’t matter how much I write about it — if I’m not living it, it’s just a scam.

And when I say that I place a great value on my time — it is not a scam. I am fully aware of how I spend my moments.

I can also listen to understand, not to respond. I can continue to study and work on my own personal growth. And I can keep shining my light to all those I encounter, both in person and virtually.

And to do this, I must share my experiences with others — my writing is a voice that is able to reach people I will never meet in the flesh.

I said at the end of The American Dream article, “That for me, the American Dream is still alive and well.” And that’s still true, but it’s probably not the same American Dream that most Americans see everyday. It’s not about climbing higher or obtaining greater wealth — for me the American Dream is simply having the opportunity to do what brings myself and others happiness.

We are all sailors on an uncharted sea — let us have the courage to follow the winds of our soul.

Have a great life! -MJ

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Here one of my favorites from the archive! I think it’ll pair well with this one😎