The American Dream is a middle class lifestyle. Post-World War II America saw a vibrant middle class. Post 9-11/Great Recession America has replaced its vibrant middle class with the ‘gig economy’
The “vibrant middle class” has been in decline since the 1980s and was basically gone by 9/11. The "gig economy” didn't replace it, it maybe nibbled around the edges of the stable working class.
The gig economy is how the world worked prior to World War 2.
Prior to the Great Depression, 90%+ of the US population was independent workers.
It's been a very short period in human history where lifetime employment, sitting still in one job for 30+ years, became fashionable.
It only became fashionable when the US government saw an opening to conquer the world, but needed to insure they didn't drop the ball, and tried to institute workers rights and the like, in a very hacky way, at that.
There's really no reason it has to look at all like it has to live a fulfilling life of creative output.
The whole dream of acquiring a stash of capital to free oneself from the daily grind seems largely illusory to anyone under the age of 50, thanks to many other things but the gig economy (IMO, the gig economy itself being a reaction to shitty office life conditions; the people are saying FU to oatmeal cubes, and staring a screen, being hassled by coworkers to do their job for them.)
A modern hunting-gathering lifestyle has been shown to promote positive moods on life as well.
Perhaps the notion of corralling the masses into "problem solver" groups (corporations) focused on some billionaires "problems" (not enough billions) isn't a sustainable model given inherent features of human biology and desire for free agency.
If you think about it, it's really just paid servitude to a rich master. Not really the American notion of freedom given history.
