As your post correctly exposes, the so-called "American Dream" has hitherto been a pro-Capitalism propaganda device cleverly disguised as a "social justice motivated promise of society wide reduction of harmful inequality in a democracy"
.
... Abraham Lincoln, "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Lincoln's quote is interesting. Upon reading it I thought of the fact that he was an excellent lawyer that knew quite well how to make the best of a bad case.
For too many who, despite their honest and sincere hard working efforts to improve their lot in life, have experienced nearly (and often totally) insurmountable difficulties due to being the victims of work place tyranny in an unjust, greedy and uncaring Capitalist system, Lincoln's words sound too much like 'blame the victim" sophistry.
I will give Lincoln the benefit of the doubt and hope that he would not have included slaves and other abused individuals in society in the group who could could be happy or not by the "force of their will".
This year's report provides sobering evidence of how addictions are causing considerable unhappiness and depression in the U.S….
The above statement makes the assumption that addictions are a CAUSE of considerable unhappiness and depression without recognizing the fact that considerable unhappiness and depression is the major CAUSE of addiction.
Of course addicts make life miserable for themselves and those around them. The major
underlying cause of addiction (and many other social woes) is a society that values greed more than altruism. American society is generally uncaring by Capitalist DESIGN.
Greed is the
CAUSE. The American epidemic of diseases of despair are all part of the
EFFECT.