Blog #8: Two Different Sides

In Walter R. Fisher's research column titled, Reaffirmation and the Subversion of the American Dream, he claims that there are two sides to the American Dream - a materialistic myth and a moralistic myth. He uses this idea to explain the outcome of the 1972 presidential election between Republican, Richard Nixon, and Democrat, George McGovern. 

The materialistic myth consists of values, such as, "effort, persistence, 'playing the game,' initiative, self-reliance, achievement, and success" (114). The values are connected to characteristics of greed and selfishness. This part of the American Dream focuses on status, wealth, and power - which are all values shared by Nixon in the 1972 election. As Fisher points out, Nixon gained his votes by running on the theme of "Reelect the President" and this reflected his power. Nixon had already had the status as president of the United States, so when he ran in the 1972 campaign, he was already familiar to American citizens and he was able to identify with the presidency. Additionally, Nixon had the component of wealth to aid him in his presidency campaign. Likewise to the Nixon campaign and victory, Trump embodied these same characteristics of status, wealth, and power when he ran against Hillary Clinton. Trump ran with the theme and slogan of "Make America Great Again" which identified Americans with patriotism and allowed Trump to gain power over the voters. This slogan reminded voters that they could act freely, but this slogan disregarded many Americans, such as, immigrants, and didn't offer them the same opportunities.

On the other hand, the moralistic myth consists of "the idea of freedom that stresses the freedom to be as one conceives himself" (115). In other words, the moralistic myth values equal opportunity for all and justice. Fisher points out that McGovern embodied the moralistic myth aspect of the American Dream in his presidential campaign. He ran is campaign on an idealistic element and this cost him the election, along with other factors. Similar to McGovern, 2016 presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, ran her campaign on the ideas of the moralistic myth of the American Dream. She promoted ideas, such as, equal pay, an increase in minimum wage, and paid sick leave from work. These ideas would've shaped American society into an even level playing field for all people of different race, gender, and cultures. 

As I read Fisher's research, I came across a very important claim of his - during the 1972 election (which is also true for the recent 2016 election), one candidate and the myth they advocated got reaffirmed, while the other candidate who promoted the other myth got subverted. These two opposing myths of the American Dream cause a division in American society. Reaffirmation of the materialistic myth implied subversion of the moralistic myth in both cases of the 1972 election as well as the 2016 election. If this division has happened in two presidential elections, it will most likely show up in future presidential elections, as well.