Is the American Dream to blame?

Through out my time here on this forum, I have found that many of you agree that the US (at least compared to the UK) is more materialistic, keeping up with the Jones', and more focused on wealth as a goal for a good life.

In my studies we are reading Beyond Culture by Hall. Though I don't agree with his view on language, he wrote something that I found interesting: “the American is inclined to be more oriented toward achieving set goals and less toward developing close human relations.”

This got me to wonder, is the American Dream slightly to blame? The US was built on the idea that you could immigrate here with nothing and with hard work and determination you could achieve wealth and a better lifestyle. Could the American Dream of gaining wealth be a contributing reason as to why Americans are perceived as more materialistic than other cultures or “keeping up with the Jones” mentality”?

My professor told me that in Germany, they knew how to work as well as how to play. And how I have read here that in the UK you aren't given the third degree for taking a day off versus in the US it is different. Again, could the American Dream be a reason why the US is so set on working long hours and more days?

I'm just interested in your thoughts or opinions on this subject

I don't think that you can classify every American with wanting to "keep up with the Jones' just like you can't with the Brits. Some do, some don't. I know I have never felt that pressure, rather its been how I want to live and yes I want to have a nice lifestyle...according to me! 

I did find a huge difference when working in the UK with folks "signing themselves off for depression every now and then". I found that a bit different to say the least. In the US, I think when people call in sick, it really depends on your job. Example - my Brit husband works for a company over here that has a large call center and folks there seem to call in sick a lot and it does become an issue....yet on his side of the company (different department), if they call in sick, its not a problem because they don't do it unless they are really feeling ill. Where I work, its also not a problem because again people don't take advantage of sick days unless they are really sick (no repeat behavior-Mondays/Fridays, etc) so its not an issue.

As for wealth and a better lifestyle....yeah, if you work for it, you will get it. As for me, I am not a work horse....have never been into "face time" but I do work hard while there and I make a decent salary and have 27 days vacation a year. I can also work from home when my schedule allows it. All in all, a great work/life balance.

Why do I mention this, because its not an "either/or scenario" (work to the bone or remain idle)....just do a good job and be acknowledged for it, its not that difficult to do in the states. 

The basic thing i like about the UK work/home ethic is to me anyway folks here in the UK
WORK TO LIVE
and in the US its
LIVE TO WORK
So to me there is much more a balance here in the UK,which is evidenced by the amount of holiday/vacation time.
Just my opinion
There isn't near as much a keep up with jonses thing here.

I think it depends on the industry you are in and where you live.  I had no problem in the US on either front. 

If it is true, as reported here http://www.thinkmoney.com/debt/news/personal-debt-0-1717.htm that the UK has the highest level of personal debt in the world, and they don't have medical debts the way people do in the US, then they must be spending that money on something. 

I think the UK is just as bad as the US when it comes to materialism and consumer culture.   I am hoping that the one good thing that will come out of the current recession will be a shift in attitudes about that.

Work/life balance is a slightly different issue- I much prefer the situation in the UK (as a whole) to that in the US (as a whole) and it's part of the reason why we live in the UK. I don't think the idea of the American Dream has that much to do with the work/life situation in the US, though.

I think the UK is just as bad as the US when it comes to materialism and consumer culture.   I am hoping that the one good thing that will come out of the current recession will be a shift in attitudes about that.

Work/life balance is a slightly different issue- I much prefer the situation in the UK (as a whole) to that in the US (as a whole.) I don't think the idea of the American Dream has that much to do with the work/life situation in the US, though.

I agree.  I think the "keeping up with the Joneses" is just in different ways here.  For instance lots of people brag about vacations they take and how much their house was now worth, back when that mattered, and household stuff.  Whereas back in the US it was more about a speedboat and cars.