The American Dream today has devolved into just trying to be able to pay for everything. That's my answer; if there even is still an American Dream.
America tends to glorify money the most; you have to make money, you have to have a home, you have to pay all of this by yourself, you have to buy this product to look and feel beautiful, you have to buy the latest technology; it's disheartening and exhausting. The act of purchasing things is the most glorified thing in America. Almost everywhere you look, there's an ad; and usually those few places you look and see no ads for is because it's a nonprofit!