Patch Distills Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

We're excited to inaugurate a new series for Mount Helix Patch readers: 'Dispatches: The Changing American Dream.'

Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families and businesses are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities.

At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us.

We don't think there's one "American Dream," but a multitude of dreams which a multitude of people are aspiring toward.

Looking out across nearly almost 900 Patch sites, we see businesses deciding whether to expand; high school students who can't get entry-level jobs because they've been displaced by laid-off workers; college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs; and senior citizens returning to the work force because they can't pay their bills.

In Spring Valley, for example, , as of the end of June, meaning the unemployment rate is 12 percent. In Mt. Helix-Casa de Oro, there are 1,100 without jobs, for a rate of 9.7 percent

Nationally, there's a debate about the education system, which is at the center of our dreams of a better life for our children. have drastically effected the way teachers in California can do their jobs. 

We also see bold new volunteer efforts, inspiring stories of local businesses that succeed because they innovated, and locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government. 

We want to hear from you! If you want to blog about this topic, let us know. If you just want to share a comment, email us or add it to the comment box at the bottom of this story.

The "changing American Dream" starts with you.