I strongly disagree with that. The American dream is that you get ahead through hard work, etc, but it’s not at the expense of others. It’s not winning the rat race. It’s creating something of value from your own hard labor. It’s carving a farm out of the wilderness, it’s not being under someone else’s thumb, it’s starting your own business and providing something of value.

Now I’m not saying this is always true, but the fantasied American Dream ™ isn’t about pulling down others, it’s about rising up yourself.