What is the American Dream

It used to be that the American Dream was owning one’s own home. In reality, it is rooted in the concept of bettering oneself. However, I wonder if the dream exists in a world where home ownership has become an expectation (not a lifelong dream realized), a world where we are likely to own as many as 20 cars in our lifetime. Has the availability of credit made us so ungrateful for the things that we have? Or is it simply the fact that we never really own anything? Our society has turned from the pursuit of happiness to a never ending merry-go-round of revolving credit lines, mortgages, and other expenses. Is it possible that less credit will make us happier?