Then: peace, freedom and equality. 
All that is wanted for a new life in America.
The battle for the freedom from segregation,
The Vietnam War, pointless and angering.
Manual labor in factories creates sweat on people’s brows.
The crashing of heavy machinery.   
Working hard to earn money for their families. 
Money to buy a house and food for their families.
Families of four and houses with white picket fences.
Nothing making people more happy,
Than achieving
The perfect life goal. 

Now: money, happiness, and education. 
The new goals for living in America. 
From High School to College, the students go. 
They earn their degrees and get their jobs. 
Money is earned and spent. 
Happiness is gained from the buying. 
Money.
Money.
Money.
It’s all about the money. 
Money is green as tree leaves in the spring.
But money doesn’t grow on trees. 
It comes from hard work and labor. 
Consumerism runs rampant.
Wastefulness abounds. 
Worthless spending.
Middle class crushed. 
Families and houses alike,
different shapes and sizes.
All trying to upgrade their belongings. 
New this, new that, never completely satisfied with what they have. 
Is it broken? No!
Buy the new model anyway!
Throw the functioning old one out!
A complete change from back then. 
The country has changed,
And the dream with it.