What Happened to the American Dream..?

I thought being rich was a good thing.

Lately, here in the good ole USA, it seems like a sin. 

Everywhere I am, people talk bad about wealthy people. I don't get it. I thought the "American Dream" was to work and strive to be wealthy and live easily. I blame Obama for this changed mindset. 

Okay, not completely, because I even find this changed mindset in my church. 

I see it in politics. During the election, people didn't like Romney because he was rich! And these are the people who say, "Don't judge someone because they're poor." Yet, they judge a politician because he is wealthy. People acted like it was such a horrible thing that he had money, and I didn't understand that. Obviously he knows how to manage money well, so it would be good if this country looked up to someone like that. Maybe he would have a chance at getting us out of all this debt since he's so wise economically. Well, too late for that I suppose. Maybe people think it's bad to be rich because the rich people don't get all of these benefits from Obama's plans. 

I see it socially. There are groups in high school, and usually groups of friends are made up of people of the same economic background, just like in real life. Not always, but usually that's what I see. The people dress similarly and are involved in some of the same activities, and a lot of that has to do with their economic status. There's usually a group of really pretty, more popular girls with nice clothes and phones and whatever. Then there's less fortunate ones. The one's who go around all should be treated equally and stuff. Then they call these girls "fake" or talk about how they're snotty rich brats, even though they've never actually talked to them. They talk about how you shouldn't judge someone, then they go and talk bad about others who have money, or wear more makeup then them, deeming them "fake." This is kind of a different discussion, but just because someone wants to look good doesn't mean they're fake. Fake is platinum blonde hair, constantly spray tanned skin, and boob implants. Not that many girls at our school look like that, and even if they do, why do you care what they spend their money on? You know they look silly, so let that be all, without saying anything about them.
Also at school, people judge what you spend your money on. All the time. They judge you if you don't have a job, yet still have more than they do. They act like it's some kind of fault of yours! It's just a blessing not a fault, and maybe they're just jealous. People find fault in others who go on extravagant vacations, like it's some kind of crime to spend money. Overall, people just act like you're a bad person if you have a little extra money to spend.

I even see it at church. They say the poor are blessed, and I kinda see that... but the rich can do so much more sometimes. They can give more to the church and they can donate more to organizations. They may not have to work as many hours as they grow older so they'll be able to volunteer more. Today, it just seemed like in the service rich people were overall just talked badly about. It's like we can't be good Christians if we're rich in some people's eyes. I'm sure just about all wealthy people go through struggles, just like anyone else. Maybe not economic struggles, but money isn't everything. They can't fix emotional problems with the swipe of a credit card, at least not permanently. Not all illnesses can be fixed with good insurance and some extra money. They have problems too, so people should stop treating them like selfish sinners and generalizing the rich as bad, because not all are, and doesn't the church teach not to judge like that? If I was a rich person coming to church and I heard all of the things they say about "rich people" in such a general way, I'd leave. What if a rich person comes, wanting more, and wanting God, but they are turned away because of how the church treats the wealthy? What if the church missed out on a million dollar grant because they were offended and hurt by how people were generalizing the rich as selfish, arrogant, world-loving snobs?! It just doesn't seem right to me...

I hear the saying, "step in their shoes," usually referring to poorer people, but why do we never think about it from the polar-opposite? How do you think the rich feel, when lately, the whole world talks bad about them, acting like it's a horrible thing to work hard and be wealthy? Shouldn't we strive to be rich and successful, so that others can be encouraged to work hard and be the same way?