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During the two terms inwhich the Bush Administration held office, the United States registered strong growth and positive employment, but it has lived essentially on credit. At present this policy has serious consequences on the American standard of living. Both candidates to the presidency have quite similar aims: to reform the health care system, to balance the fiscal accounts, and to support purchasing power. The debate on the “American dream”, looking for a trade-off between protections of weaker population and increasing inequalities, could be reopened.Bernard Salzmann, former Financial Attaché near the Embassy of France in the United States, is an Economist.