Welcome to Today's American Dream! This site is dedicated to restoring the "American Dream" in the vision of America's Founding Fathers. Hopefully, these educational resources will enable Americans to apprehend and appreciate the principles that inspired America's Founding Fathers to pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor in order to secure the blessings of Liberty.
The American Dream... the words have been ingrained into us since very early in our lives. But what exactly is the American Dream? What does it mean to you? Is the American Dream still alive today? Are you living it? Consider what others have to say about the American Dream.
To kick off the celebration of their 10th anniversary, Forbes.com "asked more than 60 great achievers, including actors, artists, politicians and executives, to answer the question 'What is the American Dream?'."
Most of today's Americans would say that home ownership is the American Dream. Others would say that it is being your own boss, having your own business or becoming rich and famous. While the American Dream certainly could include some or all of these things, none of them by themselves constitute the American Dream. Rather, they are a result of it. The American Dream is far greater!
"Whereas the American Dream was once equated with certain principles of freedom, it is now equated with things. The American Dream has undergone a metamorphosis from principles to materialism. ... When people are concerned more with the attainment of things than with the maintenance of principles, it is a sign of moral decay. And it is through such decay that loss of freedom occurs."
Thirty years later, in the June 2003 issue of The Freeman, Lawrence W. Reed published an excellent and timely article entitled "The True Meaning of Patriotism". In it Reed writes:
"I subscribe to a patriotism rooted in ideas that in turn gave birth to a country, but it's the ideas that I think of when I'm feeling patriotic. I'm a patriotic American because I revere the ideas that motivated the Founders and compelled them, in many instances, to put their lives, fortunes and sacred honor on the line."
More recently, Chuck Baldwin emphatically stated in his article Can You Imagine This Country?, that material gain is not the American Dream. Baldwin writes:
"We hear much today about the American dream. By "the American dream," most people mean buying a big house, driving an expensive automobile, and making a lot of money. However, this was not the dream envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Remember that, for the most part, America's founders gave up their material wealth and substance for something they considered of far greater worth. Unfortunately, this hedonistic generation knows little of the kind of sacrificial spirit personified in the lives of America's patriarchs.
In the minds of the founders, liberty--with all of its intrinsic risks--was more desirable than material prosperity, if that prosperity was accompanied with despotism or collectivism. So strong was their desire that they were willing to give up the latter in order to procure the former for themselves and their posterity.
How dare Americans today refer to material gain as "the American dream." It is not! It is the freedom to honestly pursue one's goals that should be celebrated. Material gain is only a fruit of freedom, not its root."
In the Declaration of Independence, America's Founding Fathers laid out very clearly for us the true meaning of the American Dream ...
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"...
America's Founding Fathers clearly understood that faith in the Creator and true Freedom are inseparable. We believe their worldview was a Christian one based upon the Great Commission of the Gospel and biblically enlightened self-government. As inscribed on the Liberty Bell, they would "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." (Leviticus 25:10)
Solomon once said: "When there is no vision, the people perish." The true American Dream is more accurately called the American Vision. It is the Vision that drove our Founding Fathers to establish our Constitutional Republic as a nation under God. At the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, declared:
"We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come".
In his book, God, Gold and Civil Government, Tom Rose makes a very profound description of what constitutes liberty. True freedom or liberty is more than just having a lot of money. Having wealth will economically enhance a person's lifestyle and give them more free time to do what they want, but that is only one aspect of liberty. True liberty actually has three main parts:
"Liberty is like a three-legged stool. It has three aspects, or legs: the Spiritual, the Economic and the Political. Each leg must be carefully preserved. If one leg is shortened or cut off, the stability provided by the other two will be hampered or lost, and the ideal of Liberty will come tumbling down."
In the final years of his life, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, called upon the American people to
"Preserve inviolate the Constitution, which if cherished in all its chastity and purity, will prove in the end a blessing to all the nations of the earth."
As Americans we must also educate ourselves and our children in order to better understand our nation's founding documents and how America's Founding Fathers originally intended for them to be interpreted. Thomas Jefferson also said:
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
The words of exhortation from America's sixth president, John Quincy Adams, call out to us from the past:
"Posterity -- you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."
"To personally understand and maintain the American way of life, to honor it by his own exemplary conduct, and to pass it intact to succeeding generations is the responsibility of every true American."
The Vision of America's Founding Fathers, the true American Dream, is still alive and waiting to be renewed. Make a decision to be a part of restoring it! Become informed! Get involved! You CAN make a difference! Hold fast to your dreams! Rekindle the faith, hope and love in your heart! Be all that you were called to be! LIVE Today's American Dream!
Overview of America - Ron Paul Speech at Duke University
The Economics of a Free Society These selections lay out my views of the proper role of government, namely that it should serve only to protect the life and property of its citizens.
I respect the Constitution not because of a nostalgic attachment to an anachronistic document, but because the Founders knew the danger in allowing government to overstep its legitimate functions. It is unfortunate that many Americans today don't understand the Founders' wisdom in framing our government on the principles of federalism and republicanism — as opposed to "democracy."
A free society can only work when its members agree that there are certain things left to the discretion of individuals — no matter what a temporary majority might think. In practice this means the government must respect private property and the rule of law, or what is also called free-market capitalism. ... Read the rest
The main question before the new Congress and the administration is: Are we to have gridlock or cooperation? Today we refer to cooperation as bipartisanship. Some argue that bipartisanship is absolutely necessary for the American democracy to survive. The media never mention a concern for the survival of the Republic. But there are those who argue that left-wing interventionism should give no ground to right-wing interventionism - that too much is at stake.
The media are demanding the Bush administration and the Republican Congress immediately yield to those insisting on higher taxes and more federal government intervention for the sake of national unity, because our government is neatly split between two concise philosophic views. But if one looks closely, one is more likely to find only a variation of a single system of authoritarianism, in contrast to the rarely mentioned constitutional, nonauthoritarian approach to government.
The big debate between the two factions in Washington boils down to nothing more than a contest over power and political cronyism, rather than any deep philosophic differences. ... Read the rest
Neo-CONNED! The modern-day, limited-government movement has been co-opted. The conservatives have failed in their effort to shrink the size of government. There has not been, nor will there soon be, a conservative revolution in Washington. Political party control of the federal government has changed, but the inexorable growth in the size and scope of government has continued unabated. The liberal arguments for limited government in personal affairs and foreign military adventurism were never seriously considered as part of this revolution.
Since the change of the political party in charge has not made a difference, who's really in charge? If the particular party in power makes little difference, whose policy is it that permits expanded government programs, increased spending, huge deficits, nation building and the pervasive invasion of our privacy, with fewer Fourth Amendment protections than ever before?
Someone is responsible, and it's important that those of us who love liberty, and resent big-brother government, identify the philosophic supporters who have the most to say about the direction our country is going. If they're wrong - and I believe they are - we need to show it, alert the American people, and offer a more positive approach to government. However, this depends on whether the American people desire to live in a free society and reject the dangerous notion that we need a strong central government to take care of us from the cradle to the grave. Do the American people really believe it’s the government's responsibility to make us morally better and economically equal? Do we have a responsibility to police the world, while imposing our vision of good government on everyone else in the world with some form of utopian nation building? If not, and the enemies of liberty are exposed and rejected, then it behooves us to present an alternative philosophy that is morally superior and economically sound and provides a guide to world affairs to enhance peace and commerce. ... Read the rest
Land of the Free
When considering your options for president this year, Vote for Freedom! ... Read More
Washington's Culture of Deception
The propensity of rulers to engage in war for personal, transient, or even adolescent purposes is exactly why America's Founding Fathers created a constitutional republic in this country. In America, the Constitution--not the President, Congress, or even the Supreme Court--is the Supreme Law of the land. ... Read More
Christianity and War
If there is any group of people that should be opposed to war, torture, militarism, the warfare state, state worship, suppression of civil liberties, an imperial presidency, blind nationalism, government propaganda, and an aggressive foreign policy it is Christians, and especially conservative, evangelical, and fundamentalist Christians who claim to strictly follow the dictates of Scripture and worship the Prince of Peace. It is indeed strange that Christian people should be so accepting of war. ... Read More
Two Concepts that will Change your Life Forever
All elected officials take a solemn OATH to protect and defend the Constitution. Not business, not banks, not themselves, not lobbies, not Europe, not Iraq -- ..only to the Constitution of the United States. ... Read More
Not Voting for Principle is a Wasted Vote
At some point, we Americans must decide whether we will tolerate the continued sellout of our freedoms and principles or not. Will we swallow the shallow squeals of the establishment elite who think we are a bunch of sheep to be herded into their New World Order? Or will we stand our ground? Will we vote our principles and our conscience?
... Read More
What Should Christians Do When Under Oppression?
How should Christians respond to reform efforts under political regimes where they have no rights, no freedom of religion, speech, press, or assembly? For the most part, prior to the fall of most of Eastern Europe's Communist governments and the former Soviet Union, Christians behind the iron curtain had little say in the way their nation operated. This was true of nearly all citizens. Christians often were specifically signaled out for persecution.
... Read More
Open Borders Prove 'War On Terror' Is Superficial
A glaring inconsistency regarding the "war on terror" is the fact that for some seven years since the 9/11 attacks, our nation's borders and ports are as open and porous as ever. These open borders make the argument that "we are fighting them over there, so we won't have to fight them over here" look absolutely disingenuous--even laughable. ... Read More
Christianity in Eclipse
The Christian's attitude toward the state, its leaders, its military, its wars, its imperialism, and its interventionism should be a no-brainer: contempt, disdain, disgust, revulsion, abhorrence, repugnance, loathing – take your pick. Yet, among Christians one continues to find some of the greatest apologists for the state, its leaders, its institutions, and its evil doings. Biblical Christianity is becoming eclipsed by state worship ... Read More
Sheep Without Shepherds
Lex Rex is an old legal term which translated from the Latin means simply "the Law is King." It is the premise upon which all natural law and our American Constitutional Republic was formed. No one is above the law and natural laws cannot be altered.
But recently in America we have seen this premise turned on its head. No longer "Lex Rex, the law is king," but now "Rex Lex the king is law" is the prevailing system in our once-great republic. ... Read More
Our Military Needs Real Support, Not Empty Rhetoric
As we approach Memorial Day, we can anticipate the usual speeches and photo stunts from various and sundry politicos, each of them touting their heartfelt "support" for America's men and women in uniform. I submit that much of this political grandstanding is merely empty rhetoric. Video ... Read More
For Christ and for Caesar
Are bombing, maiming, destroying property, killing, and genocide compatible with biblical Christianity? Patrick Henry College apparently thinks so. The war in Iraq is all of the above, yet this Christian college not only offers Army ROTC, it also offers its students as cannon fodder to the U.S. military. ... Read More
The Results of Christian Activism
Bigger Government, Deficits, Wars Without End
I have a great fascination for people who believe that because we live in America and that they claim to be Christian and that they can somehow wrap Biblical language around their decisions, actions, and attitudes, that all the indicators that foretell serious social, political, and economic disasters are suddenly going to disappear like a bad dream. Or else we're just going to be raptured and the tribulation will proceed without us. ... Read More
Should Christians Obey the Antichrist?
Even when he was at the height of his glory and fame and at the depth of his depravity, Elvis Presley was uneasy with being called the "King of Rock and Roll." On more than one occasion, Elvis made the point that Jesus was the only King.
If only all Christians were as sound as Elvis in their understanding about Who their King really is. ... Read More
If I Were President Due to my frequent criticisms of President George W. Bush, I am often asked what I would do if I were President of these United States. This column will serve as an attempt to answer that question.
... Read More
The Libertarian From Nazareth
Whatever one's religious denomination, a careful, dispassionate analysis of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth compels the conclusion that Jesus was an uncompromising political libertarian. Libertarianism is of course not a faith or a creed, but rather a political theory for organizing civilized society. The written record provides strong, unambiguous support for the fact that Jesus was a political libertarian who very likely had an Austrian understanding of money. ... Read More
An American Theocracy?
How is that we have allowed the Christian Right to be defined by delusional idealism and religious zeal? How is it that American evangelicals not only approved but actually glamorized the war as a form of Christian "mission"? ... Read More
Christian Idolatry
In these United States, there is perhaps no area where the sin of idolatry is more universally practiced than in the area of government. Call it civil affairs, or politics, or affairs of state. Call it what you will, the result is the same: Christians by the millions have surrendered Christ's authority and principles to humanism and pragmatism. ... Read More
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![Spirit of Liberty [Ron Paul 2008]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fGN5G22koFc/default.jpg)
