My American Dream…

“If you ask me to name the proudest distinction of Americans, I would choose–because it contains all the others–the fact that they were the people who created the phrase ‘to make money.’  No other language or nation had ever used these words before; men had always thought of wealth as a static quantity–to be seized, begged, inherited, shared, looted or obtained as a favor.  Americans were the first to understand that wealth has to be created.  The words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality.”

I love these words.  They were written in 1957 by Ayn Rand, in her epic book, “Atlas Shrugged.”  I am currently reading it for the first time, having somehow missed it up till now.  I’ve always heard of it, but just never got around to reading it.  I am enjoying it thoroughly, and am amazed at how timely it is today.

Especially today.  PBO has an agenda, and it’s not his alone, but he is the face of it.  Backed by the extreme wealth of George Soros, the long-established radical left with Obama as their spokesman and public figurehead are having their long-awaited opportunity to change this country dramatically, fundamentally, and finally.

Capitalism is not some new idea that we’ve only been experimenting with for a few decades.  This country was founded based on religious liberty and rebellion against excessive and unjust taxation.  The stealing of profits.  More than two centuries ago, this country was settled and set up as the most free country ever seen.  It is no accident or coincidence that capitalism flourished here as well.  Liberty and capitalism are partners in a free society, and without one, the other can’t survive.

Our free market, and hence, our liberty, is under attack right now.  Right under our noses, right out in the open.  The perpetrators, our radical left minority, are counting on a majority of American citizens: 1) not paying attention; 2) not understanding what’s going on; 3) being so dependent upon government that they will never vote for a change because they will have forgotten how to support themselves.

It is discouraging to see such a large number of fellow Americans think that they want what Obama’s selling.  (and I don’t mean a GM car) It is sad that so many have given up on the American dream.  You know, that dream that says that anyone can achieve success, even great success, with hard work and perserverence.

The people are of one of two minds: they either see a fixed pie of wealth and believe that they can’t get their fair share unless government sees to it that they do; or, they see no limit to either the size of the pie or the number of pies that can be created.  I’ve written about this before, and still think that this is a basic fundamental difference in those who want whatever they can get and those who want the freedom to make whatever they can make.

“Get” or “make.” That is what it boils down to, those who want to get and those who want to make.  In “Atlas Shrugged” this is the theme and I don’t know how that story will end.  I don’t know how America’s story will proceed either, but I at least have some say in that.  America’s story is not finished and we all are the authors of it.

This present time is the chapter that will record how close America came to socialism.  The next chapter will tell how ‘we the people’ rebelled against unjust and unconstitutional policies and America became herself again.

It’s the new American dream.  Live it and share it.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Tagged as: American dream, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, capitalism, George Soros, government dependency, liberty