To me, the idea of the American Dream is the idea that America understands that all people are born with unalienable rights, given to them by their Creator, not government. All rights derive from property rights. The first property you own, is yourself, when you’re born. All rights come with responsibilities, but the only thing that limits your rights, is someone else’s equal rights. The government is supposed to protect people’s rights.
The Consititution was written with these ideas in mind to help its citizens achieve life, liberty, and prosperity, which forms the basis of “the American Dream.” We are taught that if we educate ourselves and work hard, we will be able to grow up wealthy and be able to purchase a home and support our family.
Unfortunately, I believe our country is being used as a front for corporations to run amock throughout the world, distorting the meaning of the Constitution and rights through the media which they own. America was founded on freedom and liberty, which was supposed to lead to properity, not the other way around and until we get back to following the Constitution and understanding the difference between rights and privelages, the American Dream will remain just that… a Dream.
Like George Carlin said, “They call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”