Another July 4th has come and gone, and the American experiment continues to face many tests. Amid economic uncertainty and a recent resurgence of socialism, we are pushing the boundaries of what “America” even means.
Benjamin Franklin famously preferred “a republic, if you can keep it.” Even though the U.S. Constitution had formed a republic, it was up to the people to keep it alive and well. The same applies today, and there is much more to America than flag parades, fireworks, and summer barbecues.
Now, we go back to our petty squabbles, ready for the next debate on Capitol Hill after the “Big, Beautiful Bill” reached the finish line. More and more Americans are pessimistic that we can “keep” our republic for the next generation. More people think the U.S. is in a constitutional crisis than believe that democracy still exists. Most are concerned about threats to democracy, and political violence in particular.
It begs the question: What is holding us all together? Perhaps our founding document said it best about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” keeping the flame of freedom alive.
However, the American Dream is a better representation of American ideals in our current times. There is no better chance at national unity than the American people seeking to live better, richer, and fuller lives, regardless of where they started and their circumstances at birth. It transcends identity politics, and new research proves it.
Continue reading at Real Clear Politics.
Gonzalo Schwarz is President and CEO at the Archbridge Institute. Gonzalo focuses on researching and writing about the American Dream, social mobility, the economics of human flourishing, economic development, and entrepreneurship. He is the author of the institute’s "American Dream Snapshot” and editor of two publications focused on social mobility in Europe and Latin America. Gonzalo has an M.A. in economics from George Mason University and a B.A. in economics from the Catholic University of Bolivia. You can follow his Substack, "Living the Dream," where he writes about the American Dream.
Culture of Flourishing
Another July 4th has come and gone, and the American experiment continues to face many tests. Amid economic uncertainty and a recent resurgence of socialism, we are pushing the boundaries of what “America” even means.
Benjamin Franklin famously preferred “a republic, if you can keep it.” Even though the U.S. Constitution had formed a republic, it was up to the people to keep it alive and well. The same applies today, and there is much more to America than flag parades, fireworks, and summer barbecues.
Now, we go back to our petty squabbles, ready for the next debate on Capitol Hill after the “Big, Beautiful Bill” reached the finish line. More and more Americans are pessimistic that we can “keep” our republic for the next generation. More people think the U.S. is in a constitutional crisis than believe that democracy still exists. Most are concerned about threats to democracy, and political violence in particular.
It begs the question: What is holding us all together? Perhaps our founding document said it best about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” keeping the flame of freedom alive.
However, the American Dream is a better representation of American ideals in our current times. There is no better chance at national unity than the American people seeking to live better, richer, and fuller lives, regardless of where they started and their circumstances at birth. It transcends identity politics, and new research proves it.
Continue reading at Real Clear Politics.
Gonzalo Schwarz
Gonzalo Schwarz is President and CEO at the Archbridge Institute. Gonzalo focuses on researching and writing about the American Dream, social mobility, the economics of human flourishing, economic development, and entrepreneurship. He is the author of the institute’s "American Dream Snapshot” and editor of two publications focused on social mobility in Europe and Latin America. Gonzalo has an M.A. in economics from George Mason University and a B.A. in economics from the Catholic University of Bolivia. You can follow his Substack, "Living the Dream," where he writes about the American Dream.
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