And there you have it.
But here is the kicker: Just as the Left has appropriated much of the language and enslaved it to their ideology, we have taken their phrase "The American Dream", and given it true meaning since the founding of this country.
When we (as conservatives) refer to "The American Dream", we reference a country that is merit based. No matter how high you are born, you can fail without hard work. And no matter how low you are born, you can succeed beyond your wildest dreams, and all it takes is hard work, dedication, and persistence. ANYONE can succeed. That is our interpretation as conservatives. And it is true. It is why people USED to come from all over the world to come to this country.
To put it plainly, we want equal opportunity. The Left (including those like James Truslow Adams) want equal outcomes.
Tools like those who adhere to leftist policies, don't have that in mind.