[7thson]

I've always believed the leftists put forth this image of the American Dream which somehow got set in concrete - the little house with the white picket fence.

I've always believed the American Dream is what an individual can achieve. If your dream is to open up a little mom and pop grocery store, than if you work hard you can achieve that dream. If your dream is to open up a little store and eventually have it become a national superstore - Wal Mart - than you can achieve that in the United States.

The freedom and liberty in this nation allowed each individual to achieve their dream and be content with it.

It is the concept of the United States - which is actually an anomaly in the history of the world - that has spurred innovation, industry, and technology in the last 250 years. If you take a look at the world in 1776, just take a look at transportation. People got around by walking, horseback, wagons. The came across the ocean by sail. If you look at 1526, it was the same. The same in 1276.

Now we get around in motorized vehicles, airplanes, fuel-powered ships, travelling into space. The United States did not invent all these methods but it was the freedom this nation provided and poured out into the world which allowed this to happen.

[Sicvee]

How we get around-—I just passed an anachronism on the freeway tonight—A Smart Car, with a small trailer—on the trailer I expected some kind of motorcycle—but wait—it was a Tote Goat! I hadn’t seen one in at least 50 years!

[CondoleezzaProtege]

In contrast to fatalism, but still without the sugarcoating: Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" has left a more indelible stamp on American consciousness. The example of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) has set a greater precedent than Willy Loman.