Cynics do not build
The American dream has come to be measured almost entirely in the things that can be counted — a home, a wage that outpaces the year before it, a child who rises higher than the parent. These metrics are real, and the fight for them is just.
TL;DR
- The American dream is often measured by quantifiable metrics like homeownership and wage growth.
- A core, though often unstated, foundation of the American dream is faith in the legitimacy and durability of civilization.
- Individuals need a reason to invest in the future, which requires a belief in the worthiness of their inheritance and country.
- Founders like Washington, Jefferson, and Madison understood the necessity of historical memory and a shared story for national cohesion.
- Abraham Lincoln's speeches highlight the importance of connecting the present to the nation's founding principles.