Have We Lost Sight of the American Dream?

I’m not rich, nor have I ever been. Not even close. Yet, I am not in favor of taxing the wealthy to pay for new legislation.

Have we lost sight of the American Dream? Have we forgotten what made this country great to begin with?

For generations, families have immigrated to America with nothing but a few coins in their pockets and dreams of freedom. Many worked hard, applying themselves tirelessly as they walked along a path toward their goals, knowing that in America someone can arrive with nothing, work diligently, and build a business, a life, or even a fortune—all because of freedom.

And, the pride they felt inspired them to teach their children to do the same.

If there were two neighbors, exactly the same in every way except that one chose to take a financial risk and start their own business, and say that that risk along with hard work increased the family income to anywhere over $250,000, why should the risk-taker be punished for their talent, their personal time and financial sacrifices, their work? Isn’t this the same as punishing someone for chasing and obtaining the American dream?

Yet, this is exactly what we, as a nation, will be doing if taxes are raised on the wealthy to pay for health care reform, the stimulus bill, any other legislation, or to pay down the deficit. It will, in fact, kill what is left of the American dream.

Over the years, many people have scratched and saved pennies, gone without necessities, worked multiple jobs, sacrificed time they could have spent with their families, and worked until their fingers bled on the road to the American dream. It was a time when perseverance and working toward the dream was respected, honored, and achieving the dream was praised and complimented. Now, however, we seem to be choosing to punish this unique group of individuals.

If pursuing the dream will result in punishment, then many will choose not to pursue it at all; or, they will choose to only follow the road part of the way so as not to risk venturing in to the territory of punishment, each an action that would result in fewer growing businesses and fewer jobs. And, for those earning far below these amounts considered wealthy, there will be no encouragement to work to improve their own situation. In essence, placing additional taxes on higher wage earners will only work to weaken the morale of a people, to keep down a population, and to disrupt—if not destroy—an economy.

We need the American dream. We need to foster an atmosphere of encouragement and inspiration that will aid people in following the American dream, in becoming the best that they can be--even if their best is better than our own.

We need the American dream. We need to allow people to use their talent, their ideas, and their fortitude as they build and create and, in the process, help to build and create a stronger nation, a stronger people, and better opportunities for everyone.

Were it not for the American dream, we wouldn’t have local newspapers or national magazines; we wouldn’t have historical works of fiction and non-fiction and we wouldn’t have timeless paintings; we wouldn’t have the local diner down on the town square or the shop where a local family makes handmade furniture; we wouldn’t have the stories of the person who had an idea, put their savings on the line, began selling an item out of their house, and now are national household names.

We need the American dream. It is the foundation of our country, our freedom, and it is the driving force that propels us toward improvement, toward being something better tomorrow than what we are today. It is the ingenuity that has created inventions that have saved lives, simplified tasks, or simply brought about a laugh. We need the American dream because it is America.

We need the American dream. And, what we really can not afford is to lose sight of it.