The John Adams Society
G. Larry Colson, Jr. |
Mark Sanquist |
Peder Mewis |
Susan Smith |
| Chairman | Secretary | Chief Whip | Chancellor |
November 2009
Part of the American dream is to live long and die young.
- Gen. Douglas MacArthur
THE AMERICAN DREAM STARTED MODESTLY: to live free in a free country, to worship according to your faith, to raise your family as you thought best, and to enjoy the fruits of your labors without oppressive taxation. As the country grew, so did the dream. An early addition was that anyone could become rich and famous. A more recent addition is that those unable, or unwilling, to provide for themselves could rely on the government, which provides for them by distributing the fruits of someone else’s labor. The dream has become: We want it all, and we want someone else to go and get it for us.
The dream is now a nightmare. Wealth and success can be shallow and materialistic; lust for money and power can cost a man his soul, yet they fail to satisfy. We are still free to pray, but we must do it undetected to avoid offending others. Those who earn a decent living are targets for demagogues and the taxman. Our celebrities are buffoons. "The rich and famous" once included Thomas Edison; today it includes Donald Trump. Have a Happy Winter Solstice.
ON THE OTHER HAND, dreams don’t live in a country; dreams live in the hearts and minds of the people. No dream can really die until people stop dreaming it. The American Dream can’t die as long as we continue to dream it, continue to work towards it, continue to fight for it, and continue to pass it along to others, to our children, and to our immigrants. People still flee oppression on foreign shores and come to America to be free. Conservatives must rally to the American Dream of limited government and personal freedom. Let all God’s children be free!
THE CHAIRMAN, probably hoping for help interpreting his own unusual dreams, has called a debate to settle the question:
Resolved: The American Dream Has Become a Nightmare.
The Debate will be held on Wednesday November 18, 2009 at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, in Saint Paul. The Chancellor will preside over drinks beginning at seven o'clock p.m. The debate will begin at half past seven. While there is no dress code for attendance, gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie; ladies should adhere to a similar sartorial standard. For those gentlemen who arrive tieless yet wish to speak, fret not: the Purveyor of Ties will keep on hand at least one of his quite remarkable ties for just such an eventuality. Questions about debate caucus procedures or about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (612) 384-6776 or the Secretary at (952) 887-2553.