The American Dream, Inc.

I was listening to a call-in radio station the other day, and heard about the most appalling statement I have ever listened to. A caller was talking about the controversial Supreme Court decision that gives corporations the same freedom of political speech as an individual. That decision (Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission) has basically opened the flood gates for any group with money to run as many political ads as they can afford. It's a truly horrifying prospect; but apparently it has its fans.

This caller made the statement that corporations are comprised of people, (never mind that no corporation I am aware of is comprised entirely of people who agree politically, that's another issue for another day) and furthermore, that corporations, because of their accumulated wealth and power, are essentially “successful people.” Therefor, corporations deserve to have a brighter and louder voice than individuals. I am paraphrasing, but this was the gist of it.

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

I'm not against capitalism, or corporations, necessarily. But I am vehemently against the idea that those who prosper financially in a business environment comprise the be all and end all of what it means to be a “successful” American. What a mediocre, unimaginative, derivative, and utterly disappointing American Dream that would be!

This Dream is Your Dream, This Dream is My Dream

What defines us as Americans, in my opinion, is our ability to determine for ourselves what makes us happy, what constitutes “success.” While society may tell you you need that fancy car and that big house to be successful, the Declaration of Independence calls bullshit.

Our forefathers believed that our Creator (I know, I know, also another issue for another day) gave us the inalienable right to pursue our happiness – and that means we also have the right to determine for ourselves, individually, what that happiness is.

And we were also given voices, and votes, so that we could express our individual points of view to our representative leaders; because they need to understand what is important to each one of us.

Americans have, since our inception, been the most unique people in the world. It's partly because of our country's make-up as a nation of immigrants – a blend of different cultures and ideas; but it is also partly because there is a certain character inherent in a person that is willing to pick up and leave their homeland, everything they have ever known, and travel across sea or land to get to some foreign country, where  they might not know the language, and certainly won't no the customs – in order to chase after something as amorphous and undefinable as “The American Dream.” Every one of us has ancestors who picked up and left everything they knew to come to this country.

Corporate America cannot be allowed to define the American Dream. They cannot they cannot they cannot they cannot they cannot...

For someone to tell me that a corporation, because they have more money than I do, should be entitled to a greater voice within our political system – well frankly, that person can go to Hell!

madbob@madbob.com