How to Keep America is the Greatest Country on Earth

America is the greatest country on earth.

Full stop.

The American Dream; that all men are created equal…

The American Promise; that a free market provides for the uninhibited pursuit of happiness…

The American Ideal; that life and liberty are our birthrights…

…are the worthiest aspirations.

This is our heritage.

This document defines the American spirit.

The Declaration of Independence was the flint spark of American Patriotism.

A king didn’t conscript American colonials and order us into battle; we took our freedom as a militia.

Hard men, enduring pain and suffering on levels we modern Americans couldn’t fathom, left their homes and families to forge a better future.

Strong, determined women ran households and businesses, never knowing if their husbands would ever return or what their children’s future would look like if the rebellion were unsuccessful.

These men and women set the standard for the cultural norms of freedom, independence and entrepreneurship that define our great country.

Our prosperity is built upon their sacrifice.

Today, centuries removed from those sacrifices; honor, and appreciation have devolved into entitlement and apathy.

We look back at the founding fathers as racists, murders, and criminals.

Strong men (and women) created easy times. Now, 248 years later, we’re forced to endure anti-American sentiment from generations of weak men and women; a product of those easy times.

Self-Righteous Weakness

…we have a panic attack when the wifi is spotty.

…we’re offended by words.

…we can’t live without air conditioning.

…we have the gall to complain about living in the freest, most inclusive, prosperous nation the world has ever known.

The self-righteous weakness it takes not to respect America is astounding.

This sentiment was captured in a recent Wall Street Journal study titled, “America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It; Patriotism, religion, and hard work hold less importance.”

In the study, respondents saying patriotism was very important fell from 70 percent in 1998 to 38 percent in 2023.

This drop in patriotism is more likely a derivative of a precipitous drop in core values such as religion, raising children, and community involvement, as seen in the charts above.

What have we used to replace the moral values that have guided flourishing human societies for Millenia (including our own over the last 200-plus years)?

Money.

Consumerism, secularism, and narcissism now reign supreme.

You’re not getting yours… It’s America’s fault.

Specifically, whatever polar opposite viewpoint your “side” has told you to hate and blame for all your problems.

Do you know what will make you feel better? Buy more stuff…

Oh, you don’t have money? It’s “their” fault. We’ll give you some money so you can buy more stuff…

Instead of understanding, we hate.

Instead of compromising, we blame.

Instead of listening, we shout the other side down louder and louder until no one has any clue how this all started.

Feeling a little depressed? Buy more stuff…

No meaning in your life because you never started a family? Buy more stuff…

Anxiety because the world is going to overheat and kill everyone? Buy more stuff…

Don’t worry about that debt; we’ll forgive it. You sit on the couch, eat more chips, watch more Netflix, and buy more stuff…

Slowly, little by little, we lose touch with the American Dream, the American Promise, and the American Ideal.

We get fat, lazy, and depressed; all we want is someone to blame for the nagging pain we live with daily.

It must be “Their” fault…

…and when all hope feels lost, we turn on the very institution of America itself.

We curse America.

We denigrate the flag that represents its values and honors its heroes.

We forget that America is the greatest country on earth…ever.

A More Perfect Union

“We the People” is important, but the brilliance of the opening line to the Constitution is “…to form a more perfect Union….”

“More perfect,” not perfect.

America is not perfect. Far from it…but then perfection was never the goal.

For in the brilliance of our founding fathers was the understanding that America is a set of aspirational ideals that would take centuries (or longer) of work to achieve.

Ideals such as:

• Individualism: The idea that each person has the right to make their own decisions and to express their own opinions.
• Freedom: The belief in personal, political, and economic liberties and the protection of these rights from governmental interference.
• Equality: The ideal that all people are created equal and should have equal opportunities.
• Democracy: The United States was founded as a representative democracy, and the value of democratic governance runs deep in American culture.
• Capitalism: The belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can succeed if they work hard. This is often associated with the opportunity for economic advancement and upward mobility, also known as the “American Dream.”
• Patriotism: A sense of pride and loyalty to the country and its ideals is a strong value in American culture.
• Rule of Law: The principle that the law applies equally to all citizens and that no one is above the law.
• Respect for diversity: While there has been and continues to be significant struggle and conflict over this value, the ideal of America as a “melting pot” of different cultures, races, and religions is a key part of its identity.
• Self-reliance: Many Americans value the ability to take care of oneself without relying on external assistance. This ties into the value of individualism.
• Philanthropy: Americans are known for their charitable giving and willingness to volunteer their time and resources.

The humility our founding fathers had to write “a more perfect Union” instead of “a perfect Union.”

Because America is highly imperfect.

• Slavery was horrific.
• Racism still exists.
• Elitism and class warfare are predominant.
• Corruption is widespread.
• Violence is increasingly unchecked.

Yet, we have people willing to fight…willing to die to cure these injustices.

The world is full of small-minded, shit people who believe your heritage, economic status, or skin color defines your value.

Unfortunately, it probably always will be the case, but that is America. There are shitty people… narcissistic, selfish, insecure, small-minded people who can not get ahead without pushing others down.

However, this is not the ideal we believe in.

Therefore, it falls to us (you and me) to fight back, not with violence or harsh language, but with our actions.

• Work hard.
• Love.
• Be compassionate and understanding.
• Listen in earnest.
• Give with the expectation of reciprocation.
• Be present.
• Get involved in your community.

America is advanced citizenship.

It’s not supposed to be easy. But it is the difficulty that comes from living with such a diverse and dynamic population that we derive the great prosperity we all enjoy.

The responsibility to perpetuate America’s greatest falls not just on the shoulders of politicians, CEOs, or community leaders…but every citizen.

READ NEXT: The Antidote to Motivation

The Rub

You can also do nothing.

You can put your head in the sand, close the gate to your community and complain about whatever hardship of the day allows you to virtual signal to your peer group.

This is the path of the weak man.

But if you’ve made it this far, I’ll assume you do not aspire to be weak.

Here is my challenge to you…

Take one action every day that embodies the dream, promise and ideals of America.

Not for yourself. This doesn’t work if your actions are self-serving.

• Do it for your kids (or future kids).
• Do it to honor your parents.
• Do it to improve your community.

Do this and things will get better.

This is the way.

Hanley

p.s. click here if you want to go further down the rabbit hole.