America Is Exceptional: But Because It Yields

True Patriots Believe That We Should Measure A Citizen's Worth By Contribution To Country And Community, Not By Wealth Or Power-that Those Whom America Has Benefited Most Should Contribute In Proportion To Their Good Fortune-and That Serving Others Should Be Esteemed More Highly Than Serving Self.

Love Of Country Cannot Be A Supersized Version Of Individual Narcissism. True Love Of Country-of This Country-is Love Of Our Children, Of A Creed That Promises Them A Better Life Before It Promises Us Anything, And Embraces The Sacrifices Needed To Make That Better Life. True Love Of Country Is Giving Ourselves To A Cause And A Purpose Larger Than Ourselves. And That Cause Is To Make Liberty Worth Having, To Make The Pursuit Of Happiness Deeper Than The Quest For Personal Pleasure, And To Leave A Legacy Of Progress And Possibility.

True Patriots Believe That Freedom From Responsibility Is Selfishness, Freedom From Sacrifice Is Cowardice, Freedom From Tolerance Is Prejudice, Freedom From Stewardship Is Exploitation, And Freedom From Compassion Is Cruelty.

The Strongest Streak In The American Character Is A Fierce Pragmatism That Mistrust Blind Ideology Of Every Stripe And Insists On Finding What Really Works.

A Basic Assumption Shapes Most Americans’ Mindset About Labor: The Belief That The Death Of Unions Isn’t My Problem Because I’m Not In A Union. That Assumption Is Wrong. Even If You Aren’t A Member, Your Pay Is Influenced By The Strength Or Weakness Of Organized Labor. The Presence Of Unions Sets Off A Wage Race To The Top. Their Absence Sets Off A Race To The Bottom.