▶ America! Why It’s Unique

The United States of America or the United States (U.S or US) as it is usually called is a truly unique country. But not for the most commonly held reasons: “Come to America so that you will have a great chance to make money and be rich”, which is the most commonly uttered phrase.
In truth, throughout the world, America is viewed (sometimes with envy) mostly as a country of great economic opportunity for those who are willing to push forward with determination, grit, passion, and sometimes heartless aggression. America is the Promised Land where making money, advancing one’s social position, and building a better future for oneself is easier than elsewhere.

On the other hand, America is viewed as the country where only money and material achievement are worthwhile goals, pursued singlehandedly by most people, sometimes in a heartless and unscrupulous (and at times even illegal) manner. According to many critics, because of this narrow focus on getting rich, the Americans have created a materialistic and somewhat decadent, soulless society. Some of this, both the positives and negatives, may be true.

But this is not what America, at its core, is about, rather America is about FREEDOM.

America is About Freedom

unfortunately, those who criticize and sometime those who love America focuses on the material cause and prosperity. But what inspires the American dream and cause is far beyond material prosperity. It is human freedom, justice, and what inspires the material prosperity.

Material success in America is possible because all citizens know that, thanks to the protection of individual rights guaranteed by the US Constitution, they are truly free citizens.

And individual freedom, of course, includes economic freedom, which is the freedom to engage in profit-oriented enterprises. When motivated people engage in enterprises without the constant fear of arbitrary obstacles placed on their way by a tyrannical, unaccountable government, economic success is sure.

So, here is the thing about America. The fundamental idea at the foundation of the United States of America was not and is not “Come here to America to Make Money”. The main idea was and continues to be “Come here to America to be Free”. From this perspective, prosperity (possible, aspired to, but not guaranteed) is a welcome outcome of a life in which the individual, being free from state-imposed coercion, has the luxury to focus his/her efforts on the pursuit of his/her passions.

“In America, you have a good chance to prosper because you are truly free to pursue your own dreams. You are free because you enjoy the protection of basic Individual Rights provided by the US Constitution. As the US Government protects your Freedoms, in America you do not have to worry about a rapacious, arbitrary government interfering with your affairs or punitive regulations and taxes that will ultimately suffocate your enterprise”.

Freedom of Self-Determination

So, having secured “Freedom from Tyranny”, the Americans could unleash their collective “Freedom to self-determination”, freeing up individual creativity, (if it was and is exercised within the boundaries of the Law). And, as we know, creativity often turned into innovation and entrepreneurship. Over time, entrepreneurship and the pursuit of commercially viable innovation made millions of Americans into successful professionals and business owners.

Simply put, in America, widespread prosperity is the welcome consequence of constitutionally guaranteed Individual Freedoms. Individual Freedom is at the foundation of economic success. America became rich not because becoming rich was the declared goal; but because it upheld and protected the Freedom of its citizens.

America, A Beacon of light across the Atlantic/World

The rare position and human course that drives America, of course, inspired millions of Europeans, Asians, and the rest part of the world. While there were many drivers behind the migratory waves of Europeans into America – and the pursuit of better economic opportunity was definitely a major factor– the notion of leaving behind misery caused by poverty and oppression, while embracing a New World ruled by benign laws that protect individual freedom, was definitely a powerful magnet which motivated millions to sail from Europe and its rather miserable conditions to America –never to come back.