Terrific article. Rec'd and thanks for posting it.
It reminded me of a key button that Obama pressed in his acceptance speech, one I've heard from him many times and which always makes me nervous.
He says, `I am my brother's keeper. I am my sister's keeper.` And he argues this is at the heart of the American dream.
I find that fascinating because I've never seen that as being part of the American dream. I see that as perhaps at the heart of the mixed economies' dream: England; France, Germany, Canada, Australia etc: countries with a strong social security net, universal healthcare etc.
But I've always conceived of the American dream as being the rugged individualist society. So I always whince when I hear him say it because I think that it'll be alienating to the heartland.
I'd be interested in other people's views on this.