The Meaning and the Mind of an American

Richard Ebeling emails:

I have a new article on "The Meaning and the Mind of an American":

In many ways, America seems to be at a possible crossroads of what it will be as a country: one still premises on the idea of liberty, or further in the direction of collectivism in its modern identity politics version grounded in a new tribalism.

In this context, it is worth asking and reminding ourselves what it has historically meant to be an “American.” In my article this week, I highlight that unlike many other countries, we do not identify ourselves as a nation in terms of ethnicity, or language, or religion, or race.

Instead, ours has been a joint nationality based on an idea: individual freedom and the diversities of pluralistic life through networks of voluntary association rather than government command and control.

We have been moving away from this idea for a long time, and it is current getting worse. But without it, the historical meaning of being an “American” will be lost.

Best,

Richard

The full article is here.