Week in Review: It’s Time for the American Dream

Defending the American Dream

The American Dream is for everyone, no matter where you were born or the color of your skin.

At the Goldwater Institute’s Freedom Gala on Friday in Phoenix—headlined by renowned pediatric neurosurgeon and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson—we welcomed hundreds of our supporters and friends to celebrate our successful work defending the American Dream.

“The American Dream really does exist. But you’ve got to work for it,” said former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, whose keynote address headlined the night. “It’s critical that we have institutions like Goldwater that preserve the values that are fundamental to this country.”

Defending the American Dream often means speaking out when government gets in the way. That’s why we recognized Phoenix small business owners Joe and Debbie Faillace with this year’s Goldwater Institute Freedom Award: Joe and Debbie bravely held the government to account after their own leaders refused to enforce the law amid a rampant homelessness crisis that turned their lives upside down.

Every single day, the Goldwater Institute is working in courtrooms, capitals, classrooms, and communities to defend the American Dream—because the American Dream is for everyone.

Read more about our Freedom Gala here. 

Not in Our State

This election year, Arizonans looked at our neighbors to the west in California and saw rampant crime, streets ruled by lawlessness, sky-high prices, and convoluted voting schemes that disenfranchise voters. Resoundingly, they said: no thank you.

Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 312 at the ballot box, meaning business and property owners will no longer be left holding the bag when government fails to protect their rights amid the homeless crisis. Designed by the Goldwater Institute, this first-in-the-nation reform compensates law-abiding Arizonans whose livelihoods are being destroyed.

Also this week, Arizonans decisively rejected Prop 140, which would have taken a sledgehammer to the Arizona Constitution by imposing ranked-choice voting and jungle primaries. Bankrolled by out-of-state special interests’ millions of dollars, Prop 140 would have robbed countless citizens of their voice.

Instead, Arizona voters made themselves crystal clear: not in our state.

Read more here. 

Military Service Is Greater Than Protecting Borders

As Veterans Day approaches, it is important to remember that those who wear the uniform of the United States swear not to protect just a geographical set of boundaries, but more importantly a set of ideals that sets the United States apart from the rest of the world.

In many countries across the globe, the military has been used as a tool for regime protection. We are lucky to live in a country in which military might is governed by civilians bound by the principles of liberty.

As we reflect on this day, may we reassert our commitment to safeguard the liberties that distinguish our nation—and be grateful for our veterans and their selfless service.

Goldwater Civics Education Specialist Tyler Bonin is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.