Frequently Searched

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

November 9, 2024

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.

 

 

More on this issue

Donate Now

Help all Americans live freer, happier lives. Join the Goldwater Institute as we defend and strengthen freedom in all 50 states.

Donate Now

Since 1988, the Goldwater Institute has been in the liberty business — defending and promoting freedom, and achieving more than 400 victories in all 50 states. Donate today to help support our mission.

We Protect Your Rights

Our attorneys defend individual rights and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Need Help? Submit a case.

Get Connected to Goldwater

Sign up for the latest news, event updates, and more.

Wait! Don’t close this yet!

We are grateful for your support of the Goldwater Institute’s efforts to advance and defend liberty throughout the United States. For over 36 years, we’ve been defending the rights of Americans to live their lives free from government interference.

And Goldwater is unique in that we direct our efforts to the 50 states where we introduce and advance innovative ideas that expand freedom. And we fight in courtrooms and capitals nationwide to defend individual liberty.

In 2024 alone, we scored over 50 policy and litigation victories defending liberty!

And that’s just the beginning.

Our plans for 2025 include:

  • Stopping pernicious DEI and other woke programs in America’s universities.
  • Ensuring that patients suffering from rare and terminal diseases have access to cutting-edge, lifesaving medical treatments, without having to first seek permission from the government.
  • Defending parental rights across the United States so that parents can send their kids to the school that best fits their needs, free from leftist indoctrination.
  • Eliminating government interference in the fundamental right of individuals to own property and use it as they see fit.
  • And much, much more

We seek to restore the presumption of liberty; that people are free to act without first asking permission from the government.

But we cannot do this without you. Will you join us as we fight to preserve and advance liberty throughout the country? As we seek new and innovative ways to defend freedom in all 50 states?

And there’s great news: Thanks to a generous Goldwater supporter, your donation today will be doubled!

So please, join us in fighting to advance liberty and score real wins for freedom from coast to coast!