Redefining the American Dream: How the Pursuit of Happiness Slipped Away — and How We Can Get It Back

By The Arrogant Independent

In 1776, the Founders declared that every American had the unalienable right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” But in 2025, many Americans feel that promise has faded. Rising inequality, mental health crises, declining civic trust, and cultural confusion have chipped away at the foundation of what once made the American Dream accessible.

This report dives deep into how the concept of happiness — once tied to dignity, freedom, and opportunity — has been reshaped into a consumer-driven, unstable pursuit. Through five key domains (economic barriers, mental health, structural inequality, civic breakdown, and cultural disconnection), the paper outlines what has gone wrong and, more importantly, how we can fix it.

It also proposes a new civic roadmap for restoring this founding ideal — through policy reform, community investment, and a national shift in values.

Read the full report:

https://docs.google.com/.../12ZsmC31mjUgX5eMK8Bbz.../edit...

Listen to the narrated podcast episode:

https://drive.google.com/.../124bOWacoYAHwieCUiuZ.../view...

This is not a nostalgic cry for the past — it’s a call to rebuild a better future.

A future where the pursuit of happiness is not a luxury for the few…

…but a shared right for all.