About the American Dream Coalition

Why We Defend the American Dream

The American dream of freedom, mobility, and affordable homeownership
has produced enormous benefits for Americans:

• Homeownership — More than 80 percent of Americans say their ideal
  home is a single-family house with a yard. Homes are one of the best
  investments a young family can make. The most important source of funds
  for new businesses in the U.S. is mortgages on the businessowner’s
  homes.
• Mobility — Automobiles give Americans access to better and higher
  paying jobs, lower-cost consumer goods, rapid-response emergency services,
  distant friends and relatives, and all sorts of recreation opportunities.
• Freedom — According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2002 Index of Economic
  Freedom, nations that protect property rights and other forms of economic
  freedom have per capita incomes at least six times greater than nations
  will little or no economic freedom. Higher incomes mean higher environmental
  quality as well.

Despite these benefits, this dream is being challenged by a new planning
doctrine known as smart growth, which calls for dense urban development,
restrictions on rural development, rail transit boondoggles, and barriers
to auto driving. Despite its attractive name, smart growth is one of
the greatest threats to American mobility, affordable housing, and freedom
today.

• Homeownership — Smart growth’s urban-growth boundaries and regulation
  of home construction make housing unaffordable to most families. Housing
  in San Jose, Portland, and other smart-growth cities is far less affordable
  than housing in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and other less-regulated cities.
• Mobility — Though traffic congestion costs Americans more than $60
  billion a year, smart growth actually seeks to increase congestion
  in order to discourage people from driving.
• Freedom — Smart growth requires draconian restrictions on property
  owners and businesses. Limits on rural development, minimum-density
  zoning in urban areas, and strict rules for retailers and other businesses
  all impede economic freedom and increase costs to homebuyers and consumers.

If you would like more information about the ADC, please contact Ed Braddy at ed@americandreamcoalition.org or 352-281-5817.

Invitation to Join

The Coalition is currently seeking members and pledges of support.  Membership fees range from $30 for individuals to $250 for full group/association membership.  We also encourage people to pledge additional support.  The Coalition has been given a challenge grant, so every $2 you contribute will be joined by $1 in additional funds.

You can join the Coalition using the on-line membership form. You may also download and print out a membership brochure (296 KB pdf). More information about member groups can be found in these links.