It’s true. The election is just about the only place that Americans can see their freedoms still put to use. Sure, I exaggerate, but the Patriot Act doesn’t exactly give me faith in the system. What I mean is that you have Joe Plumber, the now-by-line-battered-ally of John McCain who has the dream of owning his business.

That was every American’s dream a half century ago. Whenever an immigrant from the streets of Delhi hears “American Dream,” he knows it means financial and therefore personal freedom. It’s about the possibility of social and fiscal mobility. That’s why in America titles don’t exist, why voting isn’t based on land-holding, why some poor creature in the slums votes against taxing estates and against punitive taxes. Because hey, that could be him.

Sure, others around the world may today laugh at this, but is this not the essence of the great pushes of immigration, of those that were the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning for opportunity. McCain says he will spread opportunity in opposition to Obama’s comments on spreading the wealth in order to provide the masses with what they need. It’s all rubbish until something is done.

Both candidates acknowledge that the American Dream is on life support, sure, but we’ll see how small businesses get on in the toxic economy. We’ll see soon enough whether the audacity of hope is enough to coddle the dreams of our fathers and their children, or whether we can even say the word deregulation again with a straight face.