The Idea of America

As has been said before, America is more than a place--it's also an idea. 

What is the idea of America? 

It includes the following:

• There are self-evident truths
• All men are created equal
• All men are endowed by their Creator
• All men have inalienable Rights
• Among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
• Governments exist to secure these Rights
• That governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed
• That a government can become destructive to rights, and that if it does the people have the right to change it as they deem best
• That all good government is self-government by the people

To what extent do we follow this idea today?