If Abraham Lincoln could see America today, he would likely be disheartened by our division. We seem more polarized than ever and even a time-traveling Lincoln warning us of our path might be dismissed as “fake news” by half the country. We live in a free country, but freedom comes with the responsibility to unite around common goals. Right now, we are so divided that it’s hard to even agree on basic facts, let alone solutions. This is a pivotal moment when we must come together to protect the American Dream for future
generations.

We live in a free country and we are in a moment where we must protect the American Dream. We should not be defined by ideologies, but ideas.

Ideas over Ideologies

We should not be defined by rigid ideologies, but by shared ideas and values. Too often, social media and news highlight constant battles of ideology over ideas.

Consider these manufactured rivalries we’re inundated with:

  • Religion – Christians VS LGBQT
  • Class – Rich VS Poor
  • Race – White VS Black
  • Age – Young VS Old
  • Nationality – Palestine VS Israel
  • Politics – Democrat VS Republican

These conflicts dominate headlines and distract us from our shared human experience. In truth, most of us want similar things: safety, opportunity, and a decent life for our families. By focusing on fighting each other, we lose sight of ideas that could improve life for everyone.

Shared Values and the American Dream

One simple idea nearly all Americans agree on is that everyone willing to work hard deserves a chance at a decent life. This is the heart of the American Dream. The idea that each of us should have the opportunity to thrive through effort and talent. Yet today, that dream is slipping away for many. It’s not because people aren’t working hard; it’s because a small portion of the population holds a huge portion of the wealth, making upward mobility difficult for the rest of us. We have to face this fact calmly and honestly if we want to fix it.

Wealth Inequality at a Glance

At the end of 2024, there were 813 billionaires in the United States holding a combined $6.72 trillion in wealth. To put that in perspective, just 15 of those individuals each had fortunes exceeding $100 billion and together worth about $2.4 trillion. This concentration of wealth at the very top is unprecedented in modern history. Meanwhile, the bottom half of American households collectively own only a tiny fraction of the nation’s wealth (around 2.6% as of 2021). This extreme inequality means that a small fraction of people control a huge share of resources, while millions of hardworking Americans struggle to attain a “decent life.”

It’s eye-opening to consider what even a modest redistribution of wealth could do. Hypothetically, if we took just 20% of U.S. billionaires’ wealth (about $1.34 trillion) and distributed it evenly, each of the ~334 million Americans would get roughly $4,000. In other terms, each of about 126 million U.S. households would receive around $10,600, or each of the ~258 million adults about $5,200. An extra few thousand dollars could help pay for education, medical bills, or starting a small business. Of course, this is not something we can simply do outright without consequences, but it highlights how vast the wealth gap has become.

A New Idea: Voluntary National UBI Fund

How can we address such inequality without getting lost in ideological debates?

One innovative idea is to create a national Universal Basic Income (UBI) fund through voluntary contributions rather than new taxes. UBI means every citizen receives a basic income regularly, no strings attached. Typically, people discuss funding UBI through taxes, but that sparks ideological resistance. Instead, consider a different approach: a UBI fund that anyone (especially the wealthy or corporations) can donate to, essentially, donating to America. This would be like a nationwide charitable fund dedicated to distributing cash payments equally to all adult citizens. Every American over 18 would get a check from this fund, say monthly or yearly, as a small dividend of prosperity.

Such a program could be structured as a charitable foundation or public trust, making contributions tax deductible for donors. Instead of viewing it as “the government taking wealth,” people could view it as patriotic philanthropy, investing in the country’s people. This might be more politically palatable than a
forced wealth tax, yet achieve similar benefits for society. It’s a voluntary way for those who have benefited the most from America’s opportunities to give back in a systematic, fairness-driven way.

Why the Ultra-Wealthy Should Care

It’s important to note that billionaires need a prosperous society, too. Perhaps more than society needs any single billionaire. Their businesses rely on consumers. If the majority of people have little or no disposable income, consumer spending falls and even the biggest companies can’t grow. In other words, extreme inequality can stagnate the entire economy, ultimately hurting businesses and investments. As wealthy entrepreneur Nick Hanauer warned, no society can sustain such an imbalance indefinitely without unrest or economic decline (“the pitchforks” eventually come out). By contrast, putting more money in ordinary people’s pockets (through something like a UBI) creates customers for businesses and stability for democracy.

Signs of Change and Urgency

We are already seeing signs that the status quo is being challenged. For example, the U.S. government under President Trump has started taking equity stakes in private companies like Intel, as part of an effort to bolster industry and even seed a sovereign wealth fund . This is a remarkable shift in how the government interacts with the private sector essentially blurring lines that used to separate public and corporate interests. Such moves indicate that leaders are looking for bold solutions to economic challenges.

If corporate CEOs and the ultra-wealthy want to maintain a stable environment that favors free enterprise, they should recognize this trend. It’s far better for them to proactively support broad prosperity (for instance, via a voluntary UBI fund or higher worker pay) than to face more drastic interventions down the road.

Time is of the essence. We have tried the same old approaches, hoping wealth will “trickle down,” or that partisan politics will magically solve our problems, over and over, without success. The wealth gap keeps widening, and the social fabric keeps fraying. It’s time to innovate and try new ideas. We must not let ideological labels stop us from experimenting with solutions that could help everyone.

Hell, the idea above is just an idea and I would love to have conversations about any solutions. This could be a horrible idea and you might have a better one. Let’s talk about it.

Conclusion: Ideas Over Ideologies

In the end, we all share the same boat. Whether you’re conservative or liberal, rich or poor, young or old, We rise or fall together as a nation. Let’s focus on ideas over ideologies. Instead of getting caught in endless fights, let’s rally around common-sense ideas that ensure everyone has a fair shot at the American Dream. Ensuring a decent life for all Americans isn’t a “left” or “right” idea; it’s a fundamentally American idea. By coming together and thinking outside the box, like embracing a voluntary UBI or any creative solution that expands opportunity, we can strengthen our country from the ground up.

This vision makes sense because it is practical, inclusive, and neutral. It doesn’t villainize any group, nor idolize any ideology.

It simply asks: what works to give all of us a better life?

If we can agree on that question, we can get on the same page. America has reinvented itself many times before when faced with great challenges. We can do it again now. Let’s unite around our shared ideals, protect the American Dream, and choose unity and innovation over division. Our future depends on it.

This is just an idea. It can change and I would love to talk about it more with folks who want to make things better in the United States of America before it is too late. We are at a pivotal point and it would be great to avoid a revolution or watch the country break up into separate states.