"As Americans, we don't see the role of government as guaranteeing outcomes, but allowing free men and women to flourish based on their own vision, their hard work and their personal responsibility"

This quote by Rick Perry speaks with the American ideal of individualism and self-determination. He is stressing the value of individual duty and hard work in accomplishing success. He is also suggesting that the function of federal government should not be to guarantee results, but to offer the chance for free men and women to pursue their own vision and to flourish. This quote reflects the conventional American belief that individuals need to have the ability to pursue their own goals and dreams without interference from the federal government. It likewise speaks with the concept that individuals should be held responsible for their own actions and must not count on the government to supply them with a safety net. Eventually, this quote is a pointer that the American Dream is still alive and that people have the power to shape their own destiny.