Focusing on Freedom is described the manner of living people desire in pursuit of their American Dream, i.e., the willingness to do hard work for oneself and one's family while young and able, and to put some earnings aside to build a nest egg for retirement. They expect their efforts would come back to support them at retirement. Freedom cannot exist without responsibility. Freedom without responsibility leads to lawlessness illegality. If you want freedom for yourself, then you should be responsible for yourself, not to infringe your freedom over others.
There are many who without scruple or responsibility strive for their individual version of that Dream do so without restraint or concern for others. Many, by some device: fear, bribery, blackmail etc., manage to entice many others into being held captive, viciously controlled all in the name of Freedom and the American Dream.. Many workers who struggled, worked hard, have had their savings taken away from them (sometimes by Acquisitions, Mergers, or bad investments, and/or flagrant corruption). Union organizations have been eviscerated so business' requirement to provide any retirement nest eggs to the workers has become severely undercut. The workers lost nearly everything. Further, workers have been told to be on their own to invest their savings money on something they don't even understand, IRAs, Mutual Funds, or bitcoins. They have taken advantage the workers' savings for their own self-enriching purposes while giving the impression that the workers' life's savings are secure. Those IRA, Mutual Fund or bitcoin retirement accounts have only provided meager returns to the workers' retirement investments. while the predators have used the cheap access to the retirement savings money to enrich themselves by investing for bigger profits. Inevitably, workers were left behind to struggle and fetch for themselves, seek additional work after expecting to retire, creating unsettled dissatisfaction, bitterness and resentment, hate and fear among the workers and making them ready to strike out in any direction or end up drowning in their misfortune. The rich and the greedy cannot stop themselves from seeking more wealth nor can they be happy with their own successes. They want more power and wealth; thus, they are drowning as well. Thus, mediocrity is exemplified by ignorant fools and the predators who end up being victims themselves.
Similarly, in their ego driven ignorance and greed, politicians, using all manner of media to win elections at any or all costs. A pendulum of political gamesmanship develops, swinging between the Politicians representing only limited numbers of people on the extremes of the Far Right and the Far Left. They cater to these extremes due to their more clamorous and boisterous demands. Meanwhile, to appease the vast majority in the middle, the Politicians only provide lip service to meet their needs. No care for the majority is extended to those in the middle ground between the extremes for fair and balanced policies, as neither extreme is willing to compromise. Consequently, the majority of the public and even their own supporters are left unhappy disenchanted, distrustful, angry and disillusioned about their hopes for the achieving the American Dream. So, the question is who the winners are and who are the losers. Or who are the real victims in this struggle and vicious scheme. How we can get out of this tragic cycle.
The author, based on many true-life experiences in changing world events and from drama of real adventures, violence, romance, and humor, while travelling through various part of the world, showcases love and lust, the ordinary, simplicity; and the dangers of ignorance, fear, racism; and predators among all social classes, showing pain and suffering, and manipulation at all levels. The true happiness is the gold.
About the Author: The author was born and raised by a single mother after the tragedy of her father's death at a young age. Memories of her father's tragic death and his teachings have guided her values all her life. Since she left home at a young age to pursue happiness, she had to be very much on her own. Over the ensuing years, she steadfastly relied on the values of education and ethics taught by her father as her guide for her own daily life. In due course, she attended a well-known university in her birthplace, Thailand, where she studied for teacher training, mathematics, and cooking (by sight and smell--no need for measuring). After working a few years with an inter-business trading company, she went to the United States to advance her education in business and accounting management. After completing a master's in business administration (MBA), she accepted a senior position in accounting management at well-known university, where she worked for many years until her retirement.

The co-author was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in South Africa. After completing military service in South Africa, he came to the US to be drafted again but this time into the US Army and was promptly sent to Vietnam. Subsequently, while studying for a doctorate degree in political science, he met his wife to be, the lady from Thailand. After they got married, he completed his doctorate degree (Ph.D.) and proceeded to serve as a political science professor at several colleges and universities, until his retirement.

They love great food, good entertainment, and spending time with a few sincere friends. They have traveled to many places all over the world to experience other ways of life, cultures, and wonders of the world together. They also love to get involved with politics in helping to promote a fair and balanced society. They have tried to live by the Golden Rule, asking many questions, knowing that they don't always know all the answers. They have also tried to raise their family to be firmly grounded in the values of the Golden Rule of honesty, integrity, and compassion just as they have tried to live their lives in the place, they called home, the state of California.