The tendency in such cases is to alter one of the thoughts in order to bring them into closer harmony. Many Americans, because they value this country and the minds which helped bring it into existence, are rightly dismayed at what it has become, and take comfort in an idealization of what it once was. Their view of history becomes skewed as a means of compensating for the distaste they have for modern America and its atrocities. The second requires that The American Myth be viewed as a defense mechanism . A defense mechanism is defined as a distortion of reality designed to help the individual feel less anxiety.
Defense mechanisms help protect against the troublesome nature of the real world.
Thus, although individuals know deep down that the American governance system is severely flawed, they continue to express belief in and support for it. It's easier for most to hold onto the distortion than to face such bleak thoughts. Rather than focusing on the America That Never Was, those of us who love freedom and wish to regain it in our lives and for future generations would do well to repackage our message to those who do not yet embrace libertarianism. Such a message is more likely to be receptive to those who retain some measure of faith in the current political system. By speaking in terms more conventional Americans understand, libertarians will encounter less resistance, and will appeal to their self-interest.