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Adam Smith penciled these words. Milton Friedman, the American economist, redefined them by saying, there is no free lunch, namely with all things tangible and intangible, there is a price to pay.

For millions of Americans our nation's birthday this year poignantly reveals there is a national price for the freedom we enjoy. Now, 9/11 is part of our national psyche; many understand that freedom's price rests on core values that are never secure without their exercise.

As Americans we earn our place at the table of freedom by individually practicing core values that are the hallmark of an enlightened citizenry. Core values include: personal responsibility; respect for self and others; trustworthiness, courage to do the right; faith to persevere; service guided by cooperation; honesty borne of a commitment to practice the Golden Rule.

When do core values become real? Is there anything noble in being able to identify such values? No, not really. Values lived and acted upon in our homes, at school and the office, throughout our communities and in service to our nation is the sign of a noble life.

Yes, there is a price to be paid. The price is the ethically driven actions of one, multiplied by tens of millions of American citizens.

We, the people are the ones who count. We, the people, who walk in downtown Charleston and Chicago; we, the people, who ride a cab in the Big Apple or a pickup on an Appalachian countryside road; we, the people, who set sail in windy Seattle or watch the Cardinals play in St. Louis; we, the people, who work a ranch outside Butte or serve coffee in Buffalo; we, the people from sea to shining sea.

We, who are blessed to be Americans, have the daily choice and responsibility to continuously pony up and pay America's daily bill of freedom by practicing core life values that have helped to define our nation for 226 years.

Russell Williams is president of Passkeys Foundation~ Jefferson Center for Character Education. For information contact (949) 770-7602 or www.passkeys.org