theleveller, many Americans would probably quote the Declaration of Independence and say it is "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". But if you read this, wiki - American way of life,
you will see that it has been used in so many ways, from Superman comics, cold war media campaigns, the Simpsons cartoons, wiki even describing it as Woody Guthrie songs, that the cliche is colored by the intent of whoever is using it.