Posted on 06/10/2003 9:31:51 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
In the wake of America’s stunning military victories in Afghanistan and Iraq, the world is waking up to the realization that the United States of America is now the single most powerful nation on Earth, and is likely to remain so for quite some time. This has caused great discomfort in some quarters, but it need not be so.
Nations of good will have little to fear from the America, and indeed have much to gain from maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship. As this new reality begins to take shape, the United States will begin to hammer out new free trade agreements, treaty negotiations, and security arrangements with unprecedented speed. For astute statesmen and skillful diplomats, opportunities abound.
Therefore, as a service to all the world leaders, non-governmental organizations, dignitaries, lawmakers, and diplomats who will be conducting negotiations with the United States in the years to come, I present this simple three-point guide to “Living With America.” I hope they find the information within to be helpful.
Americans revere their Constitution. It is their most treasured national document. Schoolchildren are made to memorize the preamble, which famously starts with the words “We, the People.” Across the political spectrum and regardless of race, religion, gender, or class, Americans point to their Constitution as the single thing that defines and unifies them as a nation. Indeed, the American concept of “patriotism” is not based on racial, religious, or class identity, but rather on an appreciation of the rights and freedoms enumerated in this centuries-old document. It may seem quaint or even silly to an outsider that anyone should treat a piece of paper drafted by a committee of wealthy 18th century farmers, merchants, and lawyers with such awe and wonder, but don’t tell that to an American—unless you want to start a fight.
When an American president takes the Oath of Office, he places his hand on a Bible. But he doesn’t swear an oath to his God, or his country, or a monarch. He swears to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” All high government officials and military officers swear this same oath. To them, the oath is more than just a formality that one must go through to get a decent job. Bringing the Constitution into the picture lends these ceremonies a near-religious significance.
The United States Constitution is considered by Americans to be almost divinely inspired, and is not to be tinkered with lightly. If you are negotiating a treaty with the United States government, you had better make absolutely certain that it doesn’t violate their Constitution—because if it does, you won’t get very far. And don’t even bother to suggest to an American that they should amend their Constitution in order to bring it more in line with the values of the international community. Americans may vigorously debate the meaning and intent of individual articles and amendments amongst themselves, but the wise foreigner will steer clear of such discussions.
Americans believe in free-market capitalism. While it is true that the United States has many state-sponsored social programs, such as welfare, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and Social Security, it remains fundamentally a free-market system with a somewhat limited social safety net. A surprising number of Americans are directly or indirectly invested in the stock market, and labor unions in the USA exert a relatively small influence over the economy as compared to those in other industrialized nations. The government does play a role in regulating key industries, but that role is limited; indeed, many politicians have proposed further reducing government regulation.
One of the most popular proposals that any politician can make while running for public office in the United States is to lower taxes. Even if it means a reduction in government services, most Americans would rather keep their own money than have the government spend it for them. They do not see this as greed so much as a desire to “make it on their own.”
When confronted with global problems like poverty, famine, and disease, Americans seek out solutions that are consistent with free-market capitalism. They do not see this as “economic imperialism” so much as helping others to help themselves. Rather than allow dependencies to develop between givers and recipients of aid, Americans would rather assist others in developing their own, lasting solutions.
There is a culture in America of “rugged independence,” born out of the experience of exploring, taming, and populating a wild frontier. While the days of the frontiersmen are long behind them, many Americans still hold to such virtues as determination, self-reliance, and toughness. Thus, when foreigners mock them as “cowboys,” most Americans generally don’t take it as an insult.
Americans reserve the right of self-defense. America has constructed a military leviathan that has no match anywhere on Earth. What is even more incredible is that they have done this with a force composed entirely of volunteers. They are able to achieve this remarkable accomplishment primarily because most Americans have a genuine love for their country, a pride born (so they will tell you) not from any perceived national superiority, but a sense of brotherhood and equality with their fellow citizens.
The US military, unlike those of many other nations, is not designed to be a jobs program, a prop for parades, or a symbolic peacekeeping force. It is designed to fight and win wars.
To Americans, self-defense means more than just striking back when they are attacked. They take a more pro-active approach, seeking to confront threats as they develop. Hostile nations should be very wary of the temptation to use the threat of military action against American interests to blackmail the United States. Likewise, providing aid and comfort to America’s enemies will more than likely attract unwanted attention.
Living in an open society, Americans are generally tolerant of differences of opinion. When the United States moves to protect its interests, Americans understand that they will face some level of principled opposition from other nations, even some from their friends. They will have little patience, however, for any nation that moves to prevent the United States from exercising what Americans believe to be their sovereign right to defend themselves. There is a fundamental difference, in their eyes, between protest and obstruction.
Despite this pro-active stance towards self-defense, Americans do not see themselves as imperialists. They seek engagement with the rest of the world, but not domination. Indeed, they will proudly tell you that after the Second World War, when their armed forces occupied much of Western Europe and most of the islands of the Pacific, they gave it all back.
Except Guam.
The downside is that we have to fight democrats traitors, here at home, every day.
The price of freedom is that fight.
I will pay the price.
We must have a 2/3 majority in the Senate of we are to save this country. And that is not hyperbole.
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