Like It or Not, We Are A Special Case

Since our nation was founded over two centuries ago, we have been a light to the rest of the world…First, because we had the audacity to believe that people could govern themselves and didn’t need an autocrat at the top to maintain stability; and second, because the power of the people was unleashed to serve themselves and indirectly our country.
Our experiment with self-rule has been wildly successful, and has created the most prosperous and powerful nation ever to exist on the earth.
As we know, we are going through difficult times, times which are challenging our standing worldwide. To power-hungry nations, nations, which don’t want to see us or our form of government, prosper, our current difficulties are received with glee. But those who care about the welfare of the common folk everywhere, these people want to see us maintain our strength.
The Wall Street Journal recently interviewed Lee Kuan Yew, one of America’s ardent supporters, and a former prime minister from Singapore. His views are widely respected because of his successful transformation of Singapore.
He said, “The world has developed because of the stability America established…If that stability is rocked, we are going to have a different situation.”
Asia has achieved its rapid economic rise because of America’s worldwide influence, Lee believes, and while he foresees problems ahead with China, he believes they can be managed.
It is in the world’s interest for the U.S. to remain a pre-eminent power so that the worldwide balance of power can be maintained, Lee thinks.
While in Lee’s view America will remain strong in the long run, he sees our budget deficits, our unemployment and our debt as serious problems. He recognizes that presidents who propose harsh medicine to correct such problems have a hard time being reelected, but adds that “There must be enough reasonable and thinking Americans who know that this is the only way forward.”
My ears always perk up when I hear thoughtful foreigners express their views about us. Will Morey, Sr. believed one had to get out of the nest to see the nest. Foreigners’ views of us help us to do that.
It is important that we recognize our unique role in maintaining our military and financial stability in the world. If we fail to continue to perform these traditional roles, not only will the world suffer, but our own tranquility and prosperity will also.
This means we are going to have to support our politicians when they stress that our governments requires the same financial soundness as our households do. And where world peace is concerned, that leadership falls to us, like it or not; if we don’t exercise it, who will? The Hitlers of the world love a vacuum. We saw what happened when we did not stand up to him early on.
ART HALL, publisher