Smaller, Less-Powerful America

What's wrong with a "smaller, less-powerful" America?

Some people see it as a good thing...some as bad...I'm going to fall on the "bad" side...

Our president dreams of a "smaller, nicer" America that will get along with the rest of the world...interestingly enough, the only American residents who seem to be applauding this idea are foreigners living in our country and liberal Americans...it's easy enough to understand why the foreigners would applaud it...they see America as an arrogant power that pushes everyone else in the world around...and they want it to stop. I have several friends from other countries...and the one resounding common denominator in their opinion, even though they live here, is that they do not like America's power and presence in the rest of the world...they tell me that America is pompous...

One might wonder why the liberals are so "for" this idea...I believe it has to do with their "idea" of compassion...I put the word 'idea' in quotes because I am using it in an ironic way - unfortunately print cannot get across as well what facial expression and tone of voice can...  I think the majority of liberals are good people...I think the majority of them really do want good for others...I believe they do have compassion...but, their definition of compassion is faulty.  Their vision of compassion is much like a mother who lets her child have everything he wants because she doesn't want to tell him no...she's afraid to discipline him because he won't "like her anymore" or because the discipline will "hurt his self-esteem."  So, the mother gives in over and over...and the child becomes more and more demanding...and spoiled...  One can see, this is not true compassion, but rather an indulgent behavoir that does the receipient no favors...and that is liberalism's definition of compassion...so, along those lines, of course, in their worldviews, America must scale back...become smaller...become less powerful...and play "equal."  AND...in their estimation, if we do these things, good things will follow...we will reach a utopia...we will reach a place were we can all get along and hold hands and sing Kumbaya...I'll admit, to part of me, this sounds nice...sound like a Star Trek Federation of Planets kind of thing...peace on Earth, good will to all...but, the problem with that is this...when everyone equalizes...SOMEONE will come and take over...don't believe me?  Go sit at a playground and watch kids play a while...there's always someone who "takes over" - who "pushes their power and weight around."  Who can stop this behavior?  Only a parent or a teacher...even a "bigger kid" can't stop it except by fear or more bullying...however, when a parent or a teacher takes charge, the kids know that the adult doesn't want the biggest swing or the best seat on the merry-go-round...they just want the kids to get along...so they settle down and rest in the knowledge that there is power out there...and that there is discipline out there...and there is security out there...

Sounds arrogant, to think that America is that "mom" or that "big brother" to the rest of the world...but read history...it *has* been the US who has kept peace...who has helped the less fortunate...who has stepped in when no one else would...let's face it...we *are* a good country...and we have the power and resources to help keep peace...America is not a imperialistic country...we do not colonize...we do not take over other countries...we do not want the biggest, coolest toy...we just want everyone to get along...and we want to stay safe.  BUT...under the president's plan, we will no longer be that America...we will not have the power or money to do those things...

And while some of you may still be saying, "So what?  America DOES NOT need to be the 'mom' or the 'big brother,' that *is* arrogant!"  BUT...what people are missing in that equation is the bully...someone, somewhere is going to come and take our place...someone who IS imperialistic...someone who DOES want to colonize...someone who DOES want the biggest toy...and I stand by my assertion that if we leave the opportunity open for another "super-power" in the world...someone will take it...