Some foes of American Greatness are actually suggesting that, when we are 13 trillion dollars in debt, it might be wise to start asking ourselves why wealthy countries like Germany, Japan, South Korea and other nations require us to have troops on their soil, doing what they should be doing themselves. One such Unpatriotic Conservative remarked recently*:
“Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.”
“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connexion as possible.”
Who is this man engaged in a “war against America” (as David Frum once so aptly put it), so opposed to our mission as Guardian of Freedom Everywhere on the Globe?
Ah but things are so very different now! Yes. Well. Ever notice that Constitutional “original intent” enthusiasts only have in mind those bits of the Constitution referring to guns and not referring to abortion, but never seem to be interested in the original intent of the Founders when it comes to zealotry for an American Empire? We want a military budget that is larger than all the rest of the world’s combined (a form of welfare to enormous defense corporations) yet we also want no deficit and lower taxes. I’m all for lower taxes. Let’s start by ceasing to be the cops for Germans, Japanese and Koreans. That could save us several trillion right there. While we’re at it, defund Planned Parenthood and all our other little population control projects around the world.
* Recently, that is, on a geologic time scale.