Put Domestic Needs First
This perspective focuses on America's fundamental economic and security interests. The United States cannot solve all of the world's problems and should not act militarily, except when our own interests are directly threatened. For a half century, during the Cold War, our priority was to hold the Soviets at bay and defeat global communism. Now the U.S. has an opportunity to reassess priorities and focus on what needs to be done at home. It's time to concentrate on domestic concerns such as providing first-rate schools, shoring up the Social Security system, and reducing taxes.
What Should be Done?
Scale back overseas commitments and expenditures, and make domestic needs our main concern.Do only what is necessary militarily to prevent attacks on the U.S. and to prevent nuclear proliferation, deter terrorism and deal with direct threats to U.S. interests. Stop playing global policeman and providing for the security of nations that can afford to pay for their own defense.
Arguments For This Approach
There is no need to maintain armies and armaments at anywhere near Cold War levels because we no longer have a major adversary.There is no reason for the U.S. to pay a disproportionate share of the cost of global peacekeeping. In today's world, the strength of our economy is the real source of the nation's long-term security. Our needs at home are urgent, and require more resources than we are currently devoting to them. To avoid getting caught up in various international crises, the U.S. should define its interests narrowly, and limit its strategic alliances.
Arguments Against This Approach
We can't pull back from the world. We're the most powerful country on the planet, both militarily and economically, and the world looks to us for leadership. We already devote less, as a percentage of our economy, to foreign assistance than any other major nation.Maintaining a strong defense acts as a deterrent to aggression.History, including two world wars, teaches that the U.S. pays a high price for disengaging from world problems.America's success in the global marketplace requires worldwide stability. If the U.S. isn't prepared to defend democracy and human rights around the world, local tyrants will have their way and fledgling democracies will be crushed. Rich nations like the U.S. have a moral obligation to come to the assistance of poor nations when they need humanitarian assistance, or when civil war causes widespread hardship.
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