Reflections across the Pond

Great Britain accepted the role of 'global policeman' for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As with ancient Rome, this proved vastly expensive both in terms of money and domestic tranquility. Funds diverted from the home nation hurt working people disproportionately, fueling socialist activism. Eventually, the empire rotted from within.

America took over the role of world policeman from the British after the Second World War. Predictably, it has proved hugely expensive, both in terms of money and domestic tranquility. Today, the debts are mounting almost at an exponential rate, such that the U.S. government's current liabilities stand at a staggering $12.3 trillion or some $113,000 per taxpayer. [2009/01/20; usdebtclock.org]

At a time we are nearly bankrupt, we are taking on the responsibility of not only providing emergency aid to Haiti but to rebuild their country. The vote for this unconstitutional theft of our money was 411-1. Guess who was the only member of Congress to vote for your right to keep your own money and donate some of it to Haiti if you desire?